Kirby Smart Looking For "Havoc-Making Train Wreckers" Along Defensive Line
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs will be without star defensive lineman Jalen Carter for the 2023 season, but they should still have one of the very best defensive lines in college football.
It’s a group full of experience veterans, mixed in with some extremely talented and hungry underclassmen.
They don’t have anyone on the roster quite like Jalen Carter, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Tray Scott’s group will take a step back. They have plenty of players who understand the system, the culture, and know their role. Guys who do their job every play.
Then you have younger guys itching for playing time. Guys who impressed when they saw the field last year, and if they can continue to improve over the next several months, could turn into difference makers on the defensive line sooner than later.
Smart spoke about the defensive line recently and seemed optimistic about what they group will bring to the table in 2023.
“I think that we lost a really good player at that position but we gained depth because the players that were twos and threes last year are more ready to play”, Smart said. “Christen Miller has come along, Tyrion Dawkins has come along - well he’s not really interior - Bear (Alexander) is playing better. Naz (Nazir Stackhouse) and ZLo (Zion Logue) have to be careful not to be punching the clock, so we challenge them each day.”
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If you really look at the depth chart, it’s one that goes on and on. The way Georgia rotates their defensive line, having depth is extremely important. Not only do they have plenty of depth, but the depth is as talented as you’ll see across college football
“Warren Brinson has done a good job and then the young freshmen are going to be good players, but they’re not where they need to be right now. Jonathan Jefferson has given us depth and is playing well inside, so I feel good about the depth. Do we have havoc makers and train wreckers? I don’t know that we got that. We got to try to manufacture that.”
“Havoc makers and train wreckers”. What a quote.
Do the Bulldogs have a guy who can turn into a Jordan Davis type? That could be incoming freshman Jamaal Jarrett, but that will take some time. Bear Alexander may not have Jordan Davis type of size, but he’s someone who could live in the backfield if he continues to develop and get better and better through the off-season and beyond.
Jalen Carter was obviously an elite talent. A true havoc maker and train wrecker. Incoming freshman Jordan Hall has the potential to be that type of player, but again, he’s a young pup that still needs to develop and wait his turn.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins was a highly-ranked prospect looking to have a breakout year. Nazir Stackhouse has his “money year” this fall. Warren Brinson is looking to make a bigger name for himself.
As far as depth goes, Kirby Smart is obviously happy about what he has on the roster. But does he have a train-wrecking havoc maker? He should, and probably does with Mykel Williams who has All-American potential this fall. But there could be another train, or two, still being built.
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