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ATHENS - In the world of NIL, spending is key.
“Scared money don’t make money” as they say.
I believe that’s a Shakespeare quote. Or Marshall Mathers. One of the two, right?
Anyway. If you’re not spending, you’re not improving. To build the best roster you have to pay for it. It’s that easy, right?
Kirby Smart saw significant improvements in his defensive backfield last fall, but against Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels, Georgia’s secondary showed its flaws.
So that’s where Georgia’s money went. Not just to keep their best defensive backs in Athens but to improve the group overall. If a defensive lineman makes a mistake, many times it goes unnoticed. But if a defensive back makes a mistake, everyone knows it.
That’s why Georgia spent a lot of money in hopes of building one of the best secondary units in college football. The Dawgs will face several talented quarterbacks this fall, and without an elite secondary, that could spell trouble.
So Kirby Smart paid up, keeping guys like Ellis Robinson, Demello Jones, and KJ Bolden while adding several transfers from the portal. They also signed an outstanding recruiting class in the secondary, allowing the 2026 group as deep and talented as possible.
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One of Georgia’s best defenders in the secondary also happens to be one of the best players on the roster. Junior cornerback Ellis Robinson. He was an important piece to bring back and Smart knows he has the potential to be one of the game’s best this fall.
“From the time he got here, he's shown elite ball skills, elite cover ability, toughness, and a competitive drive. The mental disposition and the stamina are probably two reasons he struggled as a freshman, because we had good players here. We had a couple guys that are going to end up being drafted and play in front of him, and he grew into that.”
“He could probably cover as good as they could then. He didn't always know exactly what to do. He got better at that. He got better at having a short memory. I think the Tennessee game and some of the games where he had some plays given up, grew him up a lot. There's no good remedy to growing guys up other than go out there and play. He's played a lot of football, and he's playing well right now. He has to play within the system all the time. And that's important that he understands the technique we're asking him to play with. When he does that, he's a really good football player.”
Robinson started 12 games last fall, making 20 tackles with four INTs and seven more pass-breakups. Georgia desperately needed him back for 2026 and they got the job done.
The. there’s Demello Jones. The third-year defensive back from Swainsboro, Georgia flashed NFL-caliber cover skills at times last year who should be even better in 2026. He’s played a lot of football and is hungry to get back on the field after a tough Sugar Bowl performance.
“I've seen an improvement in his (Demello Jones) maturity and his mental makeup”, Smart said this spring. “He’s a typical corner that gets upset or frustrated if he gives up a play, and his recovery from that has been quicker. He's really physical. He's a really good tackler.”
“Demello can play safety if you want him too”, Smart added. “He plays the middle of the field really well. He's a really good athlete and he's stronger than the other guys. He doesn't sometimes look bigger, but he's more physical in terms of getting on and off blocks and striking people."
Other cornerbacks to know include USC transfer Braylon Conley, Oklahoma transfer Gentry Williams, sophomore Jontae Gilbert, among others
At safety, returning starter KJ Bolden is back for a third season that could very well be his last. The former five-star has 1st-round potential and could hear his name early in next April’s NFL Draft with another strong season this fall. He’s the leader. The playmaker. The one who could make all the difference for Georgia’s defense this fall.
Other safety’s competing for starting roles include sophomore Rasean Dinkins, junior Kyron Jones, veteran Zion Branch, sophomore Todd Robinson, and several impressive incoming freshman.
Of course, the Dawgs added more safety help in the portal as well. Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes, a Georgia native with three years of college football experience, didn’t transfer to Athens to sit on the bench. He’s here to compete and should see the field plenty this fall.
“He asserted himself right away”, Smart told reporters this spring. “He's smart, instinctive, and a veteran football player who has played a lot of snaps. He's been day-one guy that can go out there and plug and play.”
