ATHENS - Roquan Smith. Nakobe Dean. Jalon Walker.
Is Chris Cole next?
Kirby Smart and Glenn Schumann have developed three Butkus Award winners since 2017. All during their third season in Athens.
Schumann does brings back senior Raylen Wilson, one of the team’s leaders on defense, but there’s plenty of buzz surrounding junior linebacker Chris Cole heading into fall camp this week.
The former five-star prospect from Virginia made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2024 before becoming a household name for Bulldog fans last fall, recording 60 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
DON’T FORGET YOUR FANDUEL BETS!!
According to FanDuel, the San Antonio Spurs have +270 odds to win the NBA Finals next summer.
The 6-foot-3 235-pounder earned high praise on Monday during Smart’s press conference to open fall camp.
“I'm excited about what Chris Cole can do”, Smart told reporters. “Look, there's not a higher character player on our team than Chris Cole. This guy is the hardest worker. He hits the highest speeds. He plays with the most energy and enthusiasm. There's not a day that we don't show a clip in the team meeting of a guy that's chasing down a ball and running down a ball.”
Effort? Toughness? Enthusiasm?
Chris Cole is Smart’s dream linebacker. The former high school safety is a rangy athlete who put on some really good weight towards the end of his high school career. Once he got to Athens, not only did he hit the ground running on the gridiron, but he continued to put on good weight and muscle mass.
Now, expectations couldn’t be higher. The jump from year one to year two was significant, but year three is where three former Bulldogs have lifted the Butkus.
Cole’s “FPE” and natural talent could allow him to possibly etch his name in Bulldog history this upcoming season.
“He never saves up”, Smart added. “He's the consummate, "I'm gonna lay it all on the line the first 10 plays, and if I have to get an IV, I do it." He doesn't save up anything. He embodies what we want in terms of effort, toughness, comes from a great family, and I think he's had one of the best off-seasons. I'm excited to see him go out and compete and play for our team.”
