After missing the College Football Playoff in 2023, the Georgia Bulldogs are out for revenge this year. A team that’s full of talent stocked up in the transfer portal and should be poised to make a run back to the top of college football.
Kirby Smart kept the machine rolling in the offseason, and the top 10 returning players headline a loaded group in 2024. A hiccup last year has this team focused, with current and former players believing the dynasty isn’t going anywhere.
Georgia Bulldogs’ Top 10 Returners 2024
10) Smael Mondon, LB
Whether you think Smael Mondon or CJ Allen is the better linebacker, you’re right. Both are tremendous talents and will have the Bulldogs defense firing on all cylinders. Even with Jamon Dumas-Johnson hitting the portal, Mondon returns to lead an immense unit.
He’s an athletic playmaker for this defense. While he doesn’t quite have the size to take on bigger blockers, Mondon’s quickness helps him beat those players to his spot.
It also makes him a good cover player, and the Bulldogs staff should ask more of him now that he has multiple years of experience.
9) Dillon Bell, WR
Georgia’s Swiss Army Knife offensively is set to take on a more significant role this year. After posting career highs in catches and yards, Dillon Bell gives the Bulldogs a versatile weapon they can utilize in both the passing and the run games.
He caught 29 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 25 times for 157 yards and two more scores in 2023.
With Brock Bowers headed to the draft, this offense hopes to find someone who can line up all over the field like he did. Bell should fill that role well.
8) Tate Ratledge, OG
Even though he ruffled some feathers with his comments about Sanford Stadium, Tate Ratledge will be a fan favorite this year. While the focus was mainly on Amarius Mims this past season, Ratledge put together an impressive season.
He was a force in pass protection and helped set the tone for an improved rushing attack. Now, as a veteran of the offense, Ratledge could take on more of a leadership role up front. The skill position talent is set, so it comes down to the quality of play from guys like him.
7) Mykel Williams, DE
While Mykel Williams didn’t live up to the preseason hype last year, he’s still a talented player ready to break out for the Bulldogs defense. He posted the same number of tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (4.5) as he did in 2022, and did it in four fewer games.
He has the power and quickness to be a force on the edge, but he’s also displayed the strength to move inside when needed.
The Bulldogs return a talented group under defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, and Williams should play a crucial role in their 2024 success.
6) London Humphreys, WR
Vanderbilt transfers haven’t always created a buzz, but lately, they’ve been valuable additions to various teams. While the Bulldogs offense might not need help when it comes to talent offensively, they still added an experienced receiver in London Humphreys.
MORE: Georgia 2025 Football Schedule: List of Bulldogs’ SEC Opponents
Humphreys is a smooth route runner, and it often doesn’t look like he’s trying. Don’t let that fool you because he can take a simple slant to the house at any moment (Georgia knows this firsthand). The Bulldogs boasted the 11th-best passing attack from last year, and they could be even better in 2024.
5) Oscar Delp, TE
No Brock Bowers? No problem. The Bulldogs reload at multiple positions thanks to Smart and his staff’s elite recruiting efforts, tight end included. Bowers leaves a big hole to fill in the offense, but having a player like Oscar Delp back eases the pain from that loss.
Can Delp be Bowers? Probably not, but the Bulldogs won’t ask him to be. He’s a reliable pass catcher who can make his own mark, and he brings a big frame downfield at 6’5″ and 245 pounds.
4) Trevor Etienne, RB
Trevor Etienne’s decision to enter the transfer portal was inevitable, and it will be exciting to see him as the feature back for the first time in his collegiate career.
With the Bulldogs losing multiple contributors from their running back room, Smart knew he had to find an instant impact player. He found that in Etienne.
Brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back and former Clemson Tiger Travis Etienne, Trevor is electric — just like his brother.
He’s not the biggest back, but his quickness makes him a nightmare to stop. He now joins an offense that should put him in space, and he knows what to do from there.
3) Colbie Young, WR
It felt like Colbie Young was on the verge of a monster season last fall, but inconsistent play from the Miami Hurricanes offense limited his effectiveness.
He considered staying with the ACC program but ultimately entered the portal and ended up in Athens. Now, he joins a passing attack set for a huge season, and his 6’3″ and 215-pound frame will be a tremendous asset in this offense.
2) Carson Beck, QB
He started his 2024 season with an incredible new NIL deal, and now he’s turning his attention to football. With an entire season of experience under his belt, Carson Beck could be set for an even better season in 2024.
He took over from Stetson Bennett and performed well for a first-time starter, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns.
With Bell, Young, Delp, and Humphreys catching passes this year, plenty of optimism surrounds the offense. If the offensive line can identify replacements for a couple of departures, then the Bulldogs are locked and loaded for a deep run.
Beck also looks to make a run for the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft on top of that College Football National Championship quest.
1) Malaki Starks, S
With how well the Bulldogs recruit, it’s no surprise to see certain players switch positions even when they start the previous year.
Malaki Starks started for the Bulldogs at corner during their national championship run in 2021, but made the transition to safety to fit the team’s needs better and maximize his skill set.
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