Dawg fans, we have finally arrived at the most excellent time of the year: football season! It is great to be back for another year to talk Bulldog Football as we enter another season of high expectations for this Georgia program. With that being said, there are also question marks surrounding this team, with many new faces expected to step up and try to take the Dawgs to their third National Championship in the last five years.
Georgia kicks off their highly anticipated 2025 season tomorrow at 3:30
and can be viewed on ESPN, taking on the defending Sun Belt champions, the Marshall Thundering Herd. While the Thundering Herd are the reigning Sun Belt champs, this team will be a shadow of its 2024 squad, as they lost plenty of key players, including Sun Belt Player of the Year, Mike Green, who led the FBS with 17 total sacks, prompting him to a second-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens. Marshall also lost their Head Coach, Charles Huff, who took the Southern Mississippi job at the end of the season. Former North Carolina State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson is now the leader of the Thundering Herd program, as he aims to maintain the success Marshall has experienced over the last couple of years.
Alright, enough about Marshall for now, let’s talk about the Dawgs. It’s no secret that Georgia will have a lot of newness within their program this year as well. Whether it be Gunner Stockton taking over the helm at quarterback, a revamped wide receiver room that has the potential to be Georgia’s most talented group on this entire team, or a completely brand new offensive line filled with guys who have waited their turn and developed over the last couple of years. Some have said that Georgia’s success or failures can all be attributed to how the offensive line performs this season, and I couldn’t agree more. Which leads me to the main match-up we need to look for come kick-off. That match-up is Georgia’s O-line vs. Marshall’s front seven.
Marshall loaded up in the portal this past season, as they are expected to send out 18 transfers among the starting 22 they put on the field. A lot of those transfers will be on the defensive side of the football. Georgia must set the tone at the line of scrimmage and get its run game back on track. If the Dawgs’ O-line is unable to win the battle in the trenches, it could throw off the entire offensive system like a domino effect. Lackluster blocking in the trenches can lead to an ineffective or non-existent run game, resulting in more pressure being put on Gunner Stockton to make explosive plays. If Stockton is put in that position, it doesn’t matter how talented the new receiver room is; if he’s not protected in the pocket, he will struggle to make his reads and deliver the ball on time and accurately.
With that being said, do I expect the Dawgs’ O-line to struggle? The answer is no. I have faith in Kirby’s decision to stick with the guys who have been developed within the program and waited their turn. While there isn’t much, the Georgia O-line will still have guys with a little bit of experience under their belt. Guys like Drew Bobo, Monroe Freeling, Micah Morris, and Earnest Greene all have experience and high ceilings and should prove Coach Smart’s decision to stick with them right and rebound from what was a lackluster 2024 season as a unit.
Prediction UGA-38 Marshall 14
When it comes down to it, Georgia should dominate this game. This Bulldog team is comprised of individuals who have remained committed to the program and have developed. They’ve added great weapons to their receiver room in Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas to go along with Dillon Bell and Colbie Young. They have a talented backfield that will be led by Sophomore running back Nate Frazier, along with Illinois transfer Josh McCray. Hopefully, Redshirt Sophomore Roderick Robinson will get in on the action as well and have himself a breakthrough season to round out that position room.
On the defensive side of the ball, they have several experienced players returning who will serve as leaders, including C.J. Allen and Daylen Everette. Last but not least, they will be led by a guy who oozes toughness and leadership at the quarterback position in Gunner Stockton. I expect Georgia to establish the run game early, which will open up big plays downfield for Stockton to build chemistry with his receivers quickly. The defense should fly around to the football as usual and set the tone for the upcoming season, as this should be a hungry Dawg team overall.
Many people may think the Dawgs just won’t get it done this year, but I’m not one of those people, and I hope they prove me right, starting tomorrow. As always, Go Dawgs!!
