2026 Georgia Position Group Breakdown, Nick Chubb's Time in Athens, Playoff Predictions

Dawgbone Jr's Weekend Observations: Born barkin', raised on Kirby's domination of rivals, and fueled by SEC and National championships - Dawgbone Jr recaps the weekend's biggest games all season long.

Dawgs 2026 Position Groups

QB

Unlike last year, the Dawgs will start the season with a very experienced quarterback in Gunner Stockton, coming into his second year as the starting quarterback. Gunner is just one of those guys the players are willing to die for. His leadership outmatches most other former starting QBs for the Dawgs. There are obviously no questions about who the starter is, because Gunner is more than capable of leading this team to a national title, but there are questions about the backup quarterback. The first name that comes to mind is Ryan Puglisi, who was the backup last year. Puglisi was a four-star recruit from Connecticut in the class of 2024, and this season is big for him, even as the backup, because he needs to play well if/when he's called on, to potentially be the starter next season. Puglisi still has major competition for that backup job from Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender, who has played great in fall camp. If a Gunner injury were to occur, don't be surprised if Millender trots out onto the field. This year is clearly Gunner's year, but next year could belong to anyone, including a potential transfer brought in to fill the starting role.

RB

This year's RB room may be the best it's been since the two national title years. Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens make an elite duo, considering the state of college football today. Most teams don't have two great RB options like the Dawgs have. Frazier is more of the explosive type of back, while Bowens can be explosive but is a great short-yardage runner. Running backs get injured a lot, so it's very important the Dawgs figure out a third option. That would have been Dante Dowdell, but with his devastating injury, I'd expect the third back to be sophomore Bo Walker. Walker has looked like a standout so far in fall camp, so expect him to get meaningful reps during the season. Dwight Phillips Jr. will also see playing time, and he can be very explosive with the speed he carries.

WR

This room is by far the most questionable heading into the season. The Dawgs were very good here last year with guys like Zachariah Branch and Colbie Young. This season has a lot of unknowns in the room, but one known is London Humphreys. Humphreys is heading into his third year with the Dawgs and has been very consistent in his first two. Another guy to watch is transfer receiver Isaiah Canion. Canion came from Georgia Tech and didn't put up huge stats there, primarily because of the run-heavy offense Tech runs. Canion is the Colbie Young/Noah Thomas replacement. He's 6'4", 205 lbs, and should hopefully be a major threat to opposing defenses. The rest of the room is unproven and young, but talented, and could turn out great. Sacovie White-Helton will be the Branch replacement at the slot position and will likely be the punt returner as well. White-Helton hasn't played much in his two previous years in Athens but will get a lot of playing time this year. Guys like Talyn Taylor and CJ Wiley, both from the 2025 class, will play and are young, talented players. These two could end up being stars of the offense down the road. Finally, keep an eye on true freshman Craig Dandridge, because he's going to steal someone's job in this receiving room.

TE

This is one of two position groups on this roster that's the best in college football, the TE room is that deep. There are about five guys here who could start at most schools around the country. Lawson Luckie is the veteran of the group and the most reliable. Luckie had a hat trick of touchdowns in last year's regular season game against Ole Miss, so hopefully we'll see games like that again this season. The most talented TE in this room, maybe the most talented in the country, is Elyiss Williams. Williams is 6'7", 255 lbs, and will be on the field more than any other tight end on this roster. Jaden Redell had a great spring and is expected to be a major part of this offense, alongside true freshman Kaiden Protho. Protho will also play in the slot in addition to tight end. Ethan Barbour is another name in the room; he played a lot in his first two games last year as a true freshman until a nasty leg injury held him out until the Sugar Bowl, which he started. Not much else to say about this room other than they should be elite.

O-line

The Dawgs have seemed inconsistent on the offensive line over the past couple of years, but this year could be the best offensive line under Kirby Smart yet. We'll start with center Drew Bobo. Drew is one of the team captains and has a great relationship with Gunner. Last year we saw how big a loss he was in the Sugar Bowl when he was out with injury. Another veteran on the line is senior tackle Earnest Greene III. Earnest has played in many games for the Dawgs but is finally coming into the season fully healthy after dealing with injuries the past two seasons. The two sophomores who played all of last year are back: tackle Juan Gaston, who just might become the best tackle in college football down the line, and guard Dontrell Glover, who was something of a surprise starter last year but was elite by season's end. Two true freshmen will also see the field, most notably guard Zykie Helton. Helton was a four-star recruit from Carrollton, GA, and has had a great offseason in Athens to earn that spot. The other freshman is tackle Ekene Ogboko, who will get playing time after a great fall camp.

D-line

The defensive line is another group that's a little questionable heading into the 2026 season. The Dawgs finished last in the SEC in sacks last year, so this D-line needs to be much, much better this season. Elijah Griffin needs to be the guy up front. Georgia defenses are used to having a game-wrecker on the D-line, and Griffin needs to be that guy, since he's by far the most talented player in the room. Xavier McLeod and Josh Horton are two reliable, experienced defensive tackles. Jordan Hall is heading into a huge year after suffering a season-ending injury against Florida last year. Hall has always been a solid player for the Dawgs, but now it's time for him to be as great as I know he can be. The main defensive ends will be Gabe Harris Jr. and Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, who steps in for the loss of Amaris Williams, the Auburn transfer who suffered a season-ending injury after being expected to play a big role. Gabe Harris Jr. is coming off a toe injury but was playing the best football of his career by the end of last regular season. Quintavius Johnson will be the OLB in this front, and it's a massive year for him. The Dawgs struggled badly to get after the quarterback last year, and he could become the guy who changes that. Another OLB to watch is true freshman Chase Linton, who has drawn a lot of praise this offseason and could be another great pass rusher for Kirby and the Dawgs.

Inside LB

Just like the TE room, this group is the best in all of college football. The two starters are Chris Cole and Raylen Wilson. Wilson is heading into his senior year and is the leader of this defense, while Cole is the best player on the whole team and will be the highest-drafted player on this roster in the 2027 draft. Cole can get after the quarterback pretty well too. It doesn't stop there, either. They also have guys like Justin Williams and Zayden Walker, two young players who've already seen the field. Williams was a five-star recruit heading into his third year. He's grown steadily as a player, and linebackers in year three under Kirby have historically had breakout years, so he could be next. Zayden Walker is heading into his second year but played a lot of snaps at the end of last season. Also expect senior and former walk-on Terrell Foster to get some playing time in his final year. Expect this room to simply take over games, because it's elite.

DB

The DB room has always been the most questionable group on the defense under Kirby Smart, but not this year. It's flooded with depth and future NFL talent. The two starting cornerbacks are pretty obvious. Ellis Robinson IV is the first, and he's one of the best corners in the country, likely a first-round pick after this season. The other is Demello Jones, who broke out midway through last year. A lot of people like to clown Demello for getting beat late in the Sugar Bowl on the play that led to Ole Miss's game-winning field goal. The receiver who beat him ,De’Zhaun Stribling, torched everyone he faced last year and will be an NFL starter. Demello is a fantastic corner and will have a great season this year. The safety room is led by KJ Bolden, one of the best safeties under Kirby Smart and another likely first-round pick out of this DB room. The real question is who lines up next to him. Between Zion Branch, Resean Dinkins, Ja'Marley Riddle, and Kyron Jones, who knows who starts. Most likely all of them will get playing time. The Star position belongs to Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes, who started for Clemson all three of his years there, making him a huge offseason pickup for the Dawgs. Finally, true freshman Tyriq "Boogie" Green will also potentially see time at safety.

Nick Chubb's Retirement

Nick Chubb retiring was inevitable given the injuries he dealt with, but man, was it sad to see. Chubb is one of the best humans and players to ever come out of Athens, humble and quiet, while being the ultimate team player. In his first college game, the Dawgs played Clemson at home in a top-25 matchup, and Chubb had four carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. He started his college career hot and finished hot. His second year brought a gruesome knee injury against Tennessee, but he bounced back in 2016 and dominated in 2017. Chubb rushed for 1,345 yards his senior season with 15 total touchdowns, and in the Rose Bowl he rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown. He's also second only to Herschel Walker on the all-time SEC career rushing list. Nick Chubb is the most likable Dawg of all time and one of the damnedest good Dawgs there is.

CFP Predictions

Notre Dame
Georgia
Ohio State
Miami
Oregon
Texas
Indiana
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
Ole Miss
Alabama
UNLV

Dawgbone Jr (aka Bennett Wiggins)