Georgia Football: Bulldogs' Most Important Players at Each Position

Summer workouts are in full swing for the Georgia Bulldogs, but it won’t be long before all players must report to Athens to take part in fall camp. Once camp starts, the entire team has to be focused and ready for what could be a very rewarding 2015 season if everything goes according to plan.

There will be certain players for the Bulldogs that need to be on top of their games in order for the team to win consistently. Guys like Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins, Quincy Mauger and Nick Chubb will have to play like they did in 2014, because if they don’t live up to expectations, it could be a long season at Sanford Stadium.

But are they the most important players on the team? If they really don’t play up to their standard, will the team really falter?

Here are the most important players for each position.

Quarterback

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Most Important Player: Greyson Lambert

This would have gone to redshirt sophomore Brice Ramsey had the Bulldogs not decided to bring in Virginia transfer Greyson Lambert. The signal-caller from Wayne County, Georgia, is 6’5’’ and has great arm-strength. However, that is not the only reason why he’s making his way to Athens.

The other two quarterbacks on the roster (Ramsey and Faton Bauta) don’t have the same in-game experience as Lambert. Last season at Virginia, Lambert started nine games and threw 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Those aren’t staggering numbers by any means, but Lambert will be working with a lot more talent in front and behind him at UGA. He was not brought in to ride the bench, but he will have to work his way up the depth chart. And if he’s able to do that, the Bulldogs’ quarterback situation will no longer be a situation.

Running Backs

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Most Important Players: Nick Chubb, Sony Michel

We all know what type of player Nick Chubb is after he set the conference on fire with over 1,500 rushing yards last season. He will need to have the same success this season in order for the Bulldogs to win the SEC East.

However, Sony Michel is also just as important as a change-of-pace back that played well when healthy last season.

And that’s the key to both Chubb and Michel—staying healthy. There is no doubt that both players can make an impact on the field at any given point of the game. However, if one or both have to miss time because of injuries, the offense will take a few steps back, especially when there is a new quarterback in play.

Receivers/Tight Ends

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Most Important Players: Malcolm Mitchell, Justin Scott-Wesley, Jeb Blazevich

Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley are two guys that can stretch the field when they are healthy, which wasn’t the case last season as both were coming off ACL injuries they suffered in 2013.

Now that it’s 2015, both players will be 100 percent when the season begins. And with quarterbacks like Lambert and Ramsey that can throw the ball downfield, there’s a chance Mitchell and Scott-Wesley could put up some big numbers in their final seasons in Athens.

As for tight end Jeb Blazevich, he came on strong in the latter part of the 2014 season and should take a step forward this season. Senior Jay Rome will also be a player to watch at the tight end position, as he is also entering his final season, but Blazevich has great hands and is a more reliable target on third downs.

Offensive Line

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Most Important Players: John Theus, Kolton Houston

Georgia's offensive line is talented and experienced, so an argument could be made that all five starters are the most important for the position.

However, seniors John Theus and Kolton Houston are the two leaders of the group, and both man the ends of the line.

Theus has seen the most action out of any offensive lineman on the roster, and he has gotten better with every snap he takes. Houston made his debut last season after sitting out the last couple of years due to NCAA rules. He was able to hold his own at right tackle last season, which was one of the reasons the Bulldogs led the conference in rushing.

Defensive Line

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 Most Important Players: Trent Thompson, Sterling Bailey

Although Trent Thompson has not yet taken a snap in a UGA uniform, there’s a really good chance he will see a lot of action this year as the defensive line needs a boost when it comes to impact players.

Thompson has all the tools to be an elite defensive lineman. It’s just a matter of getting him up to speed before the season begins.

Senior Sterling Bailey will be a big help for Thompson this season. Bailey is the most consistent player on the defense line, and with him producing on the field as well as mentoring Thompson, that could lead to big things for both players.

Linebackers

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Most Important Players: Jordan Jenkins, Leonard Floyd

Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd are not only the most important players at their position, they very well could be the most important players on the entire defense.

Both players are very good at rushing the passer, especially Floyd, who has led the team in sacks the last two seasons. But the duo will also be leaders on the unit, as they are two of the team's most experienced defensive players.

With two new inside linebackers coming into the fold, which will likely be juniors Reggie Carter and Tim Kimbrough, Jenkins and Floyd will help them along as well as getting the new defensive linemen on the same page. They will be what Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson were to the defense the last two seasons.

Secondary

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Most Important Players: Quincy Mauger, Aaron Davis

The secondary is much improved from what it was a couple of years ago, but the unit is still young. Junior Quincy Mauger returns as the most productive defensive back on the roster, and he will have to be the leader of the secondary, especially when playing with freshmen and sophomores.

Redshirt sophomore Aaron Davis struggled in the early stages of the 2014 season, but started to improve as the year rolled on. Davis plays with a lot of energy and never takes plays off. His lead-by-example mentality will only benefit the secondary going forward.