Projecting Who's Staying and Who's Leaving from Georgia After Bowl Game

After a dominant win over Alabama in the SEC Championship, the second rematch of Georgia's campaign had a different result.

Ole Miss, which lost a 43-35 thriller to UGA in mid-October, continued its Lane Kiffin-less run with a 39-34 triumph in the Sugar Bowl. The result ended a promising season for Georgia at 12-2.

But this powerhouse is not disappearing anytime soon.

Fueled by years of elite recruiting under Kirby Smart, the Dawgs are built for long-term success. They'll need to replace a handful of top players yet—barring key transfers—already have a great foundation for the 2026 season.

Who's Staying

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Gunner Stockton

QB Gunner Stockton

Short of a surprising NFL draft declaration, Gunner Stockton will be back to oversee the offense in 2026. He totaled more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns this season, leaning on quick-pass efficiency and mobility to avoid mistakes—and essentially let UGA's defense control games.

Deep Backfield

Georgia's preferred identity is being a run-first team, and that requires a stable of capable backs. Nate Frazier topped 800 yards, Chauncey Bowens eclipsed 500 and Dwight Phillips Jr. added more than 200 in a reserve role. Throw in development of other young players, and UGA's backfield should be a strength.

Many Young Defenders

This season, 10 freshmen or sophomore defenders held significant roles. The headliner was safety KJ Bolden—a second-team All-SEC pick—yet the Dawgs also featured edges Quintavius Johnson and Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, D-tackles Xzavier McLeod and Elijah Griffin, linebackers Chris Cole and Justin Williams, cornerbacks Ellis Robinson IV and Demello Jones and safety Kyron Jones. For good measure, Rasean DInkins started at nickel late in the season.

Who's Leaving

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CJ Allen

Leading Targets

Under the premise that top receiver Zachariah Branch heads to the NFL, the Dawgs need to almost completely revamp the pass-catching group. Colbie Young, Dillon Bell, Noah Thomas and tight end Oscar Delp are out of eligibility. Tight end Lawson Luckie may entertain the pros, too.

Future NFL Draft Picks

Along with Branch, a few more underclassmen could declare for the draft. Star linebacker CJ Allen is a possible first-round selection, while defensive tackle Christen Miller has that upside. Left tackle Monroe Freeling will likely leave, too.

Outgoing Transfers

Departures are inevitable, and announcements will soon follow Georgia's exit from the postseason. To date, the known players are a couple of reserves: cornerback Daniel Harris and Pearce Spurlin III.

Who's on the Way

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Incoming Transfers

Thanks to its annually top-ranked recruiting classes, UGA can take a selective approach to the portal. The emphasis will be on immediate-impact players, and the main position of need is wide receiver. Last offseason, the Dawgs reeled in Branch. Can they make another splash?

Standouts in the Secondary

The next wave of Georgia freshmen includes a trio of top-100 defensive backs, starting with corner Justice Fitzpatrick (58th overall). He'll be joined at the position by Caden Harris (75th), while Jordan Smith (88th) is a standout at safety.

Top-10 Recruiting Class

Georgia's highest-ranked prospect is 5-star offensive tackle Ekene Ognoko, who checks in 33rd nationally. Tight end Kaiden Prothro narrowly missed a 5-star billing but is 35th. Among the 27 signed players, 21 are blue-chip talents. Georgia has signed a top-10 class in every full cycle of Smart's tenure.