Projected Offensive MVP:
Alistair:
Georgia has more weapons than I thought possible going into 2018. However, their offense will go as far as their offensive line carries them and one lineman stands out more than the others. Andrew Thomas has exceeded all expectations since arriving in Athens and for me, he’s one of the best linemen in the entire country. The Dawgs could lose a lot of players and still go undefeated in the 2018 season but they cannot afford to lose a franchise left tackle who will likely be a top 10 NFL draft pick in 2 years. It’s not the sexy pick, but there’s nobody else that can step in and reach his level on the roster. That makes him the clear MVP in my mind.
Davis:
D’Andre Swift will be Georgia’s offensive MVP in 2018. I truly believe he’s going to have a monster season for the Dawgs. He wasn’t heavily used as a freshman so he’s fresh and ready to take on the role of Georgia’s featured back on offense. With a massive offensive line in front of him, expect him to put up huge numbers this season, both as a rusher and a receiver out of the backfield.
Kyle:
That might be too close to call. Fields would keep Fromm from getting the recognition. Cook and Holyfield would do the same to Swift. And Robertson and Ridley will do that to Godwin as well. My pick may come as surprise, but I’m choosing Isaac Nauta. This is finally the year that he takes over as the superstar he was expected to become back in 2016.
He’s one of the largest athletes I’ve ever seen, and at tight end, that means he can be a game-changer in multiple ways. I expect him to get more looks in the passing game, possibly accumulate 400-to-500 yards while leading the team in receiving touchdowns. Then there’s his blocking which should go unmatched because of his mix of speed and power.
He’s not going to wow anybody constantly. But I think when you look at his overall body of work in January, you’ll see that he’s the most valuable player on offense.
Mike:
Easy one for me, Jake Fromm. Fromm isn’t just a game manager. Let’s go ahead and put that myth to bed people. While his overall yardage numbers from 2017 may not be the most eye-popping, Fromm just has “it”. He’s a winner that makes the other offensive players around him better. With the maturation of Mecole Hardman, Terry Godwin, Riley Ridley, and the off-season addition of Cal transfer Demetris Robertson, Fromm’s numbers will go up in 2018. Our passing game will be the best it has been since the Aaron Murray days. And even with Justin Fields getting reps, it will ultimately be Fromm who makes the 2018 offense click and be a more balanced one than the 2017 unit.