In 2021, Georgia football had a historic defense full of star-studded playmakers that bullied everyone they faced. They were one of the best scoring defenses in history, and people will remember that 2021 unit as they do the 2011 Alabama squad, the old Miami defenses, and countless others.
The Dawgs will have to replace eight guys who either started or put in significant playing time and saw defensive coordinator Dan Lanning leave for the Oregon head coaching job, but it isn’t detrimental.
While Georgia will have new faces all over that defense, at the same time, the Dawgs also return eight guys grade on PFF with a 70 or higher returning, so they will have experience as well in areas that need it.
So while it sucks to see these incredibly talented players leave, the Dawgs reloaded and will have another strong defense.
Georgia football will see these five guys lead the way on defense in 2022.
Glenn Schumann and Will Muschamp will spearhead this defense as they are co-defensive coordinators, replacing Lanning, but both have already put their mark on this program.
Schumann was head coach Kirby Smart’s first hire and has been incredible developing and recruiting through six seasons. Muschamp is an experienced defensive coordinator, so the pair together will be quite powerful.
Last season, the Dawgs gave up just 10.2 points a game, 78.9 rushing, 190 passing and 268.9 total yards a game. They were dominant, and that is putting it lightly. They finished the year with 99 tackles for loss, 49 sacks, 16 interceptions, 62 pass breakups, 263 quarterback pressures, five fumble recoveries, 10 forced fumbles and five blocked kicks.
Sure the guys leaving are responsible, but those coming back are just as responsible and did as much.
There are far more than the five guys we mention in this article coming back to lead the defense, but we couldn’t include everyone.
The honorable mentions are William Poole III, Dan Jackson, Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Smael Mondon Jr., and many more. While the 2021 defense was historic, the 2022 one can also leave a mark, and these five players who Georgia is glad are back to lead in 2022.