Georgia football is one day away from their annual G-Day which is one of the most exciting times of the offseason for fans. How will the transfers perform? Who will be the starting quarterback? How will the incoming freshman fit in? How will Georgia replace all their talent lost from last season?
All of these questions and much more will be answered on Saturday when the Bulldogs take the field at Sanford Stadium.
So in preparation for this game, here are three things to pay extra close attention to during G-Day.
1. Does the offense have an identity?
Last season, the Bulldogs struggled to find their identity offensively, and it showed as they struggled to find consistency game to game. One week, the passing game was on, and the run game was off, while the next week it was the passing game that was off while the run game was on. With Gunner Stockton taking over the reigns at quarterback, Georgia will likely get back to their run-first offense, but that is something to watch out for on Saturday.
2. Can the Georgia defense return to peak form?
For years, Georgia was the defensive standard across all of college football. Last year however, they weren’t bad, but similar to the offense, the defensive performances were inconsistent. Whether it be dominating Texas and holding them under 20 points twice, or allowing 31 to Mississippi State, 28 to Ole Miss, and 41 to Alabama, no one knew what they would get from this defense.
Key losses for UGA's defense include Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, Smael Mondon Jr., and Malakai Starks, so it will be interesting to see if the defense can get back to the level of play seen from 2020-2023.
3. Zachariah Branch
Georgia was able to bring in dynamic wide receiver Zachariah Branch from USC through the transfer portal. He’ll immediately provide the Dawgs with explosive play out wide, something they didn’t have last year. Branch was fantastic as a freshman for the Trojans but took a big step back last year. However, if Georgia can unlock him, Branch is more than capable of being not just the best receiver on the team but the best offensive player for Georiga overall this season.