After losing to Ole Miss in the final seconds in the Sugar Bowl, it is time for Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs staff to pick up the pieces in the transfer portal. Over the last several years, Georgia has been an active participant in rounding out its roster by way of the portal. They usually go after wide receivers and defensive backs for the most part, but they are not going to rule out any player...
As of Sunday, Jan. 4, the only player to commit to Georgia out of the portal was former local high school product Khalil Barnes. He played his first three seasons of college football over at Clemson for Dabo Swinney. Prior to committing to playing for the Tigers, Barnes had been a star for North Oconee High School just down the road in Bogart, Georgia. Barnes picked Georgia over Ole Miss in the portal.
So what we are going to do today is look at five players who have already entered the transfer portal who could have some interest in coming to Georgia. Not all of them will, but maybe one or two of them end up joining Barnes as part of this year's transfer portal class for UGA? Keep in mind that this is the only transfer portal window of this academic year. If a guy does not transfer, he will have to wait.
Let's get started with a massive offensive lineman who could be a piece to help offset some attrition.
5. Florida State Seminoles OT Lucas Simmons
Lucas Simmons is one of many players leaving Florida State this offseason by way of the transfer portal. It is honestly that Mike Norvell still has a job in Tallahassee. While he once was a transfer portal king not that long ago, more and more players like Simmons are getting the notion that winning at Florida State may be a distant memory. Why does Georgia have interest in this portal player anyway?
Despite only being a three-star portal prospect, the No. 64 offensive tackle and No. 916 overall player in this transfer portal cycle is every bit of 6-foot-8 and 311 pounds. You cannot teach that size, man! Georgia is one of four places Simmons is visiting, along with Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, and Wisconsin. The Dawgs could use a savvy veteran in the trenches who has been in college since 2023.
Of the four places Simmons is visiting, Georgia feels like the most stable program among the quartet.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe
The biggest area where Georgia needs to address in the transfer portal might once again be wide receiver. With guys like Zachariah Branch, Noah Thomas, and Colbie Young all on the precipice of turning pro, Smart and the rest of his staff may need to get Gunner Stockton a plethora of new weapons to work with. Who they land in the transfer portal is going to matter so much for this team.
One player who has been tied to Georgia in some capacity is former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe. Georgia is expected to get him in for a visit now that he is back in the portal. Mbakwe was a former five-star recruit coming out of high school in 2024. In this transfer portal class, he ranks as the No. 25 wide receiver and the No. 97 overall prospect. His stock has been depreciated.
Mbakwe will have other suitors, but there is a decent chance Georgia may land this Alabama defector.
3. Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Jayce Brown
Look for Georgia to be after more than one wide receiver in this transfer portal class. Not only could Branch declare, but Thomas, Young, and Dillon Bell could all be gone as well. One player who is slated to visit Athens would be former Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Jayce Brown. The four-star transfer portal prospect grew up in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, much closer to Georgia than K-State.
Like Florida State transfer portal entrant Lucas Simmons, Brown has one more year of eligibility. With Chris Klieman opting to retire and Collin Klein taking over his alma mater, that makes for an easier time for Brown to leave K-State to play relatively closer to home. Besides, Georgia transfer portal wide receivers have been highly productive in recent years. Maybe this will improve his draft stock?
For now, Brown has a ton of interest in the transfer portal, but he would be a big get for UGA anyway.
2. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Isiah Canion
Keep an eye on this one... Although he has played for a major rival of Georgia Tech the last two years, wide receiver Isiah Canion could potentially turn heel and come play Between the Hedges for Georgia. With two years of eligibility left, Canion can blossom with Gunner Stockton throwing him the ball. There are reasons for him to leave Georgia Tech at this point in time as well. Well, what are they?
First off, Haynes King is out of eligibility at quarterback. With ofensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and quarterback Aaron Philo off to Florida, the Gators could be an intriguing landing spot for him as well. The Warner Robins native is the No. 6 wide receiver in this transfer portal class and the No. 22 overall prospect. Odds are, Canion is going to pick either Florida or Georgia. Battle hard for this one!
The slight mean for continuity sake might be to go to Florida, but why would Georgia even want that?
1. USC Trojans defensive lineman Devan Thompkins
Along with addressing the wide receiver room and the offensive line to some extent, Georgia may need to add a piece or two to its defensive front-seven. One such player who would look so good in Red and Black would be former USC Trojans defensive lineman Devan Thompkins. For the Stockton, California native, this will be his final year of eligibility. Coming to Georgia makes a ton of sense here.
Whether it be the Branch Brothers, or defensive backs coach Donte Williams, all three of them have connections to both UGA and USC. Thompkins has been tied to Georgia throughout the process already. The four-star transfer portal prospect is the No. 2 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 18 overall prospect in the portal now. He is the exact type of player Georgia usually targets here.
As is the case with any top-50 transfer portal prospect, Georgia will have stiff competition for him.
When does the transfer portal close?
This year's transfer portal closes on Friday, Jan. 16. It will be open for two weeks this year, with a five-day window extension for the two national championship participants from Tuesday, Jan. 20 through Saturday, Jan. 24. This will be the only transfer portal window for this year. There is no spring transfer portal window. So teams like Georgia and everyone in college football must act fast before it closes.