One of Georgia football’s biggest concerns from 2025 is again set to have a lot of question marks surrounding it this year.
When EDGE rusher Amaris Williams tore his ACL in March, it was a crushing blow to a defense in desperate need of pass-rush help. The Bulldogs went and got Williams, a former five-star recruit in high school, to provide some athleticism, power and overall juice to one of the SEC’s most underachieving units in 2025, but they will have to wait another year before watching him take the field in a Georgia uniform.
Georgia's defensive front has much to prove in 2026
The Bulldogs had just 20 sacks in 2025, the lowest total in the SEC. And though the group’s production picked up towards the end of the year and Kirby Smart was adamant sacks don’t tell the whole story of pass rushing prowess, it was undeniable that more disruptive plays up front were needed.Â
That came to a head in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, where the Bulldogs couldn’t lay a finger on fleet-footed Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and lost 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl.Â
So without Williams as an option, who can be counted on to bring the juice off the edge for Georgia in 2026? Well, there seem to be more options than there were in 2025, even with the injury.
Geogia veterans must step up to fix their woes from last season
Senior Gabe Harris and Quintavius Johnson are back after serving as Georgia’s bookend starters last season. Both players are strong, rugged edge setters against the run and were very good for the Bulldogs on early downs as a result, but they don’t offer much upside as pass rushers.
It’ll be good for Georgia to have them back in the lineup, especially Harris, whose absence due to injury in the Sugar Bowl was certainly felt in the running game. But the real, passing down, “pin-your-ears-back-and-go” sort of pass rush that Georgia is missing? Gonna have to come from some other players.
Chris Cole is back for what will be his junior season, and Smart said he’s stepped up quite a bit this spring as a pass rusher. But Cole also possesses the coverage skills and run fit instincts to play inside linebacker. And though that versatility is a good problem to have, it may cut into Cole’s snaps as a pure pass rusher as defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann searches for the best way to maximize his talent.
"In terms of pass rush, we've had some guys really grow, get better,” Smart said after G-Day. “We're going to have to get some help from our youth, too.”
A trio of 2025 signees, Isaiah Gibson, Darren Ikinnagbon and Chase Linton have a chance to step up in that regard. Gibson and Linton are still redshirt freshmen, and both have gotten good marks in the spring. With year one under their belts, at least one of them should be looked at as a difference-maker in 2026 for their length, power and explosiveness.
“He plays with twitch, and he plays bigger than he is,” Smart said about Linton. “I've been very pleased with Chase's progress, and we need him to get better to give us some of the pass rush we need."Â
2026 signee Khamari Brooks made his presence felt on G-Day with two sacks, showcasing some real burst. He could be in the mix as a speed specialist on later downs with the potential to grow into more as he fills out his frame.
Sophomore Zayden Walker should also not be forgotten after a strong second half of 2025 that saw him record sacks against Alabama and Texas despite his original position being inside linebacker. It should be interesting to see how Georgia deploys him now with more bodies at edge rusher.
Redshirt sophomore defensive end Joseph Jonah-Ajonye is sneakily one of the more experienced players on the line now for Georgia and could also be in line for more playing time this season. He offers serious upside as a pocket-crushing rusher if he can stay healthy.
Plus, there’s always the possibility of a second-year breakout for Elijah Griffin, who while not an edge rusher could offer considerable pass rush juice from the interior. Smart said (in a good way) Griffin is “not the same player he was last year”.Â
Newly-hired outside linebackers coach Larry Knight’s group has a lot riding on its performance in 2026. An improvement could be the difference in a national title run or falling short for the fourth year in a row. And a regression, or stagnation, might spell doom for the Bulldogs’ defense for many years to come.
Add us as a preferred source on Google