Georgia's offense got no love from ESPN in their annual Top 100 college football players for the 2025 season. The sports channel also only included three Bulldogs, which all came from the defensive side of the ball. Given Georgia's preseason ranking, this is one more slight against Kirby Smart's young team.
Let's take a look at the three players included and what ranking ESPN gave them.
LB CJ Allen - No. 38
Linebacker CJ Allen is poised to step into the huge hole left by NFL draftee Jalon Walker. Using the momentum of 76 tackles from last season, which was second on the team, Allen leads a defensive unit that will have to shoulder the burden of winning games with a young quarterback and an unproven offensive line. Allen can be a game-changer whenever he wants to be, and Georgia is going to need him to be this season.
DL Christen Miller - No. 56
Defensive lineman Christen Miller anchors the Georgia defensive line as a rising junior. He will need to improve on his 2024 production of 27 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Miller did show his potential in UGA's loss to Notre Dame last season, but he will need more than flashes of brilliance this season. Miller's ranking is legitimate in the middle of the pack, but the hope is that he takes this as a challenge to disprove the naysayers and rise as a dominant presence on defense.
DB KJ Bolden - No. 80
Making the SEC All Freshmen team shows KJ Bolden's promise as a new leader in the defensive backfield. With the departure of first round pick Malaki Starks and hard hitter Dan Jackson, Georgia needs Bolden to dramatically increase his stat line of 59 tackles and one interception from last season. He knows the expectation, saying, “I feel like Malaki (Starks) and Dan (Jackson) definitely prepared me the right way to lead the group. “I’m just trying to lead the way they did," Bolden shared via on3.com.
Whether it's fan fodder for online forums or bulletin board material for the Georgia coaches and players, the ESPN Top 100 listing will serve to challenge and inspire Bulldog players this season to show everyone what matters on the field each Saturday.