Georgia football is almost here and there are a handful of true freshman ready to make an impact in the first game of their careers.
While the season opener against Tennessee State profiles as little more than a glorified practice, it’ll still be our first look at a Georgia team aiming to win its first playoff game since 2022. One of the most appealing things about these early “cupcake” games is the opportunity to see some of the young players the Bulldogs brought in this offseason since it’ll be a presumptive blowout.
Here are four true freshmen to keep an eye on against the Tigers as Georgia opens up their season on Saturday.
Wide receiver/tight end Kaiden Prothro
Kaiden Prothro is the skill player who could most easily make an impact as a true freshman. He was Georgia’s second-highest rated recruit in the 2026 class as the No. 49 prospect in the country per 247Sports.
Prothro has a huge frame, listed at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds. He played tight end in high school, but the Bulldogs plan on using him as a receiver to start off with since he has work to do before he can block effectively at the college level. At Georgia, he’ll likely be a big slot with the capability of moving outside.
He’s got the speed to turn quick hitters into big plays and the size to make contested catches over defenders. Prothro is quite the specimen and has reportedly turned heads throughout fall camp. If he can get up to speed with the playbook, he could definitely carve out a role in this offense early in his career.
Edge rusher Khamari Brooks
A local product, Khamari Brioks starred at North Oconee High School before signing with the Bulldogs as a four-star recruit. He’s an explosive, lengthy athlete with good size at 6-foot-3, 245 lbs and a natural ability to convert speed to power.
Earning playing time will be an uphill battle for Brooks since there are both vested veterans like Gabe Harris and Quintavius Johnson along with breakout candidates Chase Linton and Isaiah Gibson ahead of him. But the Bulldogs need to find a pass rush somewhere after recording the fewest sacks in the SEC last year.
Saturday will be our first chance to see Brooks get some run off the edge. If he can showcase some disruptive abilities early in the season, we could see him get into some third-down packages as the year goes on. Fellow true freshman P.J. Dean is another edge rusher we could get a good look at this weekend.
Defensive lineman Valdin Sone
Valdin Sone place on this defensive line just got a lot more interesting after the surprise retirement of Xzavier McLeod days before the season. He’s the highest-rated recruit the Bulldogs signed in the 2026 class, and the only five-star in their class on 247Sports.
Originally from Malmo, Sweden, Sone moved to the United States in 2024 to attend the Blue Ridge School in Virginia. He burst onto the scene with his athletic ability and physicality up front. Smart said Sone is “gonna have a role this year” even before the McLeod news went public.
Sone is still relatively new to football but his athletic traits could make him a hard player to completely shut out of the rotation. He’s gotten good reviews from teammates this fall and could be a force in the middle on Saturday.
Offensive lineman Ekene Ogboko
Georgia is returning four of its five offensive line starters from last year, but that fifth spot is up for grabs. It’s unclear whether it’ll be at right guard or right tackle, depending on where the Bulldogs slot in sophomore Juan Gaston.
Ogboko is firmly in the mix to claim one of those spots, along with fellow-four star recruit Zykie Helton. But Ogboko has the nod from the outside looking in just because he’s the highest-rated offensive line recruit in Georgia’s class.
Ogboko played tackle in high school and has prototypical size at 6-foot-6, 320 lbs, so that’s probably where we’ll see him Saturday. He earned a reputation in high school as a mauler who can move well in space. Ogboko has reportedly earned first-team reps throughout camp, so it would be very interesting to see him running with the ones against Tennessee State.
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