The 2026 NFL Draft will be here before you know it. While it remains to be seen how many former Georgia players will be going in the first round, we now have a list of who all is heading to the NFL Combine up in Indianapolis. This is significant because the number of players who go to the combine roughly equate to how many players from a given team are drafted. It is a fluid measurement, though.
Here is a list of every Georgia football player who was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year.
- WR Dillon Bell
- WR Zachariah Branch
- WR Colbie Young
- TE Oscar Delp
- OL Monroe Freeling
- OL Micah Morris
- DL Christen Miller
- LB CJ Allen
- CB Daylen Everette
- P Brett Thorson
As you can see, Georgia has 10 players heading to Indianapolis this season. Dillon Bell, Zachariah Branch, Colbie Young, and Oscar Delp will be going as pass-catchers. Monroe Freeling and Micah Morris will look to hold their own along the offensive line. Christen Miller, CJ Allen, and Daylen Everette will represent the defense. Punter extraordinaire Brett Thorson will thrive on special teams.
So know that we know who all is going to Indianapolis, what does this tell us about next year's team?
3. Glenn Schumann should have a much-improved defense next season
It might not be a perfect correlation, but Glenn Schumann only losing three players of considerable significance off his defense is a huge start for next season. While his unit did get better as the season went along, it was not up to standard during the first half of the season one bit, culminating in another disappointment in the Sugar Bowl vs. Ole Miss. Allen, Everette, and Miller are gone, but who all is left?
The secondary will be co-headlined by KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV. Raylen Wilson is expected to take the green dot from Allen at linebacker. Although the pass rush could still be an issue, there are plenty of other rotational guys who got some much-needed experience on defense to potentially counterbalance. Simply, if the defense is shaky under Schumann again, he will need to pack his bags.
Fortunately for Dawg Nation, we may see a return to form for Georgia defensively after a down year.
2. Gunner Stockton and Mike Bobo must overcome key offensive losses
This is what Georgia fans better be banking on. While Gunner Stockton and Mike Bobo have known each other for years, there is no way around it. Georgia losing four brilliant pass-catchers of note to the NFL does put a ton of pressure on them to find new and creative ways to move the football through the air. Stockton still has London Humphreys and Lawson Luckie, but he will need some help.
Fortuantely for Dawg Nation, Stockton got better as the season progressed as a passer. He is a willing runner, one who is as tough as they come. If he gets the support he deserves from his teammates in all three phases, we could be looking at a Heisman Trophy campaign for the Georgia star quarterback. For now, Georgia has to lean on the run to open up the pass to start next season.
Assuming the ground game is both a strength and focal point for Georgia, this will not be an issue.
1. Kirby Smart knows his team is both hungry and quite experienced
As is the case with the first two obversations, this is a little bit of projecting. What these 10 invitees to the NFL Scouting Combine really tells us is that Georgia will undeniably be a veteran and experience-laden team next year. There have been Georgia teams in recent memory where more than a dozen players got drafted in a given spring. UGA will be lucky to see all 10 of these guys go in the top 250...
This comes down to the biggest thing Georgia has going for it next season. While it does have an experienced team, a veteran leader at quarterback, and a fairly navigable schedule, it still has the best head coach in college football in Kirby Smart. If he can continue to motivate and coach up his players, this could be a special season Between the Hedges. It all starts by having an amazing spring practice.
At this time, Georgia looks to be in far better shape entering this season than it did an offseason ago.