The transfer portal has not been open a week, and it has made Georgia football fans everywhere incredibly nervous. Losing in the Sugar Bowl the last two years has some in Dawg Nation feeling a certain way about their coaching staff. With more and more players either turning pro or hitting the portal, when is some truly good news going to come from the portal for Georgia? It has to be soon...
Although Georgia had a shot at USC defensive lineman Devan Thompkins, he is heading to Alabama.
BREAKING: USC standout transfer DL Devan Thompkins has Committed to Alabama, he tells @On3Sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 7, 2026
Through 2 seasons he’s totaled 55 Tackles, 4.5 Sacks, 9 TFL, 1 FF, and 5 PD
He’s a Top 3 DL in the Portal (per On3 Industry)https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/EgSZSPIGaX
But on that note, two former Alabama players in James Smith and Qua Russaw could be coming...
Former Alabama defensive lineman James Smith and ex-Bama edge rusher Qua Russaw, two of the top ranked defensive players in the transfer portal, plan to visit Ohio State, Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 7, 2026
Other teams working to get involved as well. pic.twitter.com/Fdkp4QJC9H
Smith and Russaw are top-50 transfer portal prospects as of Wednesday afternoon. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports this Alabamian duo will be visiting Ohio State, Missouri, Tennessee, and LSU, in addition to Georgia during their time in the portal. These guys planning to leave Alabama in a package deal like they did when the first came to Tuscaloosa out of Montgomery is nothing short of amazing!
Does Georgia really stand a chance to land both of these players out of the portal this time around?
Georgia Bulldogs seem to be in play for Alabama transfer package deal
Look. Even though it is a bit strange that Smith and Russaw intend to keep on playing together beyond Alabama, every team that is supposedly getting visits out of them will want to land them, especially Georgia... While Georgia was very much a green team this past season, their biggest issue throughout the campaign was not having a consistent pass-rushing presence. Maybe they fix this?
Of course, Smith and Russaw will be leaving their home state to continue their college football careers. The Montgomery natives plan on playing Power Four football, probably in the SEC if they do not end up going to Ohio State. While it is anyone's guess where they could be going, transferring from Alabama to a quasi-rival in Georgia may not sit well with the nature of the Crimson Tide faithful.
Unfortunately, rivalries may no longer carry the same gravitas as they once did. It is what makes college football ... college football. When players and coaches can move anywhere at seemingly any given time without any thought of consequence, this is what happens. Mobility is key in the player empowerment era of college sports. Smith and Russaw will make the best choices for them soon.
For now, Georgia could use some good news on the transfer portal front in some way, shape, or form.