One of the Georgia Bulldogs’ biggest defensive weaknesses last season was their inability to consistently get to the quarterback.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann acknowledged the Bulldogs can’t afford to have the same kind of Achilles’ heel in 2026.
“You can’t have any weak spots,” Schumann said via georgiadogs.com. “Especially in the format we’re in now, where you’ve got to win postseason games back to back to back. You better be well-rounded and complete and not have any weaknesses.”
Georgia's lack of QB pressure ultimately cost them in the College Football Playoff
Georgia’s 20 sacks in 2025 were the fewest in the SEC and of any team that made the College Football Playoff. Their lack of quarterback pressures was specifically exposed in their CFP loss to Ole Miss when Rebels' quarterback Trinidad Chambliss dominated Georgia all night long.
In a move to seemingly generate more pass rush, the Bulldogs hired outside linebackers coach Larry Knight this offseason after he spent 2025 as the defensive ends coach for Western Kentucky.
He's made his name as a pass rush specialist. Last year, Western Kentucky led the Sun Belt in sacks and tied for No. 6 in the nation with three sacks per game.
The good news is that Schumann said he’s already making an impact.
“He's also helped us, in a lot of ways, grow,” Schumann said. “So, it's been great. The players love him, the staff loves him. It has been an excellent transition.”
The Bulldogs are looking for more production out of their edge rushers. It takes a lot to play the position on an every-down basis in the SEC, you’ve got to be able to stop the run and do more than just pin your ears back against the quarterback.
“We're not talking about known passing scenarios, third down,” Schumann said. “To do the complete job and set edges against the grown men in this league, the offensive tackles and the tight ends in this league– that requires a ‘technique, fundamentals’ mentality and a significant amount of play strength.”
That means that it takes time to build yourself up into an every-down player in Georgia’s edge room. It explains why the Bulldogs were short on good options at the position with such a young group last year.
Schumann brought up former Bulldog Travon Walker, who was a rotational piece his first two seasons at Georgia before becoming a full-time starter his junior year. He helped the Bulldogs win a national title and went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Even if no one in Georgia’s edge rotation goes No. 1 overall, Schumann’s point remains. There is untapped talent in that room for the Bulldogs, and a lot of them are ready for more work this year.
“There were some guys in that room [last year] that have ability, that’s why they’re here,” he said. “Nobody gets here by accident.”
Georgia's youth could lead them to more QB pressure this season
Sophomore Zayden Walker showed flashes as a freshman last year with sacks against Alabama and Texas. Schumann said he has made “immense progress” this year.
Redshirt freshman Chase Linton began to get more snaps late last season, and Schumann described him as “a really disruptive player” who “throws his body around with a kind of reckless abandon”.
Isaiah Gibson and Darren Ikinnagbon are both highly-touted recruits from the 2025 class who could be in the mix. Joseph Jonah-Ajonye has been in the program for two years now, and JJ Hanne could also get work as a big end.
“I think there's a lot more available in terms of players that are more ready to play winning football, and then guys that did play [last year] that– maybe it was their first real game experience,” he said. “They've taken the next step, too. So, I'm really pleased with them.”
Schumann said he also liked what he saw from last year’s starting edges Gabe Harris and Quintavius Johnson. Neither had much playing experience entering 2025, especially Johnson.
A full year of a starter’s workload under their belts could pay dividends in 2026. Both players were trending up by the end of the year and played their best football in November and December.
The Bulldogs look like they’ve got more options off the edge in 2026 than they did a year ago. That could be the difference between a national title run, and another early postseason exit.
“The goal is to create culture and identity of what we want to be, and then make sure that we don’t have any of those weak points,” Schumann said.
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