Georgia football’s biggest undecided position battle could mean snaps for a true freshman in Week 1

Much of Georgia’s depth chart was predetermined heading into fall camp. With Carson Beck back, Kirby Smart didn’t have any tough decisions to make at quarterback, and much of Mike Bobo’s offense was already settled into well-defined roles, especially the experienced offensive line. 

However, on defense, there were a few camp battles to play out with big-time snaps up for grabs, and even with camp closed and classes underway for Georgia’s “student-athletes” it’s unclear if a decision has been made. Daylen Everrette is locked in the CB1 spot, but across the field from him could be redshirt sophomore Julian Humphrey, true sophomore Daniel Harris, or even true freshman five-star Ellis Robinson IV. 

Humphrey has the most experience of a very young group, playing 168 defensive snaps last season and racking up 12 tackles and one pass breakup. Harris, as a true freshman only played in six contests, but while Humphrey was banged up down the stretch, Harris played 34 snaps in the Orange Bowl demolition of Florida State. 

Harris’s emergence may have been a driving factor that pushed Humphrey to flirt with the transfer portal before ultimately returning to Athens. Now, he has to beat out Harris, and one of the top recruits in the entire country, not just for the Week 1 start, but to hold onto the job. 

Seniority doesn’t seem to be weighing heavily on the decision-making process. Recently, defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann told reporters in Athens what he’s looking for in that competition. 

“I think when you look at them, to play corner in college football you have to be able to not only get guys that can man to man cover a guy, but be able to show up in the run game, perimeter block destruction for bubble screens, and be a good tackler. That’s really what we need out of that position, in general, is to be able to be successful in man-to-man, play the ball down the field, and still be able to be a factor in the perimeter block destruction game and tackling.”

With so much uncertainty, Schumann and Smart could default to the young star who headlined their 2024 recruiting class. Though, at just 180 pounds, Robinson’s physicality and tackling will be a question mark. All three will likely have a shot to prove themselves against Clemson in Week 1, and if Robinson can prove he’s ready to hang with the strength of the SEC, he could emerge as CB2 on Georgia’s defense.