Potentially Georgia's biggest loss to the Transfer Portal this offseason was when defensive lineman Damon Wilson left Georgia and took his talents to Missouri. This move didn't make much sense at the time because he was in line to be a star on Georgia's defense this season, but he unfortunately left the program to move on to a new SEC program.
Wilson is off to a magnificent start at Missouri, and Saturday marked the biggest moment of his career as he feasted against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Seeing former Bulldogs find success elsewhere is always nice to see, but it's hard not to wonder how different things would be for Georgia's defense if Wilson never left.
Former Georgia DL Damon Wilson would fix UGA's defense
Georgia's defense has two major problems they need to solve. The Bulldogs are struggling to find a consistent pass rush from their defensive line and their secondary has been exposed multiple times this season as well. If Wilson was still at Georgia, he would solve both of those problems.
So far this season Wilson has recorded 10 tackles and a whopping 5.5 sacks. He also has recovered one fumble this season which just so happened to come against Alabama on Saturday. Speaking of Alabama, Wilson asserted his dominance by recording two sacks along with that fumble recovery against the Crimson Tide. Georgia definitely could have used that production against Alabama two weeks ago.
So far this season Georgia's defensive line has recorded just one sack as a group. So Wilson has had a better year rushing the quarterback in one game than Georgia's entire defensive line has done this season.
It goes without saying how much more efficient Georgia's defensive line would be if Wilson was still in Athens. And more success rushing the quarterback would make life much easier for Georgia's secondary as well. Unfortunately Wilson won't be coming back to UGA, so the Bulldogs will have to find a way to scheme up some more pressure with the players they do have on their roster.
Georgia's next chance to improve their pass rush comes agianst Auburn Saturday night. Auburn's offensive line has given up the second most sacks in the country so far this season, so if the Bulldogs are ever going to solve their pass rush issues now is their best opportunity.