With the vast amount of talent that Georgia is returning from the previous season, it also lost some key contributors from the past season.
The loss of Jake Fromm, D’Andre Swift, and five offensive linemen and Rodrigo Blankenship will be some of the departures that could have a long-lasting impact on the program. Defensively the loss of JR Reed is a huge one but one that can be replaced by this season with the emergence of Lewis Cine. The Georgia staff did a great job this offseason by bringing in recruits who can contribute immediately this season for Georgia as a freshman. Not only did they bring in freshmen, but they dipped their feet into the transfer market. Former Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman and former Florida State tight end Tre’ McKitty will both bring veteran experience to their positions. But they are five players specifically that need to be highlighted as players who need to step up for Georgia to be successful in 2020. Zamir White White came to Athens with a torn ACL after he tore in his senior season coming out of Scotland County High School in Laurinburg, North Carolina. A big physical back with speed and shiftiness. When he got to Athens he tore his other ACL which would effectively end his freshman season before it could even get started as he tore it during spring practice. After a redshirt year, this past season was Georgia’s first glimpse of Zamir White in a Georgia uniform. He has shown a lot of potentials, especially with his speed and power. He has a great ability to be a protector in the pocket and can leave the backfield and be a receiver. One thing that was missing from White this season was his shiftiness that he showed in high school. Now that can be expected when someone is coming back from an ACL injury, but the fact is White is coming back from two. The performance he put up in the Sugar Bowl and throughout the season is a testament to his character and determination that he has to succeed. If White can put it all together next season, he will be the feature back for years to come. Demetrius Robertson Demetrius Robertson, the former California Golden Bear, transferred to Georgia two seasons ago with high hopes that he would provide another reliable receiving threat to go alongside Riley Ridley, Mecole Hardman, and Terry Godwin. In his first season at Georgia, he dealt with a few injuries, and we didn’t see much of him. This past season he was primarily healthy but didn’t put up the numbers that many expected from him when he first announced he’d be coming to Athens. D-Rob is going into his senior season and has a lot to prove if he has aspirations of going to the NFL after next season. He will need to step up big time for Georgia next year as defenses will likely key in on George Pickens as the primary threat out wide. If Robertson can prove a solid threat at receiver for Georgia, then the offense will be dangerous. Monken’s past systems have been primarily through the air and using all different types of receivers. Malik Herring The defensive line for Georgia next season is expected to be one of the best it has had in Athens in a long time. Malik Herring will be one of the guys to watch as he enters his senior season in Athens. Herring has seen some of his best performances against Florida as he has been able to pressure the quarterback. Which is one of his best attributes as he is a constant threat to any offensive line that he faces. While Herring has been dominant in the run game where he usually lines up inside of the tackle and guard, he could improve on getting to the quarterback. Herring was ranked third among all defenders in pressuring the QB with 18 last season. If he wants to make it to the NFL, he needs to rack up more sacks. One of his best plays last season was against Florida, where he assisted a sack with Jordan Davis. The Georgia defensive line will be looking to Herring’s senior leadership next season. Nakobe Dean Another rising sophomore who showed a lot of potential last season for Georgia on defense. Dean was a highly recruited linebacker coming out of high school and choose Georgia as his school for the next 3 or 4 years of his football career. Dean is a talented inside linebacker who was dominant in pass coverage for Georgia a season ago, although he was just a freshman. He also was one of the best blitzing linebackers for Georgia last season as his speed was able to pressure the quarterback. Dean will be playing alongside senior Monty Rice, who has shown to a do it all middle linebacker for Georgia. Dean is talented enough to play the role of Tae Crowder as he stops the run and helps out in coverage. Not only that, but he can be used as a pass-rushing threat up the middle or even off the edge. Dean is the middle linebacker of the future for Georgia. Lewis Cine Lewis Cine, also known as “Lewis Sixteen,” was the breakout star that Georgia was looking for at the end of the season. Cine got his first two collegiate starts against LSU in the SEC Championship and had a total of 6 tackles (career-high). His second start came a few weeks later against Baylor, where he filled in for JR Reed, who didn’t travel for the Sugar Bowl because of injury. Cine ended up playing very well alongside fellow safety Richard LeCounte. Cine is already being penciled in as the replacement for Reed as Cine has proven to work well in coverage and can fill the role of reading the quarterback and going to make a play on the ball. Cine has big shoes to fill as JR Reed had a great season last year, which saw his draft stock rise. If Cine can continue to learn and improve, he and LeCounte could be a formidable opponent for any offense that Georgia may face.
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Harrison Reno
Is the founder and author of Top Dawg Blogging. Harrison has been blogging for the past 4 years Archives
April 2020
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