In 2025, four defensive players from Georgia will see more playing time.
Fourteen Georgia Bulldogs have registered on the transfer portal, and seventeen Georgia Bulldogs are declaring for the draft. Some Georgia supporters are worried about the roster turnover, but it also presents an opportunity for a number of Georgia reserves to demonstrate their abilities and play important snaps.
Here are four Georgia guys on defense that should receive much more snaps in 2025.
Gabe Harris
Although he didn’t get many snaps in 2023, Harris, a four-star recruit in 2023, developed into a rotational pass-rusher in 2024. He started for the Bulldogs against Tennessee Tech and played double digits of snaps in nearly every game.
He might replace Chaz Chambliss at his jack position and see an increase in snaps as a linebacker or edge rusher. Transferring Samuel M’Pemba also doesn’t hurt.
Chris Cole
When Cole committed to the Bulldogs in 2024, he was ranked as the 23rd top recruit in the nation. He only had a few snaps in his first four games as a freshman, but he earned more than 20 snaps apiece against Ole Miss, Florida, and Texas.
His 87.6 coverage rating against one of the nation’s top passing offenses, Texas, demonstrated his considerable coverage potential as a linebacker. Cole has the best chance of getting more playing time next season because Smael Mondon and Jalon Walker are entering the NFL draft and Troy Bowles and Damon Wilson are transferring.
Ellis Robinson IV
The Bulldogs have Daylen Everette and Daniel Harris manning the perimeter and Joenel Aguero at the star, but Robinson IV, the No. 2 ranked prospect in the country, was the jewel in the crown of Georgia’s 2024 recruiting class. Despite playing just four games, Robinson IV totaled 12 snaps per game and earned a 67.4 grade on PFF in his actual freshman season. Georgia theoretically has the secondary set, but Robinson could still see an increase in snaps if he can defeat Harris, the most unproven group.
Xzavier McLeod
In 2025, McLeod, like Chris Cole and Robinson IV, will be regarded as a sophomore because he redshirted. But in 2024, McLeod moved to Georgia from South Carolina.
He played 158 snaps in 11 games as a rotational defensive lineman for Georgia, but McLeod and the returning Christen Miller could take over as defensive tackles since defensive tackles Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse were selected in the draft.
