Dawgs Daily

Georgia Football Executes Overhaul In Portal Over Offseason

Gage Fulford|
Georgia WR, Zechariah Branch
Georgia WR, Zechariah Branch | Brooks Austin

Goergia revamped their roster this offseason through the portal. We take a look at how head coach Kirby Smart pulled it off.

Kirby Smart has built his legacy at Georgia on the foundation of recruiting dominance and elite player development. But as college football continues to evolve, so too does Smart’s approach—and this offseason might be one of the best examples yet of his adaptability and forward-thinking mindset. His aggressive and targeted use of the transfer portal heading into the 2025 season shows a level of awareness and precision that few coaches in the country can match.

After a 2024 campaign that fell just short of championship expectations, Smart took a long look at where Georgia needed to improve. It wasn’t about overhauling the program; there's no need for that when you’re operating at the level Georgia is, but rather to adjust the roster to match the ever-increasing demands of the national title race. The key areas? Speed and explosiveness at wide receiver, more disruption up front on defense, and added athleticism across the board.

Enter the 2025 transfer class.

The addition of Zachariah Branch, the electric wide receiver from USC, gives Georgia a true game breaker. Branch brings elite speed, return game prowess, and the kind of explosiveness that can flip a game in one play. Pairing him with Noah Thomas, the towering and talented wideout from Texas A&M, creates a dynamic duo that will stretch defenses both vertically and horizontally. These are not just solid additions, they are weapons.

On the defensive side, Smart didn’t miss either. Adding Elo Modozie, a rising star defensive player with roots at Army, is one of the more under-the-radar steals of the offseason. Modozie brings toughness, discipline, and sideline-to-sideline speed, fitting perfectly into Georgia’s physical defensive identity. Along the defensive front, Joshua Horton, a former Miami standout, adds depth and explosiveness in the trenches, giving Georgia yet another rotating piece that can disrupt opposing offenses.

These moves aren’t just about plugging holes they’re strategic enhancements to an already championship-caliber roster. Smart saw what was missing in 2024, and he’s attacking 2025 with a purpose. By hitting the portal the right way not just for star power, but for fit, chemistry, and impact, he’s sending a clear message: Georgia isn’t rebuilding, they’re reloading.

If this team gels the way it looks on paper, Kirby Smart’s handling of the transfer portal this offseason could go down as one of the smartest moves of his coaching career and just maybe, the difference maker in the Dawgs’ hunt for another national title.

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Gage Fulford
GAGE FULFORD

As a writer for Sports Illustrated covering Georgia athletics, Gage aims to give you an honest, in-depth look at everything happening with Georgia sports. As a current high-school football coach Fulford a true passion for the team and a deep knowledge of the games. Whether it is a breakdown on action or providing insights you won’t find anywhere else.

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