Three Bulldogs Who Could Make a Big Jump
Georgia Football needs a few players to take the next step this season in order to compete for a national title.
Last season, it was edge rusher Azeez Ojulari who took the step. He led the team in sacks and was a threat to hit the quarterback on almost every snap. His fantastic year earned him the No. 50 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Everyone knows the names of quarterback JT Daniels, defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean. The Bulldogs have a lot of talent at the top of their roster, but need a few more players to step up and contribute.
Here are a few candidates that can go to the next level next season:
Quay Walker, ILB
Everyone knows Dean will be the alpha of the inside linebacker room this season.
That being said, Georgia plays two inside linebackers in its base defense. At the moment, linebacker Quay Walker is slated to start alongside Dean and could be in for a big year.
Walker is still somewhat raw at the position, but he is a freak athlete. He does a few things on tape that others simply can't, and if he is able to read his keys better he will be a force. Some players are born with elite-level instincts, while others have to work through game reps to achieve it. Walker now has plenty of game experience under his belt.
A year ago he played on situational downs, but now he has to become a full-time starter. Dean is an All-America level linebacker, but Walker has the talent to join him.
Walker is currently an impact run defender. At his best, he shoots gaps and disengages better than any defender on the team. However, inconsistency on passing downs and a tendency to over-pursue or being in the incorrect gap have limited his impact to this point.
Travon Walker, DE
Defensive tackles Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and Jalen Carter will be a problem on the interior this season. They are the most fearsome defensive line trio in the SEC this year, and as a result, the Bulldogs edge rushers should thrive.
Walker may be the very best of the group. He received inconsistent playing time last season, but improved as he played more snaps.
Walker has a strong long-arm that was devastating last season against SEC tackles. If he can develop a reliable secondary pass-rush move, he could see a seven- or eight-sack season.
At the moment, Walker is somewhat of a one-trick pony. His long-arm is elite, but he doesn't have anything off of it. Expect him to add to that arsenal and become a serious threat off the edge for Georgia this season.
Zamir White, RB
There has been more hype around White's counterpart this offseason, running back Kendall Milton, but White will still have a lead role in this offense this year.
White turned heads in the scrimmage because he often made the first defender miss. That is the most important evaluation point when it comes to a running back and White simply didn't have it in 2019-20 after rehabbing from his second ACL surgery in as many seasons.
Perhaps 2021 is the year he finally puts it all together and lives up to the hype he had entering the school as a freshman.
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