How Georgia's QB Situation Separates Them from Other SEC Programs
Roster turnover can be a difficult mountain to climb over, but every situation is different for every program. The transfer portal has helped ease some of the stress of trying to fill voids on the roster, but it's not always a perfect solution. Georgia had quite a few major contributors depart from the program to pursue a career in the NFL leaving some spots open on the roster. One of them being the starting quarterback job.
The search for a new starting quarterback can be a difficult task. There's a lot of pressure on a starting quarterback at any level of football, but especially at a national powerhouse like Georgia. Despite that, the Bulldogs appear to be in a pretty comfortable situation as the staff deciphers the decision of who the starter should be when the season rolls around. Carson Beck has appeared to have emerged as the favorite to win the job, but even prior to Georgia's spring game, the Bulldogs never appeared to be in a strenuous situation due to the options they have at quarterback.
While there of course still questions about the Bulldogs' quarterback room and how the starter will perform this season, none of those questions are setting off the panic button. Georgia still remains in a great position to chase after a third consecutive national title, at least in the eye of the media. And it's why their current situation at quarterback separates them from other programs within the conference.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) during Georgia’s annual G-Day scrimmage on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)
The Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban are coming off of what many would deem a disappointing season. While they now prepare to defend their honor in the 2023 season, they too are in the midst of a search for a new starting quarterback with Bryce Young now in the NFL. Heading into the offseason, it appeared that the starting role would come down to Jalen Milroe or Ty Simpson. However, that no longer appears to be the case as former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner announced he would be transferring to Alabama. Buchner was the Irsh's starting quarterback before an injury forced him to miss 10 games.
Staying inside the state of Alabama, the Auburn Tigers also find themselves in a bit of a predicament at quarterback. The Tigers brought in former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne from the portal and then saw their own quarterback, TJ Finley, hit the portal to seek a new school. Now the Tigers' position battle appears to be between Thorne and Robert Ashford, who appeared in 12 games last season as a Freshman and served as the starter for a while as well.
The Florida Gators also appear to be having some trouble in their hunt for the player that will fill the void that Anthony Richardson left behind. Head coach Billy Napier did land Graham Mertz from the portal after he transferred out of Wisconsin, but their quarterback room still has a massive question mark slapped on it. There doesn't appear to be a clear direction for Florida with the season inching closer with every passing day, and it might remain that way until week one rolls around.
So those are three examples within the SEC of programs that are in shaky situations with their quarterback rooms due to roster turnover. Granted two of those examples are still reinforcing themselves, but nonetheless, while other programs fight to tread water, the Bulldogs remain afloat at the top. A two-time national champ and a Heisman finalist just left the roster, yet the Bulldogs haven't flirted with the portal or even had one of their own hit the portal themselves.
It's yet another display of how Georgia continues to keep itself separated from their peers in the SEC and another reason why everyone is expecting another successful season from Smart and the Bulldogs.
Other Georgia News:
- Philadelphia Trades for D'Andre Swift, Adds Another Former Georgia Player
- Sammy Brown Talks Georgia, Sets Timeline for Commitment
- A Noticeable Trend With Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL Draft
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