Projecting Georgia's 2021 Defensive Depth Chart: Second Post-Season Edition
Since the first projected depth chart was published, several pieces of Georgia Football's defense fell in and out of place.
Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and Adam Anderson announced their returns for the 2021 season, while Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes are heading to the NFL Draft and Tyrique Stevenson transferred to Miami. Nine defensive players on Georgia's 2021 class are already enrolled.
With most of Georgia's 2021 roster set, the depth chart the Bulldogs will start the season with has begun to take shape.
Defensive End
- DE1: Travon Walker
- DE2: Jalen Carter
- DE2: Tramel Walthour
Walker is a former freshman All-SEC and team defensive Newcomer of the Year. Now, with Malik Herring graduating, Walker will finally claim his spot at the top of the depth chart. Walker is Georgia's best pass-rushing defensive lineman and he's capable of playing downfield if he needs to.
Carter is an up and coming star capable of playing multiple positions on Georgia's defensive line. Walthour is a former scout-team star who gained some real game experience this past season.
Defensive Tackle
- DT1: Devonte Wyatt
- DT2: Jalen Carter
- DT3: Warren Brinson
- DT4: Nazir Stackhouse
- DT5: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Wyatt's return is a huge deal. Not only does he bring his senior leadership back, but he's also a vastly underrated player. Wyatt is a good pass rusher and is a difficult player to block. Carter is probably best at defensive tackle and should substitute for Wyatt with little drop-off.
Brinson and Stackhouse earned a lot of meaningful playing time in 2020, especially when Julian Rochester was injured. Both will occasionally play this season. Georgia will rely on them in games where depth is really tested.
Nose Guard
- NG1: Jordan Davis
- NG2: Nazir Stackhouse
- NG3: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Davis was perhaps the best defensive lineman in the SEC last season and that shouldn't change. Davis is the block taker and he's proud of it. The defense is much better with Davis on the field because he makes everyone's job easier. Backing up Davis are a pair of talented younger players: Stackhouse and Ingram-Dawkins.
Edge
- Jack: Nolan Smith
- Sam: Adam Anderson
- OLB3: MJ Sherman
- OLB4: Chazz Chambliss
Smith and Anderson could become the best pass-rushing duo in the SEC in 2021. Anderson is already the most trusted rusher. Most of his snaps the last two seasons have come on passing downs. Smith is more of an every-down player and will use the offseason to improve as a pass rusher. Anderson will work on becoming more of an every-down player.
Don't overlook Sherman. The only reason he didn't play in 2020 was because there were four players above him on the depth chart. Expect Sherman to contribute early next season.
Linebackers
- Mike: Nakobe Dean
- Will: Quay Walker
- LB3: Channing Tindall
- LB4. Rian Davis
- LB5: Xavian Sorey
- LB6: Smael Mondon
- LB 7: Trezman Marshall
Yes, seven players on the linebacker list. That's how loaded Georgia is at the position right now. Only four or five will contribute the year, but in case of injury, Georgia has talented players it can call on.
Dean is the clear leader of the group and the defense will revolve around him like it did with Monty Rice before him. Walker started several games last season because of Rice's injuries. He lacks consistency, but he's an All-American caliber player at his best.
Tindall is Georgia's best pass rusher from the second level. Davis was a solid special-teams player in 2020 and saw meaningful action near the end of the season.
Cornerback
- CB1: Kelee Ringo
- CB2: Jalen Kimber
- CB3: Nyland Green
- CB4: Ameer Speed
Georgia was decimated at cornerback losing its top four players at the position to the NFL Draft and transfer portal. Yet, the Bulldogs don't lack talent. Ringo was the top player in the 2020 recruiting class, but labrum surgery forced him to miss his freshman year. With it being a shoulder issue, the injury shouldn't slow him down as a player.
Kimber is an overshadowed member of Georgia's 2019 class. He received a lot of playing time in the Peach Bowl, and should build on that experience with a strong showing this spring. Speed is a career special teamer, but he is a fifth-year senior.
Star
- ST1: Latavious Brini
- ST2: David Daniel
- ST3. Javon Bullard
With Tyrique Stevenson gone, the star position belongs to Brini. The rising senior had an impressive performance in the Peach Bowl. If that game was an audition for younger players, Brini certainly made the cut.
Daniel and Bullard are members of the 2021 class and both are working to learn the extensive playbook at star. Daniel is also moonlighting as a safety.
Safety
- SA1: Lewis Cine
- SA2: Christopher Smith
- SA3: Latavious Brini
- SA4: Major Burns
- SA5: David Daniel
Cine started every game at safety in the 2020 season. He still has a lot to work on, Cine's inexperience limited Georgia's defense, but he improved as the season went on and is now one of the better players on that side of the ball.
Smith was thrown into the fire last year by having to replace Richard LeCounte. Everyone will focus on the negatives, especially his play against Florida. But he improved immensely, and after a year of getting picked on, he'll enter the spring with a chip on his shoulder.
