Category: Player Profiles

Georgia football player card: LB John Staton

Georgia linebacker John Staton transferred from Samford. In 2019, he recorded 116 total tackles and was named All-Southern Conference

John Staton, Linebacker (No. 35):

Class: Graduate student

Height: 6-1

Weight: 225 pounds

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

High School: The Lovett School

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker John Staton IV transferred to Athens after having an impressive career with Samford. Staton elected not to play in Samford’s spring 2021 college football season.

Instead Staton elected to finish his college football career with Georgia. In 2019, Staton recorded 116 total tackles and was named first team All-Southern Conference. Staton recorded an incredible 22 tackles at Mercer in 2019.

John Staton graduated from Samford in 2020. He played in 34 career games with Samford, where he recorded 149 total tackles. His father, John III, played football at UNC.

Will Staton be able to earn playing time at linebacker for Georgia? Dan Lanning and the Bulldog defense have lots of talent like Nakobe Dean, Trezmen Marshall, Channing Tindall, and Quay Walker at inside linebacker.

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Georgia football player card: RB Daijun Edwards

Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards finished the 2020 college football season with 218 rushing yards on 37 carries

Running Back Daijun Edwards (No. 33):

Class: Sophomore

Height: 5-10

Weight: 201 pounds

Hometown: Moultrie, Georgia

High School: Colquitt County High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards finished the 2020 college football season with 218 rushing yards on 37 carries. Edwards played in nine of Georgia’s 10 games and saw additional playing time after Kendall Milton suffered a knee injury.

Edwards recorded one reception for three yards, so he will need to continue to work on that aspect of his game to boost his NFL draft stock.

Edwards came to Athens as a four-star recruit in the class of 2020. The Colquitt County graduate was rated anywhere between the No. 13 and No. 33 best running back in the country.

Edwards will compete with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh and more for playing time. Georgia returns all of its leading rushers from last season.

Cook is the most explosive player of the group and is an excellent pass catcher, but he isn’t as polished between the tackles as White. McIntosh is a versatile back who is very elusive. Milton, a former five-star recruit, is powerful like Nick Chubb and has a high ceiling.

Edward has displayed flashes of a rugged, tough style on tape. Edwards saw lots of playing time throughout his high school career at Colquitt County and is quite experienced.

Here’s a look back at his first career touchdown for the Bulldogs:

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April 17, 2021; Athens, Georgia; Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards (33) is taken to the ground by linebacker Trezmen Marshall (15) during the Georgia Spring Game at Sanford Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia football kicker announces transfer destination

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Brooks Buce enter the NCAA transfer portal early this offseason and is transferring to the Troy Trojans

Georgia Bulldogs kicker Brooks Buce entered into the NCAA’s transfer portal in Jan. 2021. Now, Buce is transferring to the Troy Trojans football program.

Buce played high school football at Greater Atlanta Christian before coming to the University of Georgia. Buce walked on at UGA in 2017. He has been the back-up kicker since 2018.

Buce is in the portal as a junior and will be immediately eligible to play at Troy. Buce will look for more playing time at Troy. Freshman Scott Taylor Renfroe will be Buce’s primary competition for the starting kicker role.

Georgia starting kicker Jack Podlesny is coming off a good season. He went 13-of-16 on field goals, including a 53-yard game-winning kick against Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl.

Buce has attempted six kickoffs in his career with five of them resulting in touchbacks.

Brooks Buce announced his transfer destination via his Twitter account:

We wish Brooks Buce luck with Troy!

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Georgia football player card: LB Chaz Chambliss

Will Georgia Bulldogs freshman linebacker Chaz Chambliss be able to crack Dan Lanning’s linebacker rotation this season?

Chaz Chambliss, Linebacker (No. 32):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 250 pounds

Hometown:Carrollton, Georgia

High School:  Carrollton High School

Will Georgia Bulldogs freshman linebacker Chaz Chambliss be able to crack Dan Lanning’s linebacker rotation this season? Chambliss enrolled early at Georgia, so he should have a head start on some of the other freshmen. Additionally, the 6-foot-2, 250-pound linebacker has the size to play immediately.

Chambliss comes to Athens after being rated as a four-star linebacker. The Carrollton star finished rated as the No. 360 recruit in the class of 2021 and the No. 40 linebacker.

During his recruiting process, Chambliss had his mind set on UGA. He never released a list of top schools. However, he did receive dozens of scholarship offers, including elite programs like Alabama, Florida, Clemson, and Ohio State.

The Georgia defense does not have as much depth at outside linebacker following the departures of Azeez Ojulari and Jermaine Johnson. Georgia still has elite talents like Adam Anderson and Nolan Smith, but the Dawgs likely won’t have as large of a rotation as last season.

The four-star linebacker is a part of Georgia’s incoming class of 2021, which featured four highly-ranked linebackers: Xavian Sorey Jr., Smael Mondon, Jamon Dumas-Johnson, and Chaz Chambliss.

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Georgia football player card: DB William Poole

Georgia Bulldogs senior defensive back William Poole saw action in six of Georgia’s ten games in 2020.

William Poole, Defensive Back (No. 31):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

High School: Hapeville Charter High School

Georgia Bulldogs senior defensive back William Poole saw action in six of Georgia’s ten games in 2020. The Atlanta, Georgia, native has played in 22 total games throughout his Georgia career and has accumulated 13 career tackles.

Poole came to the University of Georgia as a four-star recruit. Poole redshirted in 2019 when he played against Murray State, Arkansas State, and Georgia Tech and recorded three tackles.

He saw a good amount playing time a sophomore in 2018. That season he played in eight games and secured ten total tackles.

Poole and fellow Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith were teammates at Hapeville Charter.

Georgia is looking less thin in the secondary following the additions of West Virginia transfer Tykee Smith and Clemson transfer Derion Kendrick.

The Dawgs have Kelee Ringo, Ameer Speed, Jalen Kimber, and more returning at cornerback. Georgia’s defensive front is expected to be elite once again next season.

Sep 8, 2018; Columbia, SC, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back William Poole (31) brings down South Carolina Gamecocks running back Ty’Son Williams (27) in the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

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Georgia football player card: RB Anthony Summey

Georgia Bulldogs running back Anthony Summey has primarily served a scout team role during his two-year career in Athens

Running Back Anthony Summey (No. 28):

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Height: 6-0

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: Ocean Township, New Jersey

High School: St. Peter’s Preparatory High School

Georgia Bulldogs running back Anthony Summey has not seen playing time during his two-year career in Athens. He primarily serves as a scout team running back.

Summey came to the University of Georgia as a two-star recruit as a member of the class of 2019. Summey redshirted in 2019.

He played high school football at St. Peter’s Preparatory. Summey plays with a steady style, but lacks game-changing speed.

The Ocean Township, New Jersey, native is expected to compete with Kendall Milton, Zamir White, James Cook, Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards for playing time. Kirby Smart and Georgia have a stacked and experienced running back room heading into the 2021 college football season.

Here’s a look at how Summey initially committed to the University of Georgia as a preferred walk-on:

 

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Georgia football player card: DB Tykee Smith

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tykee Smith is considered one of the top safeties in the country

Tykee Smith, Defensive Back (No. 23):

Class: Junior

Height: 5-10

Weight: 200 pounds

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

High School: Imhotep Institute

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tykee Smith transferred to the University of Georgia from West Virginia this offseason. Smith is considered one of the top safeties in the country. He is reunited with Georgia defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae, his former position coach at West Virginia.

Smith will be counted on to start at safety or nickel for the Bulldogs in 2021 alongside Christopher Smith and Lewis Cine.

Nov. 14, 2020; Morgantown, West Virginia; West Virginia Mountaineers safety Tykee Smith (23) breaks up a pass intended for TCU Horned Frogs running back Zach Evans (6) during the first quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Tykee Smith had the difficult task of guarding explosive passing attack in the Big 12 last season, but he helped the Mountaineers have the top passing defense in the country.

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Georgia football player card: TE Brock Bowers

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers joins a stacked tight end room in Athens

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Brock Bowers, Tight End (No. 19):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230 pounds

Hometown: Napa, California

High School: Napa High School

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers committed to the University of Georgia on Aug. 10, 2021. He is talented, but will likely spend much of his year developing in Georgia’s elite tight end room.

Bowers is rated a four-star recruit by the top recruiting sites. He is ranked the No. 105 player and the third-best tight end in the 2021 class.

The former Napa High School star put up incredible numbers as a junior in high school. Bowers is versatile and has a basketball background.

He received over 20 offers from Division I schools, but decided to join Georgia. Bowers has a good combination of size and speed and has the talent to excel at the college level.

The Los Angeles Chargers drafted Georgia tight end Tre’ McKitty this offseason and wide receiver George Pickens injured his ACL in spring practice, but Georgia still looks solid at tight end with Darnell Washington,  John FitzPatrick and LSU transfer Arik Gilbert.

Bowers comes from a very athletic family. His father played football for Utah State and his sister plays softball for Sacramento State.

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Georgia football player card: LB Adam Anderson

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Adam Anderson is expected to have a large role for the Bulldogs this season.

Adam Anderson, Outside Linebacker (No. 19):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-5

Weight: 230 pounds

Hometown: Rome, Georgia

High School: Rome High School

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Adam Anderson is expected to be a key player for the Bulldogs this season. He is projected to be Georgia’s top pass rushing threat and has been very effective in the limited snaps throughout his career. Anderson and Nolan Smith will be Georgia’s top two edge rushers when the Dawgs open the season against Clemson.

Anderson came to the University of Georgia as a highly coveted five-star recruit out of Rome High School. Now, he’s a veteran with 38 games of college football experience.

Anderson is very durable and has played in every game during his career in Athens. He has 9.0 sacks and 36 total tackles.

Anderson has excellent speed, but he is still looking to add muscle to his lengthy frame. He racked up 24 total pressures last season and has the potential to be a breakout edge rusher for Dan Lanning and Kirby Smart in 2021. Following the departure of Jermaine Johnson and Azeez Ojulari, Anderson is set to have a larger role this year.

Anderson finished fourth in the SEC with 6.5 sacks in 2020. He is poised to continue that success in 2021. Anderson is considered one of the top outside linebacker prospects for the 2022 NFL draft.

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Georgia football player card: LB Adam Anderson

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Adam Anderson is expected to have a large role for the Bulldogs this season.

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Adam Anderson, Outside Linebacker (No. 19):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-5

Weight: 230 pounds

Hometown: Rome, Georgia

High School: Rome High School

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Adam Anderson is expected to be a key player for the Bulldogs this season. He is projected to be Georgia’s top pass rushing threat and has been very effective in the limited snaps throughout his career. Anderson and Nolan Smith will be Georgia’s top two edge rushers when the Dawgs open the season against Clemson.

Anderson came to the University of Georgia as a highly coveted five-star recruit out of Rome High School. Now, he’s a veteran with 38 games of college football experience.

Anderson is very durable and has played in every game during his career in Athens. He has 9.0 sacks and 36 total tackles.

Anderson has excellent speed, but he is still looking to add muscle to his lengthy frame. He racked up 24 total pressures last season and has the potential to be a breakout edge rusher for Dan Lanning and Kirby Smart in 2021. Following the departure of Jermaine Johnson and Azeez Ojulari, Anderson is set to have a larger role this year.

Anderson finished fourth in the SEC with 6.5 sacks in 2020. He is poised to continue that success in 2021. Anderson is considered one of the top outside linebacker prospects for the 2022 NFL draft.

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