Georgia Bulldogs redshirt sophomore safety Jake Pope has announced plans to transfer and has officially submitted the paperwork to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Pope will have two years of eligibility remaining after spending just one season with the Bulldogs.
A Buford High School standout, Pope began his college career at Alabama, where he redshirted in 2022. In 2023, he contributed as a reserve and special teams player before entering the transfer portal at the end of the season. Georgia and North Carolina emerged as his top choices, and he ultimately chose to play closer to home in Athens.
Pope briefly celebrated with one of his former high school teammates after Ole Miss’ upset win over Georgia. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart called Pope “an idiot” for the incident, but later apologized.
Pope becomes the fourth Georgia defender in two days to enter the portal, joining safety Justyn Rhett, redshirt freshman linebacker Troy Bowles, and redshirt freshman edge rusher Samuel M’Pemba. In total, seven Bulldogs have now entered the portal or announced intentions to transfer since it opened.