Former Georgia football running back lands with the New England Patriots as their passing game coordinator
The New England Patriots are hiring former Chicago Bears interim head coach and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown to be their offensive passing game coordinator and tight ends coach. Brown, a former Georgia Bulldogs running back, served as Chicago’s interim coach after the Bears fired Matt Eberflus.
The Patriots have a promising young roster, a lot of cap space and NFL draft capital this season, so Brown is landing in a desirable spot. The Bears decided not to retain Brown and multiple other coaches after hiring former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach.
Brown was a top candidate and interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks for their offensive coordinator role, but the Seahawks ended up hiring New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the same role in Seattle.
The Bears initially hired Brown as their passing game coordinator and promoted him to be their offensive coordinator after they fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Now, he will hold a similar role for the Patriots under first-year New England head coach Mike Vrabel.
Brown was the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2023. He was the Panthers’ play-caller for a portion (mostly the second half of the season) of Carolina’s brutal 2-15 season.
Brown also previous served as an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay before coming to Carolina and Chicago. He is highly respected around the NFL. Brown rushed for 2,646 yards and 23 touchdowns in his Georgia career from 2004-2007.
The Georgia Bulldogs’ basketball team is on the NCAA Tournament bubble
The Georgia Bulldogs are predicted a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament after a recent losing streak according to ESPN’s latest bracketology. Joe Lunardi, who updated his projections on Tuesday, has Georgia as one of his final four teams with a first round bye. UGA is on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament just a couple of weeks after being ranked.
Georgia is on a four game losing streak and needs to turn things around. Head coach Mike White and Georgia are projected to play the Clemson Tigers (a No. 7 seed) in March Madness, but the Bulldogs could get knocked out of the projected NCAA Tournament field with a few more losses.
Georgia desperately needs to win on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET (televised on SEC Network) against the South Carolina Gamecocks to improve their NCAA Tournament hopes. Georgia (14-6, 2-5) has a 78.5% chance to beat South Carolina (10-10, 0-7) according to ESPN. The Dawgs simply can’t afford to lose at home to the worst team in the SEC.
The SEC is the top conference in college basketball and has a nation’s best 13 teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament. Georgia is coming off a disappointing week where the Bulldogs blew a big lead against Arkansas and then got demolished in a 30-point loss to Florida.
The Bulldogs received six votes in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll. Georgia also has a major opportunity on Saturday, Feb. 1 at No. 4 Alabama.
Nation’s No. 7 kicker recruit commits to Georgia football in the class of 2025
The Georgia Bulldogs have added another piece to their already impressive 2025 class. Highly-touted kicker recruit Connor Ferguson, the top-rated kicker in Georgia, has announced his commitment to the Bulldogs. Ferguson recently decommitted from UNC Charlotte.
This late addition to the 2025 class comes as a surprise, as Georgia appeared to have finalized their 2025 recruiting. However, the addition of Ferguson further solidifies UGA football’s commitment depth at kicker.
Ferguson played high school football for Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia. He is ranked as the No. 7 kicker recruit in the country, per Kohl’s Professional Camps. The former UNC Charlotte commit made 13 of 16 field goals this past season including a long of 52 yards.
Ferguson is known for his strong leg and consistent accuracy. His addition provides a significant boost to the Bulldogs’ special teams unit, ensuring they have a reliable kicker for the years to come after Peyton Woodring, a rising junior, leaves. He also served as a punter for his high school.
NFL Media draft expert Daniel Jeremiah linked the New Orleans Saints to Mykel Williams, a high-ceiling pass rusher from an SEC powerhouse:
The New Orleans Saints have invested a lot into the defensive line in recent years, but have not gotten much in return. This upcoming draft will be yet another chance for them to finally hit a home run with a pass rusher.
NFL.com draft expert Daniel Jeremiah expects them to dip back into that well, at least. In his first mock draft of the 2025 cycle, the Saints selected Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Mykel Williams with the ninth overall pick.
This is what Jeremiah had to say about this selection:
The Saints continue to add young, athletic players to their defensive front. Williams played hurt all season long, but his tools are exceptional.
Some New Orleans fans may be wary about adding a toolsy, injured defensive end and that would be fair. Williams has been a superstar since high school, though, and has a higher ceiling than either Payton Turner or Isaiah Foskey. Taking a risk on him would make the most sense of anyone they’ve drafted on the exterior since Cameron Jordan.
The 20-year-old was able to carve out a role for himself in the Bulldogs defense as a freshman, which is no small task. His role never really grew throughout his time in college though, and the production remained consistent. He had either 4.5 or five sacks in each campaign. There’s a bit of projection here but the traits speak for themselves.
More information on all the seven Georgia Bulldogs participating in the Senior Bowl.
The Senior Bowl is set to take place on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. In the Senior Bowl, several Georgia Bulldogs are looking to improve their draft stock.
The Georgia Bulldogs have seven players that accepted Senior Bowl invitations, which is the second most of any college football team besides the Oregon Ducks.
Who are all of the UGA players that accepted Senior Bowl invitations:
Safety Dan Jackson
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The hard-hitting safety accepted his Senior Bowl invite on Jan. 18th. Jackson started his career with Georgia in 2019. In his first two years, he was a member of the scout team, but he emerged as a rotational secondary piece in 2021-23.
In 2024, he earned the starting strong safety job, totaling 64 sacks, three passes deflected, a forced fumble, and two interceptions. He earned himself a third-team All-SEC honors as a result.
Defensive end Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins surprisingly declared for the NFL draft. Starting in 2022, he earned significant snaps as a rotation edge rusher and defensive end, sometimes even starting.
In his career, he racked up 39 tackles, three passes deflected, four sacks and two forced fumbles. His biggest game was against Kentucky in 2024, when he had a sack and five pressures.
Linebacker Smael Mondon
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
In his first season with the Bulldogs (2021), Mondon was the reserve defender and player on kick return coverage units. In 2022, he became a full-time starter at linebacker. He had his best stretch of linebacker play during Georgia’s postseason run, where he totaled 18 tackles, a sack, and an interception.
Mondon has battled through injuries in the past, but when healthy, he is a quality linebacker with three years of starting experience and a knack for rushing the quarterback. He is projected to be a fourth-round draft pick.
Offensive guard Tate Ratledge
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Ratledge has been a starting guard for the Bulldogs since 2021, and he’s built up quite the resume with the Bulldogs. In three seasons starting, he earned two All-American nominations, earned the Coaches’ First-Team All SEC selection in 2024 despite only playing in nine games.
Ratledge is projected to be a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Note: Ratledge is no longer on the Senior Bowl roster
Center Jared Wilson
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jared Wilson is a little more inexperienced than Ratledge, but he was still one of the standout linemen for Georgia in 2023 and 2024. Entering Week 14, he was the highest graded center in the Power Four in 2024, allowing zero sacks. Wilson is projected to be a fourth-round pick.
Note: Wilson is no longer on the Senior Bowl roster
Running back Trevor Etienne
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Etienne, along with Ingram-Dawkins, was another surprise inclusion in the Senior Bowl due to previous reports of him staying at Georgia. Regardless, Etienne was a great downhill runner with both Florida and Georgia.
Arian Smith, who was Georgia’s leading receiver in 2024, has been a Bulldog since 2020. Because of the COVID year, Smith had one more year of eligibility, but he decided to forgo it to enter the draft.
Smith earned snaps starting his freshman year, but he never evolved into a starting wide receiver until 2024. As senior, he totaled 817 yards on 48 receptions. Despite struggling with drops, he was a great route runner and the premier deep threat with Georgia.
UGA’s returning sack leader undergoes surgery. Georgia football is losing over 75% of its 2024 sack production
Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Gabe Harris has recently undergone surgery according to UGASports. Harris posted a picture via social media with his left arm in a sling.
Harris is Georgia’s returning leader in sack production, which is a bit shocking because he recorded just two sacks in 2024. However, seven of Georgia’s eight leader sack producers from 2024 have left via the NFL draft or transfer portal.
Harris, who recorded 14 tackles in 2024, is expected to be one of Georgia’s top defensive linemen/outside linebackers in 2025. Harris played with a brace around his left shoulder for the later part of the 2024 college football season.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defender will likely miss time this spring. The Bulldogs need some young players to step up in their defensive line room considering all the experience and production that UGA is losing. Georgia returns just 21.6% of its sack production (eight of 37 sacks) from 2024. The Bulldogs are counting on Harris in 2025, so his recovery is one to keep an eye on.
Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling and tight end Colton Heinrich also underwent surgery. It is typical for numerous UGA players to have surgery following the end of the season.
Four Georgia Bulldogs on offensive expected to get a significant snap count increase.
Seventeen Georgia Bulldogs are declaring for the draft, and 14 Georgia Bulldogs have entered the transfer portal. The roster turnover is concerning for some Georgia fans, but with it comes the chance for several Georgia reserves to play significant snaps and show their prowess in 2025.
Here are four Georgia players on offense that should earn significantly more snaps in 2025:
Quarterback Gunner Stockton
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
This is such a no-brainer inclusion that it almost feels wrong to include Stockton in here. Yet, with Carson Beck officially transferring to Miami, Stockton is in line to be the starting quarterback for Georgia.
He had a chance to start against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, and while Georgia lost 23-10, Stockton inspired a ton of confidence with his deep ball and his scramble ability.
Watch out for Ryan Puglisi too, just in case Stockton gets hurt.
Running back Nate Frazier
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
There was arguably nobody that benefited more from the 2025 NFL draft than Nate Frazier. Since Trevor Etienne announced his decision to declare for the NFL draft, Frazier immediately becomes the lead back for Georgia.
He already had similar numbers to Etienne as a freshman. Frazier posted 671 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 133 carries compared to Etienne’s 609 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and 122 carries. Frazier could be a 1,000 yard rusher for the Georgia Bulldogs next year.
Running back Branson Robinson
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Both of Georgia’s Robinson running backs (Branson Robinson and Roderick Robinson) benefited from Trevor Etienne’s draft decision. It remains to be seen which one will step up as the No. 2 running back behind Nate Frazier. Georgia usually rolls with a one-two punch at running back.
It seems like Branson Robinson will be the second in line. Granted, both Branson and Roderick Robinson dealt with injury troubles in the past. Branson Robinson played in six games, including starting the Clemson game, before suffering a knee injury that took him out for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, Roderick Robinson was so battered with injuries, he able to play just 28 snaps against Georgia Tech in his only appearance of the season.
Center Drew Bobo
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Mike Bobo’s son has already had some starting experience. Drew Bobo started in place of an injured Tate Ratledge for two games last year, earning a 69.9 PFF grade.
Now, Bobo is projected to move into the starting center spot and with four UGA starting offensive lineman declaring for the NFL draft, he’ll have to be the centerpiece of an almost entirely new offense line.
Georgia football is bringing in the No. 13 transfer portal class in the SEC. How does each UGA transfer rank individually
The Georgia Bulldogs have the No. 47 incoming transfer portal class in the country according to 247Sports. Georgia has six incoming commitments, which is pretty light compared to most other college football programs.
Georgia’s incoming transfer portal class is ranked 13th in the SEC. Texas, Tennessee and Florida are the only three SEC schools to have lower ranked transfer classes. Texas, Tennessee and Florida have fewer commitments than UGA.
Georgia has addressed only two positions in the transfer portal: safety and wide receiver. The Bulldogs have a few other notable needs, including quarterback, offensive line and defensive end/edge rusher.
Fortunately, coach Kirby Smart and Georgia signed the No. 2 recruiting class in the 2025 cycle, so UGA still benefits from a major influx of talent.
Who is in Georgia’s incoming transfer class? How do they rank nationally?
Former Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Noah Thomas signed with Georgia football. Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Former USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch (No. 6 transfer)
Former USC safety Zion Branch (No. 293 transfer)
Former Texas A&M wide receiver Noah Thomas (No. 33 transfer)
Former UAB safety Adrian Maddux (No. 591 transfer)
Former Miami safety Jaden Harris (No. 564 transfer)
Former Vanderbilt athlete Micah Bell (No. 1,217 transfer)
Florida routs Georgia on Saturday inside the O’Connell Center by 30 points, 89-59, for their 12th-straight win over UGA.
The rivalry between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs does not quite hit as hard when played on the parquet instead of the gridiron, but the Gator Nation always appreciates a win over UGA wherever it may occur.
On Saturday, [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag]’s team ran all over former UF coach Mike White’s inside the O’Connell Center, blowing them out by a final score of 89-59.
The Orange and Blue came out of the gates on fire, and save for a few slower stretches, kept the pedal to the metal for nearly a full 40 minutes. The result was a beatdown that Florida fans will savor as their beloved team marches toward March.
Below is a look at the three key takeaways from Saturday’s overwhelming win.
Alijah Martin, Gators catch fire early
[autotag]Alijah Martin[/autotag] came out guns-a-blazing, scoring 11 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the first five-plus minutes while the team as a whole tormented the ‘Dawgs on defense. Georgia’s turnovers were quickly turned around and the Gators attacked the other end in transition, building an early double-digit lead.
Florida made eight straight shots and 13 of 14 in the middle of the half before finally cooling off, but at one point had hit 77.8% of its attempts from the field. Meanwhile at the other end, the Gators grabbed 15 rebounds, 11 steals and blocked three shots as they pushed the lead over 20 points — nearly doubling the ‘Dawgs up heading into halftime.
After 20 minutes of play, Florida notched 51 points on 18-for-27 shooting overall (66.7%), including a 7-for-14 mark (50%) from beyond the arc and 8-for-9 (88.9) from the charity stripe. The team’s 11 steals in the opening half was three short of their tally last Wednesday when they snagged 14 steals for the first time in SEC play since 2014 en route to a last-second win over the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Slow 2nd-half start before hitting overdrive
The opening five minutes of the second frame were rather lackluster for the Orange and Blue, allowing 10 points while scoring just four of their own and not looking sharp handling the ball. But Florida would pick up the pace as the half wore on and built the lead to as large as 34.
[autotag]Walter Clayton Jr[/autotag]. took over, leading his team with 10 of his points 17 (tied with Martin for the team-high) on 5-for-7 shooting over 14 minutes in the second half. Alex Condon joined in with nine out of 14 total points of his own on 4-for-7 shooting while grabbing four rebounds and a steal to help the Gators keep the Bulldogs at bay.
Oh, and as far as total steals were concerned, Florida finished one short of Wednesday night’s total, snagging just a pair in the final frame for a baker’s dozen. Clayton paced Florida with five while Martin logged four, Reuben Chinyelu two and one apiece for Will Richard and Condon.
Golden’s gang finished with five players scoring in double figures on 34-for-64 shooting overall (53.1%) including a 9-for-26 mark (34.6%) from beyond the arc and 12-for-15 (80.0%) from the free-throw line.
Georgia did itself no favors
Turnovers and mental errors plagued the ‘Dawgs all day, giving the ball away 18 times with 13 coming off steals. Not every mistake resulted in a turnover, but particularly in the first half, White’s guys had a hard time setting the pace. Additionally, they only shot 35.6% (21-for-59) from the field and a paltry 23.8% (5-for-21) from downtown.
Also, Georgia avoided zone defense in this one but did try to apply full-court pressure at times. With the way Florida’s offense was clicking, one wonders why they did not try to mix things up more, especially as the Gators’ lead continued to balloon.
As Ron Burgundy once said, “Well that escalated quickly,” and boy did it ever for the Bulldogs.
White and his program just cannot catch a break against their rivals in recent years, now having lost 12 in a row to Florida and six straight under its current coach. They will get a chance to snap the schneid on Feb. 25 when they host the Gators in Athens.
Next up for Florida
The Gators get the week off and will return to action next Saturday, Feb. 1, in Knoxville for a rematch with the Tennessee Volunteers. Gametime is slated for an early noon ET start and the action will be broadcast on ESPN.
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Former UGA RB coach Dell McGee and Georgia State promote former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker/staff member
The Georgia State Panthers and coach Dell McGee promoted former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Juwan Taylor. Taylor takes over as Georgia State’s inside linebackers coach. He spent the 2024 college football season with Georgia State as a graduate assistant.
McGee was the running backs coach at Georgia under Kirby Smart from 2016-2024. McGee and Georgia State went 3-9 in 2024. Georgia State had a memorable upset over Vanderbilt in September, but not much else went right for the Panthers.
Juwan Taylor played college football for Georgia from 2015-2018 and recorded 76 total tackles in his UGA career. Taylor served on Georgia’s staff as a player development assistant before being let go. It is good to see Taylor making the most of his opportunity with Georgia State.
McGee and Georgia State hired several former Georgia football coaches last offseason, including analyst Ryan Williams and Manrey Saint-Amour, is Georgia State’s offensive line coach.
So far, coach Kirby Smart and Georgia have not experienced much coaching staff turnover this offseason.
