SEC East recruiting class rankings after early signing period

How does the SEC East rank nationally in the class of 2023 recruiting cycle? Georgia has the top class in the division again.

The Georgia Bulldogs and head coach Kirby Smart have the second-ranked recruiting class in the country. Georgia looks like it is in the driver’s seat to win the SEC East again in 2023.

Georgia isn’t the only SEC East team that is doing work on the recruiting trail. Josh Heupel and Tennessee are bringing in a lot of talent and currently have a top-ten recruiting class.

How does the rest of the division rank in the class of 2023 recruiting cycle (rankings per 247Sports)?

Final 2022 SEC East football standings

How did SEC East teams, like the Georgia Bulldogs, perform when compared to preseason expectations?

The Georgia Bulldogs have won the SEC East for the second consecutive season. Georgia was voted to win the SEC East in the preseason.

How did the rest of the SEC East teams perform when compared to preseason expectations?

Not many folks saw Tennessee’s fantastic start to the season coming. Additionally, South Carolina’s finish to the regular season could give the Gamecocks a great deal of momentum moving forward.

South Carolina adds two major transfers

The South Carolina Gamecocks have added two major transfers in former Oklahoma star quarterback Spencer Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner

The South Carolina Gamecocks have added two major transfers in former Oklahoma star quarterback Spencer Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner.

Entering the 2021 college football season, Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler was considered the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. Lincoln Riley went on to bench Rattler following some inconsistent performances. Rattler entered the transfer portal following Oklahoma’s defeat against Oklahoma State in the season-finale.

Let’s dive deeper into South Carolina’s two new transfers and how they will impact the SEC East:

Georgia football adds another nonconference opponent to 2028 schedule

UGA football has scheduled another nonconference opponent for the 2028 season. Details and outlook here.

Georgia football has been busy lately with future nonconference scheduling. Last month the Bulldogs added Louisville for a home-and-home series for 2026 and 2027 and now, UGA has added a game against Florida A&M that will go down on Sept. 9, 2028 in Athens.

The HBCU and will become a full member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference this fall and although the Rattlers are a FCS school, Georgia will have to be ready for anything with how the schedule sets up in 2028.

UGA will open the season at Texas and then a week after the newly added game versus Florida A&M, who went 9-2 in 2019, will face Florida State in Athens.

There are some big games coming to Athens in the next decade. Check out how the entire future nonconference schedule sets up here, featuring nine Power 5 opponents…

  • September 4, 2021: Clemson (Charlotte)
  • September 3, 2022: Oregon (Atlanta)
  • September 9, 2023: at Oklahoma
  • August 31, 2024: Clemson (Atlanta)
  • August 30, 2025: at UCLA
  • September 9, 2026: UCLA
  • September 19, 2026: at Louisville
  • September 4, 2027: at Florida State
  • September 18, 2027: Louisville
  • September 2, 2028: at Texas
  • September 9, 2028: Florida A&M
  • September 16, 2028: Florida State
  • September 1, 2029: Texas
  • September 15, 2029: at Clemson
  • August 31, 2030: Clemson
  • September 14, 2030: Ohio State
  • August 30, 2031: at Ohio State
  • September 13, 2031: Oklahoma
  • September 4, 2032: Clemson
  • September 3, 2033: at Clemson

 


A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” podcast is streaming now! This week, J.C. talks Georgia spring practice news, new scheduling additions and Dawgs in the NFL free agency updates. Listen here:

What Georgia QB JT Daniels said after 10th spring practice

Georgia quarterback JT Daniels spoke to the media following the Bulldogs’ 10th spring practice on Tuesday. Here’s what Daniels had to say.

Georgia football is in its third week of spring practice and just five practices away from G-Day, the annual spring game held in Sanford Stadium.

After Tuesday’s practice, coach Kirby Smart and several players spoke to the media, including quarterback JT Daniels. The former USC transfer took UGA and the SEC by storm when he replaced Stetson Bennett versus Mississippi State and went on to throw for 401 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the season undefeated and with a win over No. 8 Cincinnati in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Now, the Heisman hopeful leads a loaded Bulldog roster into a potential championship season.

Here’s what the junior signal caller said:

  • On what being a quarterback means to him…

“I think, first and foremost, it starts with how you approach everything you do, especially as a veteran now. This is my fourth season in college football. I remember when I was coming in how I looked up to the older guys in the building, and I can only imagine that other guys look up to the Lewis Cines [and] guys that have been here for a while, and others that have played a lot of ball like myself. The first thing is how it starts with how you approach everything, and I think it’s also really important how I’ve focused on is just my overall body language and my mannerisms. I’ve always been just more of a laid-back kind of guy, especially on the field. I’ve never been a hype man, that’s just never been my thing. But I’ve put more effort into not just words of encouragement but trying to keep everyone focused on task if someone is not doing the right thing. And if I’m not doing the right thing, someone is going to tell me, and I’ve got to do the same thing and dish it out. But there’s just a lot of areas of leadership that I’ve really tried to take a step.”

  • On when he took the role as leader on the team…

“I think that something we talk about a lot as a team is that everybody on the team is a leader, whether you are just joining and you are a walk-on, or if you are a Jamaree Salyer, or a Lewis [Cine], you’re [Ameer] Speed, or anyone of them. I think obviously your role expands the more you play, and you just have a bigger platform in that area. But I think that since I’ve been here, I’ve always tried to take the approach of first leading by example, then once I think you earn a certain level of trust in your teammates, from them seeing how you work and knowing that you’re here for them, then you can start being more vocal and doing more things.”

  • On what it means that Coach Smart named him this season’s starting QB…

“The first thing is that it is a really great honor to be a starting Division I quarterback, especially at a program like Georgia. And to hear from your coach that you do try really hard to show out for, it’s something that is really cool to hear. And it definitely is a confidence booster just to hear that your coach believes in you.”

 


A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” podcast is streaming now! This week, J.C. talks Georgia spring practice news, new scheduling additions and Dawgs in the NFL free agency updates. Listen here:

Georgia CB Eric Stokes laughs at NFL draft ranking

Pro Football Focus ranked their top-10 corners in the draft and Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes had something to say. Details here.

Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes is less than a month away from hearing his name called in the 2021 NFL Draft. The junior chose to leave Athens early after a great season as an anchor in the Bulldogs secondary.

Stokes led the SEC in interceptions (4) and returned two of those for touchdowns while racking up 20 tackles, four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. All which helped the Covington, Ga., native to CBS All-America First-Team and All-SEC First Team honors.

We can’t forget Stokes’ incredible workouts this offseason leading up to the draft. He was clocked at 4.25 in the forty yard dash at Brandon Marshall’s combine event and then ran a 4.28 at Georgia’s pro day in March. Add his size and length (6’1, 185) and all signs point to a top-10 corner prospect.

Well, Pro Football Focus doesn’t think so…

Stokes responded…

Stokes was a 3-star running back at Eastside High School and knows all about being labeled as an underdog.

All things considered, Stokes draft stock has risen with his performances in workouts this season from a second day grade. NFL.com has Stokes going to the New Orlean Saints at pick No. 28 in the first-round in their latest mock draft. 

 

 


A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” podcast is streaming now! This week, J.C. talks Georgia spring practice news, new scheduling additions and Dawgs in the NFL free agency updates. Listen here:

How to watch, listen or stream UGA vs. UF

No. 5 Georgia vs. No 8 Florida this Saturday in Jacksonville in a battle for the SEC East. Here’s how to watch, listen or stream the game.

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is here and it’s a big one.

No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 8 Florida this Saturday in Jacksonville in a battle for the SEC East and if things hold, a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship.

Georgia vs. Florida 

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: SEC on CBS

Live stream:  CBSSports.comCBS Sports App (Free)

Where: TIAA Bank Field — Jacksonville, Florida

Satellite Radio: XM 191

Georgia Radio: Athens 960 AM/106.1 FM; Atlanta 750 AM/95.5 FM; Macon 106.3 FM; Augusta 580 AM/95.1 FM; Savannah 1400 AM/104.3 FM; Columbus 1460 AM/100.1 FM; Valdosta 105.9 FM; Rome 107.1 FM (IMG Radio-Scott Howard, Eric Zeier, Chuck Dowdle)

Betting:

Georgia:  -3 (-115) ,  Florida : +3 (-106)

Over/Under: 53.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook

Matchup predictor: Georgia has a 63.7% chance to win, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.

Series history: Currently the Bulldogs lead the overall series 53-43-2 over Florida.

Georgia has won the last three, with the last Florida victory coming in 2016.

Prediction: People will tell you that Georgia is down right now, saying that the Bulldogs are riddled with injuries on defense, struggling to find consistency on offense and coming off of a lackluster performance at Kentucky.

The reality is, Georgia has 16 5-star recruits on the team – the most in the country – and returned 90% of defensive production from an elite 2019 defense.

Yes, we will miss star safety Richard LeCounte, but do not expect the Bulldogs to miss a beat with guys like Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell and Monty Rice – all very experienced guys we will see on Sundays next year.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart is a perfect 3-0 vs. Florida coach Dan Mullen and I don’t expect that winning streak to end on Saturday. Georgia’s offense finds balance and the defense holds, Bulldogs win 31-23

Make sure you’re caught up on Georgia football for the game today! This week’s episode of the UGA Football Live podcast is live now.  I’m joined by UGA great Malcolm Mitchell to talk about his clutch game-winning touchdown catch vs. the Gators in 2012 and I break down everything you need to now for the battle for the SEC East, No. 5 Georgia vs. No 8 Florida.

Listen here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hZRno0iERznTQAzJJVzmg?si=G7xWce3kQqehIBtiGpiN9Q

Watch: Georgia freshman TE Darnell Washington’s insane high school tape

Watch the former 5-star recruit’s highlight tape here!

5-star Dessert Pines recruit Darnell Washington signed with Georgia as the No. 2 athlete, the No. 1 player in Nevada and the No. 23 overall recruit in the Bulldogs’ No. 1 class of 2020.

At 6-foot-7 260 pounds, Washington is already a miss match for opposing defenders.

The Under Armor All-American will wear No. 0 for the Bulldogs, which should make for a great target for Georgia quarterbacks when the Bulldogs kick off versus Arkansas on Sept 26.

Watch Washington’s dominant high school tape here:

Washington could be an absolute monster for Georgia, and with the departure of tight ends Eli Wolfe and Charlie Woerner, the Bulldogs will need to find production in the middle of the field.

 

All rankings via 247Sports 

UGA Twitter reacts to Justin Fields’ visit to Athens

Here is what Twitter had to say when Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields showed up to UGA’s preseason scrimmage Saturday.

Ohio State quaterback Justin Fields’ made the news Saturday, when the former Georgia signal caller visited the Bulldogs in Athens for their first preseason scrimmage.

According to Dawgnation, the Kennesaw, Georgia native was in the stands, not on the sideline.

Here are some Georgia football Twitter reactions to Fields visit:

Georgia football No. 4 in AP Top 25 Preseason poll

The Associated Press has released its AP Top 25 Preseason poll. Georgia football is No. 4, where is the rest of the SEC? Details here.

The Associated Press has released its annual college football preseason top 25 rankings.

Georgia comes in at No. 4 with Alabama at No. 3, Ohio State at No. 2 and Clemson at the No. 1 spot.

The SEC leads all conferences with seven teams ranked in the top 25, followed by the Big Ten with six.

The Big 12 is next with four, followed by both the ACC and Pac-12 with three and the American with two.

In regards to the Bulldog’s opponent rankings for the 2020 season:

  • Alabama (3)
  • Florida (8)
  • Auburn (11)
  • Tennessee (25)

See the full preseason AP Top 25 here with SEC programs in bold:

1. Clemson (38)
2. Ohio State (21)
3. Alabama (2)
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
6. LSU (1)
7. Penn State
8. Florida
9. Oregon
10. Notre Dame
11. Auburn
12. Wisconsin
13. Texas A&M
14. Texas
15. Oklahoma State
16. Michigan
17. USC
18. North Carolina
19. Minnesota
20. Cincinnati
21. UCF
22. Utah
23. Iowa State
24. Iowa
25. Tennessee