ESPN Pinpoints Georgia Bulldogs’ Most Concerning Weakness as Secondary Faces Key Challenges Entering Critical 2025 Football Season
As the Georgia Bulldogs prepare for another championship-caliber season, expectations are once again sky-high in Athens. Under the leadership of head coach Kirby Smart, Georgia has become one of the most dominant programs in college football. With back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, a playoff appearance in 2023, and a consistent pipeline to the NFL, the Bulldogs have set the gold standard. Yet even elite programs have areas that need improvement, and ESPN analysts have recently spotlighted what they believe is Georgia’s most glaring weakness heading into the 2025 season: the secondary.
While Georgia has been renowned for its suffocating defenses, stacked front sevens, and NFL-ready linebackers, the Bulldogs’ secondary has shown cracks that could become vulnerabilities in high-stakes matchups. ESPN’s recent breakdown of top teams heading into the season cited Georgia’s defensive backfield—particularly its inexperience at cornerback and lack of depth at safety—as the team’s “biggest concern.”
The concern stems from several factors, starting with key departures. Last year’s starting corners Kamari Lassiter and Daylen Everette both declared early for the NFL Draft, leaving behind a group with immense potential but limited in-game experience. Lassiter, in particular, had developed into one of the SEC’s top cover corners, frequently drawing assignments against the opponent’s No. 1 receiver and excelling in man coverage. Replacing his production, instincts, and leadership will not be an easy task.
Compounding the issue is the relative youth and inconsistency among the expected starters. Sophomore Julian Humphrey is projected to step into a larger role at corner, and while he brings elite speed and athleticism, he’s still refining his technique and adjusting to the speed of SEC play. Opposite him, redshirt freshman Daniel Harris is another rising talent, but he, too, lacks meaningful game reps. Their potential is undeniable, but with the likes of Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss on the schedule, being untested is a dangerous liability.
At safety, the Bulldogs face similar uncertainty. Malaki Starks, the All-American junior, returns as the anchor of the unit, but there are question marks around who will consistently line up next to him. Last season’s rotation included Dan Jackson and David Daniel-Sisavanh, but neither has consistently shown the range and instincts needed to excel against top-tier passing attacks. There’s hope that incoming freshman KJ Bolden, one of the highest-rated recruits in the 2024 class, can contribute early, but relying heavily on a true freshman in the secondary comes with obvious risks.
ESPN’s concerns are not unfounded when examining Georgia’s performance against elite passing offenses over the past two seasons. Although the Bulldogs largely contained SEC opponents, there were moments—particularly against Alabama in the 2023 SEC Championship and Ohio State in the 2022 College Football Playoff—where breakdowns in coverage nearly cost them games. Explosive plays through the air, especially against man coverage and on deep posts, have been a thorn in the side of an otherwise dominant defense.
What’s more, Georgia’s defensive scheme under coordinator Glenn Schumann and head coach Kirby Smart often relies on complex coverages, pattern matching, and disguised looks. While this makes the Bulldogs difficult to game-plan against, it also demands an extremely high football IQ from defensive backs. Young, inexperienced players may struggle with the mental aspects of the system, potentially leading to communication errors or missed assignments against high-tempo offenses.
The modern era of college football—where spread offenses, RPOs, and elite quarterback play have become the norm—places increasing pressure on secondaries. Teams that want to compete for a national title must be able to cover elite receivers in space, make open-field tackles, and defend against the deep ball. Georgia’s recruiting has certainly brought in the necessary talent, but developing that talent into cohesive, disciplined, game-ready units is another challenge entirely.
Kirby Smart, himself a former defensive back, understands the stakes. During spring practice and summer workouts, he and his staff have reportedly placed added emphasis on secondary drills, communication reps, and situational awareness. Speaking after the Bulldogs’ spring game, Smart acknowledged the growing pains but expressed confidence in the young group’s ability to mature. “We’ve got a lot of guys with potential in that room,” Smart said. “Now it’s about reps, confidence, and doing it consistently under pressure.”
One potential wild card for the Bulldogs is the transfer portal. Georgia added former Wake Forest cornerback Caelen Carson, a fifth-year senior with ACC starting experience. Carson brings much-needed maturity and has impressed during early workouts. While he’s not the most physically gifted corner on the roster, his football IQ and steady play could provide a critical stabilizing presence. Still, asking one transfer to solve an entire unit’s depth issues is a tall order.
Depth is another point of concern raised by ESPN. While Georgia’s first string may have enough talent to hang with any opponent, injuries are inevitable in the SEC gauntlet. Beyond the projected starters, Georgia will likely have to rely on underclassmen such as AJ Harris, Ellis Robinson IV, and Justyn Rhett. These players are blue-chip recruits, no doubt, but remain largely untested. Inexperience often leads to breakdowns in high-leverage moments—something Georgia can’t afford if they hope to return to the College Football Playoff.
It’s also worth noting that the Bulldogs’ aggressive front seven often leaves the secondary on an island. Blitz-heavy schemes and single-high safety looks put immense pressure on cornerbacks to win their matchups one-on-one. Against teams like Texas and Alabama, who boast NFL-caliber quarterbacks and receivers, this strategy can backfire if coverage isn’t airtight. Georgia’s success in recent years has been largely due to their ability to generate pressure without overcommitting—something they’ll need to replicate this season to protect their young secondary.
Another key piece to monitor will be the role of veteran leadership. Players like Malaki Starks, Javon Bullard, and Tykee Smith (if healthy and returning) will be counted on to guide the younger defensive backs, both on and off the field. Leadership in the secondary is often the difference between chaos and cohesion, especially when opposing offenses go no-huddle or hurry-up. Starks, in particular, has already been vocal about raising the standard. “We hold ourselves to a high bar,” he said. “It’s our job to make sure everyone in the secondary plays to it.”
While ESPN’s identification of Georgia’s secondary as a weakness is a fair assessment based on roster turnover and lack of experience, it’s important to view the situation with nuance. Georgia recruits at an elite level, and nearly every player in the defensive backfield is a former 4- or 5-star recruit. The challenge isn’t talent—it’s seasoning. If the coaching staff can accelerate the development curve, this group may gel by midseason and peak at the right time.
Georgia’s schedule, while loaded, also presents opportunities for growth. Early non-conference matchups and contests against lesser SEC opponents will allow the Bulldogs to rotate players, experiment with combinations, and correct mistakes before facing the heavyweights. By the time games against Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas roll around, the hope is that the secondary has been battle-tested and ready for the spotlight.
In the end, Georgia’s championship hopes will likely come down to the performance of its secondary. The offense, led by returning quarterback Carson Beck and a deep stable of weapons, should put up points. The front seven, anchored by names like Mykel Williams and Smael Mondon, remains a force. But when playoff-caliber teams inevitably take shots downfield, Georgia’s defensive backs will need to hold their ground.
The Bulldogs have proven time and again that they can overcome challenges with preparation, resilience, and a next-man-up mentality. But the margin for error at the top of college football is razor-thin. Even one weak link can be the difference between hoisting a trophy and falling short.
As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on Georgia’s secondary. Will the young stars rise to the occasion? Can the veterans provide enough leadership and consistency? Will Kirby Smart and his staff mold this group into yet another dominant unit?
Only time will tell. But if Georgia is to reclaim the national crown, it’s clear that the key lies not just in the trenches or the end zone—but in the defensive backfield.
