Following the most recent Transfer Portal news, Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are now even more compelled to rely on youth and inexperience.

When the Georgia Bulldogs took the field for their spring showcase earlier this month, many observers were impressed with the flashes of brilliance from the program’s younger players. However, what once looked like a luxury of future riches is now a necessity. Following the latest wave of transfer portal departures, Kirby Smart’s 2025 Georgia team is being redefined by an urgent reliance on youth and inexperience.

It’s not a situation Smart has often found himself in during his ultra-successful tenure in Athens. Built on dominant recruiting and a development pipeline that rarely misses, Georgia’s roster has typically been layered with veteran depth at nearly every position. But this spring, that narrative is shifting.

Transfer Portal Exodus Brings Depth Concerns

In recent weeks, Georgia has seen a notable number of players enter the transfer portal, including several who were expected to provide second or third-string depth behind entrenched starters. Among the most impactful exits:

• Daylen Everette, a former five-star cornerback who had been competing for a starting job in the secondary.
• Nyland Green, another defensive back with starting experience who provided veteran insurance.
• Darris Smith, a long and athletic edge rusher expected to be a rotational pass rusher.
• CJ Allen, the talented linebacker who showed strong promise last season before his surprising portal entry.

While Georgia’s starting 22 remains largely intact with elite talent across the board, the attrition now magnifies how quickly the Bulldogs could be forced to turn to underclassmen should injuries, fatigue, or inconsistencies arise.

Kirby Smart’s Shift in Tone: “Next Man Up” Meets Reality

Kirby Smart has long preached competition and “next man up” as the pillars of his program. But behind closed doors, even the famously unflappable head coach knows this is uncharted territory. Speaking after Georgia’s spring game, Smart offered a telling quote:

“We’ve got a lot of young guys who are going to have to grow up fast. This team’s going to look different in the fall, and that’s not a bad thing—but it’s real.”

Smart has typically leaned on upperclassmen while slowly grooming his blue-chip recruits. But the transfer portal has introduced a new dynamic: players unwilling to wait their turn and programs needing to fill sudden gaps on short notice.

Position Groups Most Affected by Youth Movement

Cornerback: Thin and Unproven

The departure of Everette and Green has left the Bulldogs vulnerable at one of the program’s historically strongest positions. As of now, sophomore Julian “JuJu” Humphrey is slated to start opposite Kamari Lassiter, but behind them, Georgia will rely on true freshman phenoms like Ellis Robinson IV and Peyton Woodyard to contribute immediately.

Robinson, the No. 1 cornerback in the 2024 recruiting class, has the raw tools and competitive fire to play early. But he’s never faced the pressures of an SEC road game or the nuances of elite route runners. Learning on the fly is rarely easy—especially at a school where playoff expectations loom.

Linebacker: Reloading Again

Georgia’s inside linebacker room has seen more turnover than most fans expected. With Jamon Dumas-Johnson off to the NFL and CJ Allen’s departure, junior Smael Mondon and sophomore Raylen Wilson are now tasked with anchoring the middle.

Wilson showed high-level athleticism last year, but his decision-making is still developing. Behind him? True freshman Justin Williams, a five-star from Texas, and redshirt freshman Troy Bowles may be forced into action earlier than expected. If either Mondon or Wilson goes down, it could create an experience vacuum.

Edge Rusher: Smith’s Exit Leaves a Gap

Darris Smith was widely expected to rotate heavily in Georgia’s pass-rushing plans this fall. With him gone, Smart and co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann must now lean more heavily on underclassmen like Samuel M’Pemba, a redshirt freshman, and Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, a five-star true freshman who has the frame but needs technical refinement.

While Georgia has always recruited elite pass rushers, the depth needed to maintain the relentless rotation Smart prefers is no longer guaranteed.

Offensive Side Less Impacted—For Now

On offense, Georgia remains relatively stable. Carson Beck returns as one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks, and the offensive line is anchored by veterans. But wide receiver and running back depth are also quietly relying more on unproven talent.

Sophomore receiver Anthony Evans and true freshman Nitro Tuggle are being fast-tracked into contributing roles. At running back, despite having TreVeyon Robinson and Branson Robinson, injuries and conditioning issues have led to more reps for early enrollee Nathaniel Frazier.

Kirby’s Recruiting Classes Were Built for This—But Are They Ready?

To be clear, Georgia has never lacked talent under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs have landed the No. 1 overall recruiting class in three of the past five cycles. But five-stars don’t always become five-star contributors right away.

The 2024 and 2025 classes—loaded with top-end defensive backs, linebackers, and defensive linemen—were initially expected to provide depth and rotational sparks. Now they may be playing 30+ snaps per game this fall.

That includes names like:

• KJ Bolden (Safety, 2024)
• Eddrick Houston (DL, 2024)
• Chris Cole (LB, 2024)
• Na’eem Offord (CB, 2025 early enrollee)
• Zion Grady (Edge, 2025 early enrollee)

These prospects were recruited for their upside and competitiveness. Now, they’ll have to pair that potential with maturity and football IQ much sooner than originally planned.

Team Culture Being Tested

One of Georgia’s greatest strengths during its championship run was its culture—a team-first mindset where upperclassmen mentored younger players and everyone bought into competition. The portal, however, is challenging that foundation.

Smart has been open about the balancing act of keeping players happy while fostering internal competition. When a player feels they’ve earned more snaps but doesn’t get them, the portal offers a tempting escape.

Yet Smart refuses to bend:

“You can’t run a program trying to keep everyone happy. You run it to build a team. That means some guys won’t like their roles—but the ones who stay usually end up ready when it matters most.”

This fall will test that philosophy. Will Georgia’s youngest players rise to the occasion, or will they buckle under the weight of high expectations and early responsibility?

Veteran Leaders Carry More Weight Than Ever

For all the youth on this roster, Georgia is still anchored by veteran leaders who must guide the new generation. That includes:

• Carson Beck, the calm and confident quarterback entering his second year as a starter.
• Brock Bowers, the All-American tight end (if he decides to return post-NFL Draft window, which remains a topic of buzz).
• Kamari Lassiter, a vocal presence in the secondary.
• Nazir Stackhouse, a senior defensive lineman who will set the tone for a young front seven.

These leaders are now being asked to do more than produce. They must mentor, stabilize, and uplift a team whose margins may be thinner than ever before.

The SEC Schedule Isn’t Forgiving

Another wrinkle? Georgia’s 2025 schedule features early and unforgiving matchups. Games against Texas, Ole Miss, and Tennessee come before midseason, meaning any growing pains from youth must be ironed out quickly.

Last year, Georgia had the luxury of easing into form. This year? Every snap matters from Week 1.

Can Georgia Still Compete for a National Title?

The answer is yes—but it’s no longer the foregone conclusion it once was.

Georgia’s 2025 team will still enter the season ranked in the top five. Carson Beck is a legitimate Heisman candidate. The coaching staff is elite. The program’s infrastructure remains among the best in the country.

But the difference between a 12-0 regular season and a 10-2 campaign could come down to how quickly true freshmen adjust to SEC speed. Can Ellis Robinson IV handle being on an island against elite wideouts? Will Justin Williams know where to be when facing tempo? Can Jonah-Ajonye set the edge against a team like Texas?

Kirby Smart has built a dynasty. But in this era of rapid change, even dynasties must evolve.

A New Kind of Georgia Grit

The post-transfer portal Georgia Bulldogs won’t be weaker—they’ll just be younger. And that’s a subtle but important distinction.

This is not a rebuilding year. It’s a reloading challenge wrapped in a proving ground. The talent is there. The coaching is there. The question is whether Georgia’s culture can accelerate the readiness of its youngest players in time to meet another championship-caliber schedule.

Smart said it best:

“These young guys—they don’t know what they don’t know yet. But what I’ve seen is hunger. If they keep working, this team could end up being really special. Just a little different than we’ve seen before.”

That “little different” might just be the storyline that defines Georgia’s 2025 season.