By Tony Thomas
The Georgia Bulldogs return several starters and key contributors on both sides of the ball as they head into the 2024 spring practice. However, they do lose a combined 27 rushing touchdowns with the departure of RB Dajun Edwards and RB Kendall Milton.
In addition, the Bulldogs also lose some very dependable, highly productive targets for QB Carson Beck to throw to in WR Ladd McConkey and TE Brock Bowers. To address these issues, head coach Kirby Smart plucked some equally talented replacements from the transfer portal, including three that will make an immediate impact.
RB Trevor Etienne
Previous School: Florida Gators
5’9”, 205 lbs.
With 24 games of college experience under his belt, Trevor Etienne is the presumed RB1 on the spring depth chart. In the last two seasons in Gainesville, Etienne has recorded 1,472 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, and averaged almost six yards per carry over that time.
In 2023, his season-high came in the Tennessee game in which he rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown in a Gators victory over the 17th-ranked Volunteers. Against LSU in Death Valley, Etienne scored three rushing touchdowns in a losing effort to the Jayden Daniels-led Tigers.
WR Colbie Young
Previous School: Miami Hurricanes
6’5”, 215 lbs.
In 2023, Colbie Young was 3rd on the team in receiving yards with 563 yards on 47 catches, and 2nd on the Hurricanes team with receiving TDs with five.
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Colbie Young 44 yards to house on his first touch of the season! https://t.co/rYFDcjjaQz
— Andrew Ferrelli (@Andrew_Ferrelli) September 1, 2023
Young will provide depth and compete for playing time with key returnees RaRa Thomas (23 catches, 383 yards, one TD), Dominic Lovett (54 catches, 613 yards, four TDs), and Dillon Bell (29 catches, 355 yards, two TDs). Arguably, wide receiver will be the strongest of the offensive position groups for the Bulldogs.
WR Landon Humphreys
Previous School: Vanderbilt Commodores
6’3”, 186 lbs.
As a true freshman in 2023, Landon Humphreys hauled in 22 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns, which was good enough for 2nd on the Commodores team. Humphreys recorded two games over 100 yards receiving:
· 4 catches, 109 yards, one TD of 30 yards vs Wake Forest.
· 3 catches, 102 yards, one TD of 56 yards vs UNLV.
Georgia had 12 players leave for the NFL Draft, and 18 players entered the transfer portal. According to Bill Connelly of ESPN, the Bulldogs rank 25th in 2024 returning offensive production and 80th in returning defensive production, for an overall national ranking of 47th in total production that will be back this season. Etienne, Young, and Humphreys will certainly ease the pain of those personnel losses on offense and the Bulldogs will be in playoff contention once again.
