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Dawgs Fly Under the Radar: A Recap of Georgia’s 2026 Spring Practice and G-Day

While the college football world frequently fixates on quarterback controversies and transfer portal drama, the Georgia Bulldogs concluded their 2026 spring practice with a distinct lack of chaos. The overarching theme from Athens this spring was “business as usual,” a sentiment reflected in a G-Day game that displayed depth, defensive dominance, and a few fresh faces primed to contribute to another championship run.

On Saturday, April 18, the Red Team (first-team offense) defeated the Black Team (first-team defense) 27-17 inside Sanford Stadium. The attendance was announced at just over 31,000, a noticeable dip from previous years that points to the program’s current stability—there were no major quarterback competitions or coaching changes to drive frenzy.

Junior quarterback Gunner Stockton is firmly entrenched as the starter. With nothing left to prove, his G-Day workload was light; he completed 7 of 12 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown before donning a headset. The real intrigue came from the backups: Bryson Beaver, the true freshman, turned heads by completing 9 of 13 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, arguably having the best statistical day of the group. Ryan Montgomery showed off his arm with 132 yards, while Ryan Puglisi struggled to find a rhythm, finishing 7-of-17.

The biggest scare of the day occurred on the very first play from scrimmage when starting running back Nate Frazier limped off with an ankle injury. Head coach Kirby Smart later confirmed the move was precautionary, and Frazier is expected to be fine. In his absence, transfer running back Dante Dowdell impressed, displaying the physical running style Georgia covets. The tight end room also appears prepared to be the offense’s crown jewel, with Jaden Reddell and Elyiss Williams both putting on strong performances.

The national reaction to Georgia’s spring has been a mix of quiet respect and curious skepticism. Without the flash of a high-profile QB competition, some analysts believe the Bulldogs are flying “under the radar” for the first time in years. Georgia has reached a level of sustained excellence where “no news is good news.” The program is seen as a machine that reloads, rather than rebuilds.

Not all coverage has been glowing, however. Greg McElroy floated the possibility of a 7-5 season given the new 9-game SEC schedule. His comment brought out the razor-thin margin for error in the expanded conference.

CBS Sports remains bullish, predicting an 11-1 record for UGA, with its lone projected loss against Ole Miss. While the offense may rely heavily on tight ends and the ground game, the talent in Athens is higher than almost anyone else’s in the country. Georgia exits the spring of 2026 relatively healthy and with clear answers at key positions.

BSB: Three Dawgs Contend for National Awards

Georgia baseball standouts Caden Aoki, Kolby Branch, Daniel Jackson and Tre Phelps are in contention for national awards at their respective positions, it was announced this week.

Aoki, a graduate pitcher who is 5-0 with a 2.68 ERA and three saves, is on the NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year watch list. A native of Huntington Beach, Calif., Aoki has appeared in 11 games with two starts for a total of 40.1 innings. He has registered 54 strikeouts and 15 walks. Finalists for the award will be announced June 3, and the winner will be named June 12 during the 2026 College World Series (CWS).

Branch, a senior from Lucas, Texas, has been named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award which goes to the nation’s top shortstop. Branch has started all 42 games. He is batting .274 with 13 home runs, 38 RBI and fielding .974. The award will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year.

Jackson, a junior catcher from Sandy Springs, and Phelps, a junior third baseman from Atlanta, were among the eight players added the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award (BBNCSA) midseason watch list. This award is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity. Branch was on the initial list too. 

Jackson and Phelps, also on the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list, are among the offensive leaders for the Bulldogs again this season. Jackson is batting a team-best .378 with 20 home runs, 59 RBI and 18 stolen bases while starting all 42 games. Phelps is next on the team , hitting .370 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI in 41 starts. Former Bulldog standout Charlie Condon won the BBNSCA in 2024. The BBNSCA winner usually is announced around the CWS.

SEC-leading Georgia (32-10, 13-5 SEC), ranked as high as No. 5, returns to action Friday when it begins a three-game league series at No. 21 Ole Miss (30-12, 10-8 SEC). 

Georgia Players in Recent NFL Drafts

2025 (13)

DE Mykel Williams (1st round, 11th pick, 11th overall pick, San Fransico 49ers; LB Jalon Walker, 1st round, 15th pick, 15th overall pick, Atlanta Falcons); DB Malaki Starks (1st round, 27th pick, 27th overall pick, Baltimore Ravens); OG Tate Ratledge (2nd round, 25th pick, 57th overall pick, Detroit Lions); OG Dylan Fairchild (3rd round, 17th pick, 81st overall pick, Cincinnati Bengals); C Jared Wilson (3rd round, 31st pick, 95th overall pick, New England Patiots); WR Arian Smith (4th round, 8th pick, 110th overall pick, New York Jets); RB Trevor Etienne (4th round, 12th pick, 114th overall pick, Carolina Panthers); DE Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (5th round, 1st pick, 139th overall pick, Minnesota Vikings); LB Smael Mondon (5th round, 25th pick, 161st overall pick, Philadelphia Eagles); DL Warren Brinson (6th round, 22nd pick, 198th overall pick, Green Bay Packers); DB Dan Jackson (7th round, 14th pick, 230th overall pick, Detroit Lions); WR Dominic Lovett (7th round, 28th pick, 244th overall pick, Detroit Lions)

2024 (8)

TE Brock Bowers (1^st round, 13^th pick, 13^th overall pick); OT Amarius Mims (1^st round, 18^th pick, 18^th overall pick); WR Ladd McConkey (2^nd round, 2^nd pick, 34^th overall pick); DB Kamari Lassiter (2^nd round, 10^th pick, 42^nd overall pick); DB Javon Bullard (2^nd round, 26^th pick, 58^th overall pick); DB Tykee Smith (3^rd round, 26^th pick, 89^th overall pick); C Sedrick Van Pran (5^th round, 6^th pick, 141^st overall pick); DL Zion Logue (6^th round, 21^st pick, 197^th pick overall) 

2023 (10)

DT Jalen Carter (1^st round, 9^th pick, 9^th overall pick, Philadelphia Eagles); OT Broderick Jones (1^st round, 14^th pick, 14^th overall pick, Pittsburgh Steelers); OLB Nolan Smith (1^st round, 30^th pick, 30^th overall pick, Philadelphia Eagles); TE Darnell Washington (3^rd round, 30^th pick, 93^rd overall pick, Pittsburgh Steelers); DB Kelee Ringo, 4^th round, 3^rd pick, 105^th overall pick, Philadelphia Eagles); QB Stetson Bennett (4^th round, 26^th pick, 128^th overall pick, LA Rams); DB Christopher Smith (5^th round, 36^th pick, 170^th overall pick, Las Vegas Raiders); DE Robert Beal, Jr. (5^th round, 39^th pick, 173^rd overall pick, San Francisco 49ers);  OT Warren McClendon (5^th round, 40^th pick, 174^th overall pick, LA Rams); RB Kenny McIntosh (7^th round, 20^th pick, 237^th overall pick, Seattle Seahawks.

2022 (15)

DE Travon Walker (1^st round, 1^st pick, 1^st overall pick, Jacksonville Jaguars); DT Jordan Davis (1^st round, 13^th pick, 13rth overall pick, Philadelphia Eagles);  ILB Quay Walker (1^st round, 22^nd pick, 22^nd overall pick, Green Bay Packers);  DT Devonte Wyatt (1^st round, 28^th pick, 28^th overall pick, Green Bay Packers);  SAF Lewis Cine (1^st round, 32^nd pick, 32^nd overall pick, Minnesota Vikings); WR George Pickens (2^nd round, 20^th pick, 52^nd overall pick, Pittsburgh Steelers);  RB James Cook (2^nd round, 31^st pick, 63^rd overall pick, Buffalo Bills);  ILB Nakobe Dean (3^rd round, 19^th pick, 83^rd overall pick, Philadelphia Eagles);  LB Channing Tindall (3^rd round, 38^th pick, 102^nd overall pick, Miami Dolphins); RB Zamir White (4^th round, 17^th pick, 122^nd overall pick, Las Vegas Raiders); P Jake Camarda (4^th round, 28^th pick, 133^rd overall pick, Tampa Bay Bucs); OL Justin Shaffer (6^th round, 11^th pick, 190^th overall pick, Atlanta Falcons); OT Jamaree Salyer (6^th round, 16^th pick, 195^th overall pick, Los Angeles Chargers); CB Derion Kendrick (6^th round, 33^rd pick, 212^th overall pick, Los Angeles Rams); TE John Fitzpatrick (6^th, 34^th pick, 213^th  overall pick, Atlanta Falcons).

2021 (9)

DB Eric Stokes (1^st round, 29^th pick, 29^th overall pick, Green Bay Packers); DB Tyson Campbell, 2^nd round, 1st pick, 33^rd overall pick, Jacksonville Jaguars); OLB Azeez Ojulari (2^nd round, 18^th pick, 50^th overall pick, NY Giants); Monty Rice (3^rd round, 29^th pick, 92^nd overall pick, Tennessee Titans); OL Ben Cleveland (3^rd round, 31^st pick, 94^th overall pick, Baltimore Ravens); TE Tre McKitty (3^rd round, 34^th pick, 97^th overall pick, LA. Chargers); DB Richard LeCounte (5^th round, 25th pick, 169^th overall pick, Cleveland Browns); C Trey Hill (6^th round,6th pick, 190^th overall pick, Cincinnati Bengals); DB Mark Webb (7^th round, 13^th pick, 241^st overall pick, Los Angeles Chargers).

2020 (7)

OT Andrew Thomas (1^st round, 4^th pick, 4^th overall pick, NY Giants); OT Isaiah Wilson (1^st round, 29^th pick, 29^th overall pick, Tennessee Titans); RB D’Andre Swift (2^nd round, 3^rd pick, 35^th overall pick, Detroit Lions); OG Solomon Kindley (4^th round, 5^th pick, 111^th overall pick, Miami Dolphins); QB Jake Fromm (5^th round, 22^nd pick, 167^th overall pick, Buffalo Bills); TE Charlie Woerner (6^th round, 11^th pick, 190^th overall pick, San Francisco 49ers); LB Tae Crowder (7^th round, 41^st pick, 255^th overall pick, NY Giants, “Mr. Irrelevant”). 

(Note on Tae Crowder pick—the last pick of the draft–#255, “Mr. Irrelavent”

We have had one other Mr. Irrelevant—In the 1985 draft DT Donald Chumley was the last player picked — #336 which at that time was a 12 round draft—by the 49ers.  Chumley went on to become a high school head coach at Savannah Christian where his team won a Class A state championship in 2011.

2019 (7)

DB Deandre Baker (1^st round, 30^th pick, 30^th overall pick, New York Giants;  WR Mecole Hardman (2^nd round, 24^th pick, 56^th overall pick, Kansas City Chiefs);  WR Riley Ridley (4^th round, 24^th pick,  126^th overall pick, Chicago Bears);  OLB D’Andre Walker (5^th round, 30^th pick,  168^th overall pick,  Tennessee Titans);  C Lamont Gaillard (6^th round,  6^th pick, 179^th overall pick, Arizona Cardinasl);  TE Isaac Nauta (7^th round, 10^th pick,  224^th overall pick, Detroit Lions); WR Terry Godwin (7^th round,  23^rd pick,  237^th overall pick, Carolina Panthers).

2018 (5)

ILB Roquan Smith (1^st round, 8^th pick, 8^th overall pick, Chicago Bears), OT Isaiah Wynn (1^st round, 23^rd pick, 23^rd overall pick, New England Patriots), RB Sony Michel, 1^st round, 31^st pick, 31^st overall pick, New England Patriots), RB Nick Chubb (2^nd round, 3^rd pick, 35^th overall pick, Cleveland Browns), OLB Lorenzo Carter (3^rd round, 2^nd pick, 66^th overall pick, New York Giants).

2017 (1)

WR Isaiah McKenzie (5^th round, 29^th pick, 172^nd overall pick), Denver Broncos

2016 (5)

OLB Leonard Floyd (1^st round, 9^th pick, 9^th overall pick, Chicago Bears;  OLB Jordan Jenkins (3^rd round, 20^th pick, 83^rd overall pick, New York Jets); WR Malcolm Mitchell (4^th round, 14^th pick, 112^th overall pick, New England Patriots); OT John Theus (5^th round, 6^th pick, 145^th overall pick, San Francisco 49ers);  RB Keith Marshall (7^th round, 21^st pick, 242^nd overall pick, Washington Redskins)

2015 (5)

TB Todd Gurley (1^st round, 10^th pick, 10^th overall pick, St. Louis Rams);  WR Chris Conley (3^rd round, 12^th pick, 76nd overall pick, Kansas City Chiefs);  LB Ramik Wilson (4^th round, 19^th pick, 119^th overall pick, Kansas City Chiefs);  DB Damian Swann (5^th round, 31^st pick, 167^th overall pick, New Orleans Saints); LB Amarlo Herrera (6^th round, 31^st pick, 207^th overall pick, Indianapolis Colts).

2014 (2)

TE Arthur Lynch (5^th round, 15^th pick, 155^th overall pick), Miami Dolphins);  QB Aaron Murray (5^th round, 23^st pick, 163^rd overall pick, Kansas City Chiefs).

2013 (8)

OLB Jarvis Jones (1^st round, 17^th pick, 17^th overall pick, Pittsburgh Steelers); ILB Alec Ogletree (1^st round, 30^th pick, 30^th overall pick, St. Louis Rams); N John Jenkins (3^rd round, 20^th pick, 82^nd overall pick);  SAF Shawn Williams (3^rd round, 22^nd pick, 84^th overall pick);  CB Sanders Commings (5^th round, 1^st pick, 134^th overall pick);  WR Tavarres King (5^th round, 28^th pick, 161^st overall pick);  DE Cornelius Washington (6^th round, 20^th pick, 188^th overall pick);  FS Bacarri Rambo (6^th round, 23^rd pick, 191^st overall pick).

2012 (7)

OG Cordy Glenn (2^nd round, 9^th pick, 41^st overall pick, Buffalo Bills); C Ben Jones (4^th round, 4^th pick, 99^th overall pick, Houston Texans);  TE Orson Charles (4^th round, 21^st pick, 116^th overall pick, Cincinnati Bengals); CB Brandon Boykin (4^th round, 28^th pick, 123^rd overall pick, Phildelphia Eagles);  PK Blair Walsh (6^th round, 5^th pick, 175^th overall pick, Minnesota Vikikngs);  OT Justin Anderson (7^th round, 1^st pick, 208^th overall pick, Indianapolis Colts);  DE DeAngelo Tyson (7^th round, 29^th pick, 236^th overall pick, Baltimore Ravens).

2011 (6)

WR A.J. Green (1^st round, 4^th pick, 4^th overall pick, Cincinnati Bengals), OLB Justin Houston (3^rd round, 6^th pick, 70^th overall pick, Kansas City Chiefs), LB Akeem Dent (3^rd round, 27^th overall pick, 91^st overall pick, Atlanta Falcons), OG Clint Boling (4^th round,  4^th pick, 101^st overall pick), Cincinnati Bengals), WR Kris Durham, (4^th round, 10^th pick, 107^th overall pick, Seattle Seahawks), FB Shaun Chapas (7^th round, 17^th pick, 220^th overall pick, Dallas Cowboys.

2010 (5)

LB Rennie Curran (3^rd round, 97^th pick), Tennessee Titans;  DT Geno Atkins (4^th round, 120^th pick), Cincinnati Bengals;  SAF Reshad Jones (5^th round, 163^rd pick), Miami Dolphins;  DT Jeff Owens (7^th round, 243^rd pick), Philadelphia Eagles;  DT Kade Weston (7^th round, 248^th pick), New England Patriots.

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