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Fall Camp Review: What Have We Learned So Far?

As summer wears on and the season opener looms on the horizon, Georgia fans finally got a glimpse into how the 2025 Bulldogs are shaping up during Saturday’s second fall scrimmage in Sanford Stadium. With roster turnover, positional battles, and rising young stars all taking center stage, this scrimmage offered one of the clearest indicators yet of who might lead Georgia’s charge for another SEC title and national championship run.

From quarterback clarity to defensive dominance, here’s a breakdown of everything we’ve learned so far from fall camp, with Saturday’s action setting the tone.

Quarterback Room: Gunner Stockton Leads, But It’s Not Over Yet

The most pressing question entering camp—who will start at quarterback—isn’t fully answered yet, but Gunner Stockton continues to look like QB1. The redshirt junior has taken the majority of first-team reps and drawn praise for his poise and command during the scrimmage.

According to reports, Stockton made efficient throws and managed the offense effectively, even when the pocket broke down. Though Georgia is keeping the offense somewhat vanilla for now, it’s clear that Stockton is in control and making few mistakes.

That said, the battle isn’t over. Ryan Puglisi, the highly touted true freshman, showed flashes of his immense talent. Puglisi reportedly connected on a deep touchdown and showed off the arm talent that made him a blue-chip recruit. Although not yet fully polished in decision-making, his ceiling is sky-high.

Also in the mix is Ryan Montgomery, another freshman who has steadily improved through camp. While Montgomery’s reps were more limited, his mechanics and poise were noted by observers as advanced for his age.

For now, the depth chart looks like this: Gunner Stockton as the leader, Ryan Puglisi nipping at his heels, and Ryan Montgomery earning valuable development reps. If nothing changes, Stockton likely takes the first snap in the season opener.

Running Back Room: Power, Speed, and Youth

The running back position has been the biggest pleasant surprise of fall camp. Georgia’s new backfield is a blend of explosive youth and surprising physicality.

Saturday’s scrimmage made one thing clear: Nate Frazier and Dwight Phillips Jr. are the real deal. Frazier ran with a combination of balance, vision, and low-pad power that turned heads. Meanwhile, Phillips Jr. showed off his 10.3 100-meter speed with a long touchdown run that may have been the most electrifying play of the day.

Also stepping up was Rod Robinson, who provided a bruising presence between the tackles. At 6’1″, 230+ pounds, Robinson’s physicality gave Georgia a powerful counterbalance to the blazing speed of Phillips and the elusiveness of Frazier.

Let’s not forget Josh McCray, the Illinois transfer. Though not a featured back in the scrimmage, McCray’s frame and SEC-ready experience could make him a third-down weapon or goal-line hammer.

What Georgia has is a four-headed monster, each with different strengths: Frazier – the balanced, versatile all-around back; Phillips Jr. – the home-run threat; Robinson – the power runner; and McCray – the experienced change-up. The depth here is one of the strongest of the Smart era.

Wide Receivers: Dillon Bell, CJ Wiley, and the Rise of Freshmen

With Ladd McConkey, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, and Dominic Lovett gone, the wide receiver group was a bit of a mystery heading into camp.

Dillon Bell has put that mystery to rest. The junior wideout looked every bit the veteran leader this offense needs, reportedly hauling in multiple catches, including a contested third-down grab that drew sideline applause. His route-running, toughness, and football IQ have made him the most consistent option so far.

Then there’s CJ Wiley, who had the scrimmage’s biggest highlight—a leaping touchdown grab over tight coverage. Wiley has built on a strong spring and is making a legitimate push for a starting spot.

Behind them, Georgia is seeing a wave of youth surge forward. Noah Thomas and Zachariah Branch, both underclassmen, earned praise for their explosive plays and ability to stretch the field. If Thomas can continue refining his hands and footwork, he could be Georgia’s next breakout X-receiver.

Tight Ends: Reloading, Not Rebuilding

Losing Brock Bowers—arguably the greatest tight end in history—is no small thing. But Georgia doesn’t rebuild, it reloads.

Jaden Reddell and Elyiss Williams have started turning heads, particularly Reddell, who caught a red-zone touchdown from Puglisi during Saturday’s scrimmage. At 6’4 “, 235 lbs, with soft hands and surprising quickness, he may be the primary pass-catching tight end in this year’s system.

Ethan Barbour, another underclassman, flashed strong blocking ability and is being groomed as the TE2 or H-back option. This group may lack Bowers’ dominance—for now—but it has the depth and skill to be one of the SEC’s top tight end units by midseason.

Offensive Line: Still Gelled, Still Nasty

Georgia’s starting offensive line has returned most of its core, and that continuity is paying off. The first-team unit opened up running lanes for Robinson and Phillips Jr. throughout the scrimmage and gave Stockton a mostly clean pocket to work from. With this unit clicking, Georgia’s offense should stay balanced and efficient.

Defensive Backs: Elite Athletes, Young and Dangerous

If there’s one area where Georgia’s defensive talent is immediately obvious, it’s the secondary. Daylen Everette and Ellis Robinson IV both had strong showings, blanketing receivers and showing excellent anticipation. Robinson, in particular, had a pass breakup in the end zone and continues to show a five-star pedigree.

KJ Bolden has seen significant reps and has already picked off passes in previous practices. His instincts, speed, and ball skills are already making him a rotational option—even in a loaded safety room.

Also impressive was Elo Modozie, who had one of the scrimmage’s more underrated performances, showing physicality in run support and forcing a fumble on an edge blitz.

This group isn’t just talented—it’s aggressive.

Front Seven: Rotation-Heavy, But Deep and Disruptive

Georgia’s front seven was constantly rotating during the scrimmage, but the depth and disruptive play was hard to ignore.

Georgia is clearly experimenting with different combinations, and rising sophomore Raylen Wilson is also earning increased snaps.

True freshman Justin Greene flashed off the edge late in the scrimmage, beating a second-team tackle and forcing a hurried throw. Georgia’s recruiting depth is paying off—young players are pushing veterans at every level of the defense.

Closing Thoughts: A Team with Stars, Depth, and Swagger

If Saturday’s scrimmage showed us anything, it’s that Georgia is loaded. No surprise there. But it’s not just about talent—it’s about cohesion and identity. From Stockton’s control of the huddle to the defense flying around with intent, this team has the markings of a championship contender once again.

Youth will be served in 2025. Whether it’s Phillips Jr., Puglisi, Reddell, or Ellis Robinson IV, true freshmen are pushing for real roles. But there’s also plenty of veteran presence guiding the transition.

The final few weeks of camp will determine how those pieces lock into place. But as of mid-August, the arrow is pointing firmly upward for Kirby Smart’s

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