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New Faces and Freshmen to Watch: Georgia’s Opener Begins Sorting Out the Rotation
By: Greg Poole
When Georgia faces Tennessee State, the most telling number on the stat sheet may not be rushing yards, sacks, or points. Instead, it could be the number of snaps played by the Bulldogs’ younger and less experienced players.
It might be snaps.
Georgia brings enough established talent into Saturday that the starters should not need to play a full four quarters to secure the result. If things go as expected, Kirby Smart and his staff will get something arguably more valuable than another routine September win: a chance to see, in real time, how the players behind the starters handle meaningful snaps.
With Tennessee State and Western Kentucky on the schedule before the SEC opener at Arkansas on September 19, Georgia has a two-game window to evaluate which newcomers and younger players are ready to become reliable parts of the rotation. The secondary, in particular, offers a good starting point for this evaluation. While Georgia brings back some familiar faces, the staff has also added experienced players.
Transfers have added experience, with Khalil Barnes, Ja’Marley Riddle, Gentry Williams, and Braylon Conley joining the roster. Barnes, an Athens native, is listed as a senior safety, while Riddle arrives after starting all 13 games last season at East Carolina, where he recorded 70 tackles and three interceptions. All four are currently on Georgia’s 2026 roster.
Of course, having college experience does not guarantee that a transfer will immediately become a trusted part of Georgia’s defense. Smart’s system asks a lot of the secondary before the ball is even snapped. Coverages shift, motions require constant communication, and safeties are expected to fit the run as well as cover receivers. Defensive backs may find themselves covering a receiver on one play and then stepping up to help against the run on the next.
Saturday, then, becomes a test of more than just athleticism. It is worth noting which players are communicating, who stays on the field as Georgia starts to blend the first and second units, and whether the defense maintains its organization when the usual starters are not all lined up together.
For sophomores Rasean Dinkins and Jontae Gilbert, this season marks an important stage in their development. Both are listed in the secondary, and the second year is often when potential meets the reality of expectations. Recruiting rankings may explain how a player arrived in Athens, but earning playing time is a different challenge altogether.
The pass rush, meanwhile, could offer an even bigger opportunity for evaluation. Kirby Smart has been open about his concerns that Georgia is not yet where he wants it to be in terms of generating pressure on the quarterback. With Amaris Williams missing time, the staff has been trying various combinations to see who can step up.
Smart has been unusually candid that Georgia isn’t where he wants it to be rushing the passer. With Amaris Williams missing time, the Bulldogs have been searching for combinations that can create pressure.
This situation puts players like sophomore outside linebacker Darren Ikinnagbon and sophomore defensive end Isaiah Gibson in the spotlight. Ikinnagbon, at 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, has the physical tools, but now faces the challenge of turning that into production.
Freshman Khamari Brooks, listed as an outside linebacker and coming from North Oconee, is another name to keep an eye on as the rotation takes shape.
PJ Dean is another case worth mentioning. Although officially listed as a freshman defensive lineman, Dean has spent more time working with the outside linebackers during camp, according to Smart. With Williams unavailable, Georgia has needed to develop more pass-rush options, and Dean’s versatility has rendered him a candidate for that role.
Dean is officially listed on Georgia’s roster as a freshman defensive lineman, not an outside linebacker. But the distinction has become more interesting during camp. Smart said Georgia has recently worked Dean with the outside linebackers more than the defensive ends, partly because it needs to develop additional pass-rush options while Williams has been unavailable.
Smart has also pointed out that Dean is still a work in progress, especially after injuries limited his spring. The freshman has made noticeable strides during camp, but there are still mistakes to clean up before he can be counted on for a larger role.
That’s almost the perfect example of what Saturday is supposed to reveal. It ties the camp evaluation directly to the game itself.
Georgia does not need Dean, Brooks, Gibson, Ikinnagbon, or any of the young defenders to deliver a viral highlight against Tennessee State. What the staff is looking for is steady, winning football: setting the edge, rushing with discipline, communicating, tackling, knowing the assignment, getting lined up, and repeating it consistently.
Spectacular plays will always draw attention, but it is the dependable ones that will determine who remains in the rotation when Georgia heads to Fayetteville. By that point, being labeled a ‘young player with potential’ will matter less than being considered a reliable part of the lineup.
Bulldogs 2026 Fall Slate Revealed
The University of Georgia men’s tennis team is set to compete in eight different tournaments this fall, ending with the NCAA Individual Championships at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in November, head coach Jamie Hunt announced on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are excited for the fall season,” said Hunt. “Our guys will get the opportunity to compete in premier college events as well as pro tournaments throughout the fall.”
The Bulldogs will start the fall in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the ITA All-American Championships from September 19-27, hosted by the University of Tulsa. Last fall, former Bulldog Santiago Giamichelle competed in both singles and doubles draws, reaching the round of 16 as an individual.
Georgia will then head to Columbia, South Carolina, to compete in M15 Columbia at the Carolina Tennis Center from September 21-27. Next, the Bulldogs will feature in the Battle in the Bay Classic in San Francisco, California, from October 1-4 at the California Tennis Club. Last season, former Bulldog Derrick Chen ended his weekend with a win in the singles consolation final.
Georgia will then compete in the ITA Southeast Regional in Atlanta, Georgia, hosted by Georgia Tech from October 14-19. Next, Georgia will feature in the Rome Invite in Rome, Georgia from October 23-25, hosted at the Rome Tennis Center. The fall schedule will continue at the M15 Hilton Head in Hilton Head, South Carolina, from November 2-8.
The Bulldogs will then head to Tallahassee, Florida, to compete in the ITA South Sectional from November 5-8, hosted by Florida State. Last fall, former Bulldog Will Jansen won in a quarterfinal playoff to qualify for the NCAA Singles Tournament later that month. The ITA Conference Masters will occur simultaneously in Rome, Georgia.
Fall action concludes with Georgia hosting the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles Championships from November 17-22. Stay tuned for more information regarding ticketing for the NCAA event in Athens.
The 2026-27 Bulldogs are represented by three returners – Cooper Johnson, Noah Johnston and Gabriele Vulpitta – as well as three transfers in Julian Alonso, Andrew Delgado and Maxime Dubouch, along with four collegiate newcomers in Eudald Gonzalez Ollich, Noble Renfrow, Oliver Sanders and James Weber.
2026 Men’s Tennis Fall Schedule
Date: Tournament: Location:
Sept. 19-27 ITA All-Americans Tulsa, Okla.
Sept. 21-27 M15 Columbia Columbia, S.C.
Oct. 1-4 Battle in the Bay Classic San Francisco, Calif.
Oct. 14-19 ITA Regional Championships Atlanta, Ga.
Oct. 23-25 Rome Invite Rome, Ga.
Nov. 2-8 M15 Hilton Head Hilton Head, S.C.
Nov. 5-8 ITA Sectional Championships Tallahassee, Fla.
Nov. 5-8 ITA Conference Masters Rome, Ga.
Nov. 17-22 NCAA Individual Championships Athens, Ga.
*Times, dates and locations are subject to change
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