VoxVlog

ATHENS, Ga. — Kirby Smart and the Georgia football coaches will soon return to their indoor facility, gather the players still on this year’s team and begin preparing to try to beat Florida State in the Orange Bowl. First, though, they’re trying to beat the Seminoles off the field.

Five-star safety KJ Bolden, committed to FSU since the summer, on Thursday hosted Smart and Will Muschamp, Georgia’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. It’s worth a shot, even if it doesn’t happen, and in this weird and busy period of roster transition, the Bulldogs are taking their shots — and hoping to absorb less of them.

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The transfer portal is open for players until Jan. 4. Players can commit and sign with teams after then, but SEC players have until only Feb. 1 to go to another SEC school. And of course the early signing period — which at this point is just the signing period — begins on Dec. 20.

Here’s a wish list for Georgia over the next few weeks. And this is based on what we know and what’s realistic. So not things like Brock Bowers coming back for his senior year, Marvin Harrison Jr. deciding to transfer to Georgia or replay officials deciding the ball was loose and, you know what, let’s run back the SEC championship starting with 1:20 left in the first half.

1. Carson Beck announces his return. This will be a huge boost to Georgia in 2024, when it opens against Clemson and goes to Alabama in September and Texas in October, among other big games. Beck may seem likely to return, given Brock Vandagriff has already announced his transfer to Kentucky, but until Beck announces, it’s not done. And if he did leave, it would scramble things, likely forcing the program to go in the portal for a veteran to compete with Gunner Stockton and incoming freshman Dylan Raiola and Ryan Puglisi. But if Beck returns, it would have a ripple effect. Such as …

2. Two impact transfer receivers and/or Ladd McConkey returns. The latter has seemed unlikely, given McConkey almost left after last year, and he’s popped up on some top 50 prospect lists. But his injuries this year could go either way — a reminder that careers are short or a desire to put together a full year to show what he can do. He still seems more likely to go, but it’s not a certainty.

Either way, Georgia will take at least one transfer receiver, and at this point, it would be a surprise if Vanderbilt freshman London Humphreys isn’t the first. Humphreys, who is visiting Athens this weekend, was Vanderbilt’s second-leading receiver (439 yards, four TDs), has an intriguing blend of height (6-3) and athleticism (baseball prospect) and would have three years of eligibility. Otherwise, Georgia would also love one of South Carolina’s Juice Wells, Ohio State’s Julian Fleming or Vanderbilt’s Will Sheppard.

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3. Tailback Trevor Etienne transfers from Florida. This would be a double whammy for Georgia, which sees a rival take (another) hit and adds a first-day starter at a need position. Etienne rushed for 753 yards this year and 719 as a freshman. Georgia would love a veteran to pair with one of the younger tailbacks, which right now include three from this year’s roster and three incoming freshmen. That’s not counting Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards, who each has one more year of eligibility and would be a huge bonus if either used it.

4. Multiple defensive line/edge transfers. There are a lot in the portal. But so far Georgia hasn’t been linked with Texas A&M defensive tackle Walter Nolen or Florida edge Princely Umanmielen. Two players Georgia recruited heavily out of high school and are in the portal are Texas A&M sophomore defensive end LT Overton and South Carolina freshman defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod. Maybe Georgia signs those two and calls it a day, but getting one more big name would be ideal. That could be a name not in the portal yet.

5. No surprise departures. Georgia has 11 players who have gone in the portal since the window opened on Monday. The most recent as of this writing was linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr., the five-star 2021 recruit who hasn’t been able to break through for a consistent role. The others: Vandagriff, LB EJ Lightsey, DB Nyland Green, WR Mekhi Mews, OL Austin Blaske, WR Jackson Meeks, LB Darris Smith, K Jared Zirkel, DL C.J. Madden and DL Jonathan Jefferson.

None of the players were sure to start next year, and while some were candidates to contribute, you’d have to think they all had that conversation with coaches that made clear their options were better elsewhere. What hasn’t happened yet is the unwanted departure, a la Adonai Mitchell last year, Jermaine Burton the year before and Tyrique Stevenson the year before that. But since there always seems to be at least one, maybe it’s inevitable.

6. Flip Bolden, keep the rest of the signing class. Georgia’s class has 28 commitments and still ranks No. 1, which could change if and when the three teams behind it get more. Ohio State and Florida State have 23 commitments, and Alabama has only 20. But whatever the final order, Georgia’s class is very strong if it stays as is, and becomes stronger by adding Bolden, the nation’s No. 11 overall prospect per the 247Sports Composite. Even without him, Georgia would have three of the top nine: QB Raiola, DB Ellis Robinson and LB Justin Williams. Plus two more in the top 50: DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye and LB Chris Cole.

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7. Draft decisions result in keeping one offensive lineman, one inside linebacker, one defensive back and two defensive linemen. Right tackle Amarius Mims seems gone, but could right guard Tate Ratledge come back? Starting inside linebackers Smael Mondon and Jamon Dumas-Johnson both began the year as likely to leave, but could at least one come back after injury-riddled seasons? Cornerback Kamari Lassiter is a likely first-round pick, but could safety Javon Bullard decide without first-round assurances he wants to come back? Finally, on the defensive line a trio of players participated in senior day: Warren Brinson, Zion Logue and Nazir Stackhouse. Getting two of those back would be great. All three isn’t off the table, either.

These are all decisions that don’t actually have to be made before Jan. 15, but playing or opting out of the bowl game will be indicators.

Bonus item. Get one other unexpected return. The COVID-19 extra year has made keeping track very complicated. But for the record, other players with another year of eligibility, should they want it, include receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and nickelback Tykee Smith. Both players may just be ready to move on, but both could also weigh their NFL Draft status and what they might make at Georgia through NIL for another year.

(Photo of Georgia quarterback Carson Beck: Perry McIntyre / ISI Photos / Getty Images)

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