Georgia's Smart Says 54% of 2025 Bulldogs Will Be Underclassmen

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart used his SEC Media Days appearance on 15 July to underscore the scale of turnover facing the two-time national champions. Smart said 54 percent of the 2025 roster will be first- or second-year players, a sharp contrast with last season, when the Bulldogs relied heavily on athletes in their fifth and sixth years of eligibility. The coach described spring practice as “spirited” and emphasised that younger players must supply daily energy or be “confronted” by teammates who do. Smart dismissed shortcuts to player development and said Georgia would lean on “youthful exuberance” along both the offensive and defensive lines. Addressing the transfer portal, Smart welcomed former Texas A&M wide-out Noah Thomas—praised by quarterback Gunner Stockton for his work ethic—and expressed satisfaction that ex-Bulldog defensive back Julian Humphrey had “found a home” with the Aggies. Auburn coach Hugh Freeze separately lauded tight end Micah Riley, another player who moved from the Tigers to Texas A&M. Stockton also complimented incoming Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed for his size and arm strength. More broadly, Smart argued that college athletics are “not broken” despite rapid change around NIL payments and conference realignment. He voiced concern over dwindling opportunities for walk-ons but maintained that Georgia would continue to seek players who remain hungry even after they start earning money. Smart also praised SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey for navigating the sport through what he called a demanding period.