The college football season is fast approaching, which means TGH will preview SEC team’s season. Here is the 2022 SEC Football Preview for the Georgia Bulldogs.

2021 Recap

2021 Record: 14-1 (8-0), 1st in East

W in National Championship

Kirby Smart and Georgia finally broke through in Kirby’s 7th year at Georgia. They won the National Championship. Despite being thwarted by his predecessor in the first four meetings with Nick Saban – including a 2021 game – the Bulldogs overcame the biggest of obstacles to take home the trophy.

The offense did it’s job with a relatively balanced attack that finished in the top half of the SEC in most categories. But it was the defense that made the difference. Georgia easily had the best scoring defense in the conference and also forced the third most turnovers, putting the offense in a great position all season.

2022 Outlook

Stetson Bennett Back Again

The transfer is back for a sixth season and has the starter job for Georgia again this year. Bennett have to throw much last year but was effective when he needed to. He was outstanding in the semifinal against a good Michigan defense and finished the job in the Championship against Alabama.

He was certainly helped by Georgia being a run-first offense but he’ll be without both leading rushers from last year. However, Kenny McIntosh and Kendall Milton should fill the gap. As far as receiving targets the loss of Jermaine Burton to Alabama hurts but leading receiver Brock Bowers is back at tight end as well as Adonai Mitchell who had big plays in the playoffs.

NFL Defense is Gone

Georgia far and away had the best defense in the SEC and nation last year. They set the record for most NFL Draft picks by a team in the 2022 Draft largely thanks to the outstanding defense. Nearly half the starters went in the first round alone.

A trio of First Team All-SEC picks return at each level of the defense which will be a big help. Jalen Carter returns on the line, Nolan Smith at linebacker and Kelee Ringo who had an outstanding freshman season in the secondary. Robert Beal Jr. who led the team in sacks last season also returns for a fifth year.

Recap

It’s expected to lose a chunk of players from a national championship team but Georgia has their work cut out for them. That said the offense returns a lot of key players.

The real question will be on the defense. Some big names are back but there will be plenty of room for guys to step up. All said there’s a reason they were ranked No.3 in the preseason poll. Georgia should have another shot at the playoff.

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