DEFENSIVE LINE
Trenton Thompson had quite the harrowing offseason, undergoing shoulder surgery and then dropping out of school for the spring semester after having a reaction to medication, but he is back and having a solid month, coach Kirby Smart said. The nation's top overall prospect in the 2015 signing class racked up 56 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss last season as a sophomore, including three sacks in the 31-23 Liberty Bowl win over TCU that resulted in MVP honors. The microscope that was on freshman quarterback Jacob Eason overshadowed several of his classmates on the defensive front, as Julian Rochester (36 tackles), David Marshall (26) and Tyler Clark (21) all had solid debut seasons. Jonathan Ledbetter flourished at end late last season after returning from a six-game suspension, while senior John Atkins and junior DaQuan Hawkins-Mukle give the Bulldogs a pair of veterans in the interior.
LINEBACKERS
Experience abounds with the return of junior inside starters Roquan Smith and Natrez Patrick and senior outside starters Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter. Smith led Georgia last season with 95 tackles, including five lost-yardage stops, while Patrick tallied 59. Bellamy and Carter announced in December along with running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel that they would be returning for a final year, citing unfulfilled expectations as part of their motivation. Bellamy had nine lost-yardage stops last year, while Carter had six, including five sacks. Senior Reggie Carter gives Georgia instant experience should Smith or Patrick come out of the game, while Robert Beal is a freshman who has plenty of talent but was unable to joing the program until right after camp started.
SECONDARY
The Bulldogs return 14 of their top 15 tacklers this year, with the lone departure Maurice Smith, who played one season at Georgia after graduating and transferring from Alabama, where he previously worked under Smart. Malkom Parrish and Deandre Baker are the returning cornerbacks, with Parrish having led the team with nine pass breakups last season and with each having snagged a pair of interceptions. Aaron Davis and Dominick Sanders, who has 12 career interceptions, are the returning safeties, but there are a lot of new faces who could factor into the mix as well. J.R. Reed, a transfer from Tulsa, has worked with the first team this month in nickel packages, with Jarvis Wilson and Tyrique McGee looking to make their mark along with touted freshmen Richard LeCounte and Deangelo Gibbs.
Defense Depth Chart
DEFENSIVE END
Trenton Thompson, Jr., 6-4, 295
Tyler Clark, So., 6-4, 305
NOSE TACKLE
John Atkins, Sr., 6-4, 308
DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, Jr., 6-4, 318
DEFENSIVE END
Jonathan Ledbetter, Jr., 6-4, 277
David Marshall, So., 6-3, 274
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Davin Bellamy, Sr., 6-5, 240
Chauncey Manac, Fr., 6-3, 243
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Roquan Smith, Jr., 6-1, 225
Reggie Carter, Sr., 6-1, 230
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Natrez Patrick, Jr., 6-3, 238
Robert Beal, Fr., 6-4, 244
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Lorenzo Carter, Sr., 6-6, 242
D'Andre Walker, Jr., 6-3, 223
CORNERBACK
Deandre Baker, Jr., 5-11, 180
Tyrique McGhee, So., 5-10, 183
SAFETY
Dominick Sanders, Sr., 6-0, 193
Richard LeCounte, Fr., 5-11, 180
SAFETY
Aaron Davis, Sr., 6-1, 189
J.R. Reed, So., 6-1, 194
CORNERBACK
Malkom Parrish, Sr., 5-10, 185
Deangelo Gibbs, Fr., 6-1, 200
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER
David Marvin, Sr., 6-4, 215
Rodrigo Blankenship, So., 6-1, 191
PUNTER
Cameron Nizialek, Sr., 6-2, 200
Marshall Long, So., 6-2, 217
LONG SNAPPER
Trent Frix, Sr., 6-0, 215
Nick Moore, Jr., 6-3, 250
KICK RETURNER
Ahkil Crumpton, Jr., 5-9, 175
Mecole Hardman, So., 5-11, 183
PUNT RETURNER
Terry Godwin, Jr., 5-11, 185
Ahkil Crumpton, Jr., 5-9, 175