On a literal stage signifying the close of Georgia’s 2016 football season, Bulldogs tailback Sony Michel set the figurative stage for what lies ahead.
Moments after accepting the offensive MVP award after Friday’s 31-23 win over TCU at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, the all-purpose standout leaned into the ESPN microphone and stated to a sea of red-clad supporters, “This is the start of next season.”
Next season can’t get here soon enough for Bulldogs backers, and for a variety of reasons.
Georgia’s 8-5 record in coach Kirby Smart’s debut year was worse than expected, as an erratic offense and often disastrous special teams will result in the program being unranked in the final Associated Press poll for the fifth time in the past eight seasons. There were one-point home losses to Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech, and nobody will forget Tennessee’s 43-yard Hail Mary from Josh Dobbs to Jauan Jennings that delivered a 34-31 victory for the Volunteers.
The Bulldogs did, however, close with four wins in their final five games, but it is what’s returning and what’s being assembled that is most fueling fans’ excitement for 2017. As many as 17 of 22 starters will return barring unexpected offseason happenings, and Georgia currently has a class of commitments that ranks third nationally behind Alabama and Ohio State. Of the 19 high school players committed to the Bulldogs, 13 are ranked among 247Sports.com’s top 150 national prospects.
“We know we’ve got to have a better offseason,” Smart said. “We’ve got a large portion of our team coming back, but our younger players have to understand that every day you have to come to work.”
Georgia’s leadership core next year should be solid, especially if Friday’s game is any indication. Michel and Nick Chubb, who announced recently they will return for their senior seasons, shredded the Horned Frogs for a combined 229 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries.
Michel also had a 33- yard touchdown reception in which he broke five tackles before rolling into the end zone.
“In a day and age where everything in football is about ‘me, me, me, me, me,’ these two have never been like that,” Smart said with Michel and Chubb seated beside him. “Not once. They’ve never been ‘me’ guys. They never point a finger at the O-line. They never point the finger at the quarterback, and they never point the finger at the receivers.
“They’re committed to the University of Georgia and getting their degree and finishing this thing right. They care about Georgia, and do you know how different that is in our society today? It’s different, and it’s credit to these guys, and it really makes me respect them.”
There will be several questions facing Georgia’s offense next season. Can Jacob Eason become more consistent as a sophomore quarterback? Who will be the top receiver after the surprise departure of Isaiah McKenzie? And can three starters be replaced on an offensive line that often was a weak link on this year’s team?
On defense, as many as 10 starters – all but graduate transfer defensive back Maurice Smith – could return. Defensive tackle Trenton Thompson capped his sophomore season with three sacks against TCU as the Liberty Bowl defensive and overall MVP, while outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter put a wrap on his junior year with two forced fumbles.
“This defense could be wonderful,” safety Dominick Sanders said Friday after announcing he would be back for his senior season. “Everybody has experience, and a lot of us have been playing together for two years. We could lead the turnaround for Georgia next year.”
Another reason for a potentially big 2017 is a schedule that is quite manageable, considering only two of the 12 opponents for next season are currently ranked in the AP poll – No. 17 Auburn and No. 20 Florida. Georgia went 3-3 in Sanford Stadium this year but should be favored to sweep its home slate of Appalachian State, Samford, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina and Kentucky next season.
The marquee matchup at Notre Dame the second week of the season will be against a team coming off a 4-8 debacle.
Of course, Smart and the Bulldogs aren’t going to be focused on their schedule in the months ahead. Their effort and desire will be placed on the foundation of making sure year two is much better than year one.
“The buy-in is there, because they have seen it work,” Smart said. “Georgia has been successful. We just want to take it another step. We can do that through recruiting and getting kids to buy in and play well, but what you can’t do is assume that having a great recruiting class is automatically going to make it happen.”
Said Chubb: “I’m excited to come back next year and go to work for this team. There is a lot of stuff ahead of us that we can accomplish, and I can’t wait to start getting my hands on it.”