Ranking the impact of Georgia’s football transfers on the 2024 season

When Georgia football won its second straight national championship in 2022, it was often said that the Bulldogs won without having acquired a single player through the free agency market that offseason.

“We called and recruited several guys that fit our criteria,” coach Kirby Smart said before the College Football Playoff that season. “We knew something about them from high school. They had been on our campus. But we didn’t get any of those guys. So it wasn’t a philosophy. It was more like, that’s how it played out.”

The way it’s played out this cycle is that Georgia has bolstered its roster when the opportunity arose, even adding a late acquisition this month in offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson who played basketball at Overtime Elite.

In total, the Bulldogs selected nine scholarship students through the transfer portal.

Below is a ranking of the potential impact they could have on the Bulldogs this season, in descending order:

9. DB Collin Gill, Oregon

Gill, who committed June 6, is one of five newcomers in the secondary and one of 16 defensive backs recruited to the program on scholarship. He provides depth to a roster that is missing three eligible players, including David Daniel-Sisavanh, who was waived. Jersey: No. 25.

8. WR Michael Jackson III, USC

The 6-foot, 209-pound senior from Las Vegas helps provide depth at a position that has seen its share of offseason departures and new additions from the portal. He had 17 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown last season in a USC offense that drafted two wideouts in April and has 236 receiving yards and four TDs in 2022. Jersey: No. 13

7. QB Jaden Rashada, Arizona State

The 6-4, 185-pounder is one of the more notable transfers, not so much because of what he brings to the position – which could be significant – but because of the notoriety of his failed NIL deal with Florida and lawsuit against Gators coach Billy Napier and others. He will compete with gunner Stockton to replace Carson Beck. Jersey: No. 10.

6. Xzavier McLeod, South Carolina

The Bulldogs added the former four-star recruit from Camden, S.C., after one season with the Gamecocks. The 6-4, 313-pounder provides depth on a defensive line where the Bulldogs have experienced players in Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson. He played in four games last season with a tackle and an interception before being waived. He had two sacks and four tackles in the spring game. Jersey: No. 94

5. WR London Humphreys, Vanderbilt

Another wideout who adds speed to the offense and is a vertical threat. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound Nashville native had 21 catches for 437 yards and four touchdowns for the Commodores last season. He’s only a sophomore, but will have a chance to develop further in the program. It will be interesting to see how deep the Bulldogs’ rotation goes at wide receiver. Jersey: No. 16

4. S. Jake Pope, Alabama

Sort of a wildcard in a secondary that lost Javon Bullard and has an opening at safety opposite All-American Malaki Starks. Could compete with fellow Buford grad KJ Bolden for snaps. Had four tackles in the spring game. The 6-1, 205-pound redshirt sophomore played primarily on special teams with the Crimson Tide after signing as a four-star recruit. Jersey: No. 22

3. TE Benjamin Yurosek, Stanford

Georgia tight ends aren’t going away in the post-Brock Bowers era. Yurosek wasn’t there this spring, but the 6-4, 247-pounder should be a factor right away. He brings experience, with 35 games played and 108 catches for 1,342 yards. Guess who’s the only team with two top-15 NFL tight end prospects ranked by All Access Football’s Ric Serritella? That would be Georgia with Oscar Delp at No. 12 and Yurosek at No. 15. Jersey: No. 84.

2. WR Colbie Young, Miami

The 6-3, 215-pound Binghamton, N.Y., native has generated plenty of excitement this spring, showing he can be a factor in 1-on-1 matchups and in the red zone for Carson Beck. He had three catches for 27 yards and a touchdown in the spring game, though Smart said this spring that Young still has a long way to go in learning the offense. “He’s seen some really, really great spectacular plays, and then he’s disappeared sometimes,” Smart said. “So, it’s a learning curve. Jersey: No. 8.

1. RB Trevor Etienne, Florida

It’s not often that you can land a player through the transfer portal who makes the preseason All-SEC first team without ever playing a snap. Etienne rushed for 1,472 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons with the Gators and is the clear top running back and a threat in the passing game out of the backfield. His offseason DUI arrest, in which he pleaded guilty to reckless driving, could keep him out of Clemson’s season opener. Jersey: No. 1.