In an era where heads are quickly turned by enticing name, image and likeness and revenue-sharing deals, Georgia managed to retain the most talent of any starting lineup in the Southeastern Conference in 2026.
More than half of the Bulldogs’ 2025 starting lineup will be suiting up in red and black in the fall, including quarterback , both halves of Georgia’s dynamic running back tandem, and defensive playmakers like KJ Bolden and Raylen Wilson.
The fear of a no longer looms, giving coach Kirby Smart the luxury of spending the spring focused on the season ahead. Approaching his 12th season in Athens, the Georgia coach claims that was his plan all along.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 respond or react to it last year,鈥� Smart said about the spring portal window. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not anything we鈥檙e doing different 鈥� We鈥檙e working on building depth, trying to get guys ready, but we were doing the same things last year.”
One key returner is Nate Frazier, the rising junior running back that accounted for 1,063 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns last season. Frazier is a projected 2028 first-rounder, but in an upcoming season when most draft hopeful juniors have much to prove on the field, it鈥檚 the intangibles that he’s focused on.
鈥淵ear three, for a dude that is knowing they have a chance and the opportunity to go to the National Football League, it gets to a point where they鈥檙e more selfish and focus on themselves and their goals. My year three, I want to show my teammates and the people around me that I want to be better together as a team,鈥� he said.
The running back said transferring didn鈥檛 cross his mind, though rumors certainly made their rounds on social media.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what social media is, it鈥檚 just rumors,鈥� Frazier said. 鈥淚 just turned off my phone and just got back to work 鈥�. I know this is where I鈥檓 supposed to be. I love this place. I already know I don鈥檛 belong nowhere else.鈥�
The other half of Georgia鈥檚 one-two punch running back duo is Chauncey Bowens, who like Frazier, says he wasn鈥檛 tempted by offers.
鈥淣ot really (tempted) at all, actually. No, I knew I was going to be here for sure. I love being at Georgia, and I love my teammates. I love my offensive line, my coaches, everything,鈥� Bowens said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the new game of NIL. You know schools are going to come calling.鈥�
While more than half of the SEC teams are bringing in more than 20 , Georgia took a more methodical approach focused on retaining talent and intentionally bolstering position groups.
Four of Georgia’s nine incoming transfers are defensive backs, including three-year Clemson starter Khalil Barnes, who is expected to have an immediate impact.
The Bulldogs also brought in Isiah Canion, a 6-foot-4 receiver from , to help offset the loss of Zachariah Branch鈥檚 explosiveness and Colbie Young鈥檚 size. Canion will set out to do what Branch achieved the year before, making the jump from transfer receiver to draft prospect.
鈥淚siah is a guy we knew about in high school,鈥� Smart said. 鈥淚 remember Coach Bobo going down and watching him practice, and he made a couple really acrobatic catches. He was in the back of our mind all along.鈥�
It鈥檚 that kind of long-term evaluation that continues to shape how Georgia builds its roster.
So while much of the SEC sorts through uncertainty and roster churn, Georgia enjoys its spring with a rare sense of clarity, anchored by a core that’s already taken the field together at Sanford Stadium.
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