The four-time national champs, with two titles back-to-back, are experiencing a season of highs and lows. While they claimed the SEC crown, a significant exodus of 36 players through the transfer portal has raised eyebrows. And their Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame? Well, a tough blow for the Bulldogs! The defeat against the Fighting Irish exposed some glaring weaknesses within the team. Sure, the injury to star quarterback Carson Beck forced Gunner Stockton into action, but the overall performance demanded a deeper look at both offensive and defensive shortcomings.

Enter Kirby Smart. The head coach has been meticulously addressing these issues, gearing up for the 2025 season. With National Signing Day just around the corner (February 5th), Smart has assembled an impressive recruiting class of nearly 29 players. This class boasts several 5-star talents, including defensive lineman Elijah Griffin, edge rusher Isaiah Gibson, and linebacker Zayden Walker. Additionally, 4-star prospects like quarterback Ryan Montgomery and wide receiver Talyn Taylor. But what do these players bring to the table?

Elijah Griffin, the elite defensive lineman, has been a beast on the gridiron throughout his high school days with 300 tackles and 44 sacks. Furthermore, at 6 ft 5 in and 300 lbs, the Georgia Bulldogs will be getting a player in Elijah who has the potential to do wonders even in his freshman year. On the other hand, players like Isaiah Gibson and Zayden Walker are also good in their own right.

For instance, at 6’3” and 220 lbs, Walker has a combo of explosive power and quick turnovers. The 2025 recruitment class is currently ranked 1st overall in the nation. Whatever the case, Kirby Smart still hasn’t signed a 5-star QB for the 2025 class and is currently reliant on the services of Gunner Stockton. But there may be still a piece or two in Kirby’s long-term puzzle that he is after.

Well, Kirby Smart is trying very hard to recruit the ace prodigy Tyler Atkinson, who is ranked 7th overall in the 247 rankings. The linebacker is a widely sought-after face right now, with Bill Belichick also after his services. Furthermore, Smart is locked in another fierce battle with Bill Belichick, this time for quarterback prodigy Jared Curtis. Curtis, a 6’4″, 225 lbs phenom, is ranked second overall among quarterbacks in 247Sports’ rankings.

Of course, both of these players will be signed up for the 2026 class, but still, Kirby does plan for the long term. So, does this mean that Smart’s woes following the mass exodus of his players will go away?

Kirby Smart’s exodus woes and way ahead

Well, Kirby Smart had earlier this season had to face a monumental peril when almost his 36 players opted to list on the transfer portal. The mass exodus of players really kicked off when the winter transfer window opened, and things didn’t improve after the Bulldogs’ disappointing 23-10 loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

The former Bulldogs star David Pollack predicted the exodus moments after the game: “But I think there will be several changes to the Georgia staff…that’s already been talked about…I think spinning it for Georgia, too, I think you’re going to have 25+ portal additions. I think people are going to jump in the portal because that’s the world we live in.” He also highlighted the need for Georgia to start recruiting aggressively to make up for the voids.

Pollack, also provided a more glaring scenario: “I would be shocked if you don’t get to 30. I think you’ll get to 35 in the portal. That’s the kind of action I think Georgia is gonna get. They’re gonna get a lot of players, and guys obviously will leave and take off.” Mind you, almost nine players were already listed on the transfer portal even before the game against the Irish began. That shows how badly the program needed a revamp, or maybe they just wanted to bank on their NIL.  Who knows?

Getting into the next season, the Bulldogs will need to have Stockton in his best form and also will need the newly transferred WRs Micah Bell, Noah Thomas, and the elite Zachariah Branch to provide those offensive moments on which Stockton could thrive. Do you think the Bulldogs will win the SEC next season too, or maybe they will go all the way to win the championship?