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‘Dawgs ranking higher as offseason progresses.
Mark Schlabach’s latest too-early top 25 has the Georgia Bulldogs nearing the top 10, coming in at No. 12 nationally.
The UGA alum has ranked the ‘Dawgs higher in each edition of the TET25, beginning with No. 23, then No. 19, followed by No. 13 and now No. 12.
He says the latest edition will probably be the last before official preseason polls come out in August. Here are his latest thoughts on Kirby Smart’s team:
2015 record: 10-3, 5-3 SEC
Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams
Key losses: LB Jordan Jenkins, LB Jake Ganus, LB Leonard Floyd, DE Sterling Bailey, WR Malcolm Mitchell, G/T Kolton Houston, C Hunter Long, OT John Theus
Post-spring outlook: Freshman Jacob Eason, the No. 1 pocket passer in the 2016 ESPN 300, showed off his arm strength in Georgia’s spring game. New Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart won’t name a starter until preseason camp (or later?), but Eason is in the mix, along with senior Greyson Lambert and junior Brice Ramsey. The Bulldogs are also being quiet about the health of tailback Nick Chubb, who is recovering from a knee injury. If Chubb is healthy, and the Bulldogs can shore up their offensive and defensive lines, Smart might be poised to make some noise in his first season as a head coach.
Who did UGA leap? Unsurprisingly, it’s Baylor, who fell from No. 7 to unranked. Perhaps Schlabach will have Georgia in the top 10 by the time we reach kickoff.