UGA Depth Chart - Defense

NG - 1)John Jenkins jr. 2)Kwame Geathers rs. so 3)Justin Anderson sr.

This is where UGA got the biggest upgrade from last year. Jenkins should provide the big disrupting force in the middle of the line that makes a 3-4 its most effective. Last year Tyson filled in this role but he was not playing his natural position.

DE - 1) DeAngelo Tyson jr. 1)Arby Jones so. 2)Garrison Smith 3)Derreck Lott rs. fr. 4)Dexter Moran rs. fr 5)Brandon Burrows rs fr. 6)Jermemy Longo

This position gets a huge boost from Tyson sliding over to his more natural position as a defensive end. He was undersized as a NG but will be a big force as an end both in the run game and in an area the ends struggled with last year, getting pressure on the qb. Jones is coming off a strong freshman year and should be better with a year more in the weight room and a year experience.

OLB 1)Jarvis Jones rs so. 1)Cornelius Washington jr. 2)Ray Drew fr. 3)T.J Sterling so. 4)Chase Vasser so. 5)Sterling Bailey fr. 6)Ramik Wilson

Jones Could end up playing inside depending on how other guys on the team develop. I expect Washington to move over into Justin Houston's position from last year and be more of a rush lb. Drew will get time early and often especially in 2nd and 3rd and long situations. Though a first year starter look for Jones to make a lot of plays and be a leader on defense. He will be a 3rd year sophomore and got playing time his freshmen year at USC.

ILB 1)Christian Robinson jr. 1)Richard Samuel 2)Michael Gilliard 3)Kent Turene 4)Amarlo Herrera

Robinson is the lone returning full time starter amongst the linebackers. His position is set, Samuel as a former 5 star recruit who sat out last year with injuries and while making a position change from rb to lb. Many people believe he fits at lb much more naturally. If Samuel can't handle it look for Jones to move from outside linebacker to inside. Overall the linebackers seem to be deeper, faster, bigger group but have very little in the way of experience.

CB - 1)Brandon Boykin sr. 1)Sanders Commings jr. 2)Braden Smith 3)Derek Owens so. 4)Jordan Love so. 5)Nick Marshall fr. 6)Damien Swann 7)Devin Bowman fr.

This group returns both starters and the backups that got most of the playing time later in the season. Incoming freshmen will have a chance to provide depth and help out on special teams but I do not expect any of them to crack the top 3 (starters or nickel back).

S 1)Baccari Rambo jr. 1)Alec Ogletree so. 2)Corey Moore fr. 3)Jakar Hamilton sr. 4)Marc Deas 5)Chris Sanders fr. 6)Quintavious Harrow fr.

Rambo started the whole season and Ogletree played a lot picking up the starting job by the end of the year. Moore has the range and coverage ability from the safety position to play as a freshmen and help out the team  against teams that run 3/4/5 wrs by giving you a safety that can cover man to man when needed.


Overall the defense looks to improve for several reasons. The biggest and most obvious is having a true NG on the roster in Jenkins. Grantham can put in much more of his defense and be more aggressive as he will not have to hide the weakness in the middle of the line. The second reason for the defense to expect to have a big upswing is it being the second year playing under the 3-4 after making the change last year from the 4-3. This year players should be able to play more natural and not have to think as much about their responsibilities allowing them to play faster with fewer blown coverages. The biggest reason to worry is having lost its leading tackler in Dent and its biggest play maker in Houston.