I thought it would be interesting to compare projected starters for 2023 to 2021 starters (and our perception of them talent-wise before the natty season started). Note, I'm not comparing Nakobe Dean, Travon, and others by national title seasons' end to 2023 projected starters - rather I am comparing what we know about 2023 starters to what we knew this time during spring camp 2021. I think it's a pretty fair battle between the two squads.
DE: Travon Walker vs. Mykel Williams
DT: Devonte Wyatt vs. Bear Alexander
NT: Jordan Davis vs. Zion Logue
Jack: Nolan Smith vs. Chaz Chambliss
SAM: Adam Anderson vs. MJJ
ILB: Nakobe Dean vs. Jamon Dumas-Johnson
ILB: Quay Walker vs. Smael Mondon
Hybrid Rush LB: Channing Tindall vs. Jalon Walker
Star: William Poole vs. Javon Bullard
CB 1: Derion Kendrick vs. Kamari Lassiter
CB 2: Kelee Ringo vs. Everette/Green (no definitive winner IMO)
SS: Lewis Cine vs. Malaki Starks
FS: Chris Smith vs. TBD
2021: 6
2023: 6
No definitive winner: 1
1. DE: 2021 (Travon Walker) vs. 2023 (Mykel Williams)
Starter: Mykel Williams 2023
Comments: Many may not agree but I'm going with Mykel over Travon. In one season, MW has already better football production and instincts than Walker did in his first two seasons. MW started multiple games as a true freshman whereas I don't think (could be wrong) Walker ever started a game over Malik Herring. Walker is the superior athletic freak but Mykel is the better football player at this point in their respective careers (again spring camp before their most recent season with UGA)
2. DT: 2021 (Devonte Wyatt) vs. 2023 (Bear Alexander)
Starter: Bear 2023
Comments: This one is very close but what we saw from BA in year one, especially to cause havoc plays in the backfield was more impressive than what we saw from Wyatt prior to his final season with UGA when of course he broke out and ultimately earned a first-round grade.
3. NT: 2021 (Jordan Davis) vs. 2023 (Zion Logue)
Starter: Jordan Davis 2021
Comments: Doesn't require much justification.
4. Jack OLB: 2021 (Nolan Smith) vs. 2023 (Chaz Chamblss)
Starter: Nolan Smith 2021
Comments: No contest. Note: if I mislabeled the two OLB spots wrong, you know what I mean.
5. SAM OLB: 2021 (Adam Anderson) vs. 2023 (MJJ)
Starter: AA 2021
Comments: AA had a lot of game film prior to the start of the season. MJJ doesn't have much. Note: if I mislabeled the two OLB spots wrong, you know what I mean.
6. Hybrid OLB/ILB: 2021 (Channing Tindall) vs. 2023 (Jalon Walker)
Starter: Jalon Walker 2023
Comments: Tindall was the forgotten man til his final year. Walker really came on late in his freshman year. Advantage to Walker.
7. ILB 1: 2021 (Nakobe Dean) vs. Jamon Dumas-Johnson
Starter: Dean but closer than you think 2021
Comments: If going by on-paper accolades only, I think JDJ wins this in a landslide. JDJ was a Butkus Finalist, All-SEC and All-American LB after his sophomore season. Dean was not. That said, I still think Dean was the better LB entering his JR season than JDJ is,
8. ILB 2: 2021 (Quay Walker) vs. 2023 (Smael Mondon)
Starter: Smael Mondon 2023
Comments: The way SM finished his sophomore season, I think he was a better LB than how Quay Walker finished his sophomore year. I also think Mondon is a better overall athlete in underwear Olympics.
9. Star: 2021 (William Poole) vs. 2023 (Javon Bullard)
Starter: Javon Bullard 2023
Comments: No contest.
10. Strong Safety: 2021 (Lewis Cine) vs. 2023 (Malaki Starks)
Starter: Lewis Cine 2021
Comments: Starks had a strong true freshman campaign but Cine had more a more reliable playmaker his first two seasons at UGA.
11. Free Safety: 2021 (Chris Smith) vs. 2023 (TBD-maybe DDS, Jacorey, Dan Jackson, Bullard, or Aguero)
Starter: Chris Smith 2021
Comments: No contest
12. CB 1: 2021 (Derion Kendrick) vs. 2023 (Kamari Lassiter)
Starter: Lassiter
Comments: DK was a proven player from Clemson but off-field stuff coupled dropped him a bit lower on my expectations board. Lassiter IMO will prove a better player this year than DK was for us.
13. CB 2: 2021 (Kelee Ringo) vs. TBD (Daylen Everette or Nyland Green)
Starter: TBD
Comments: neither entity was proven before the start of their year as starter. Kelee redshirted due to injury and Everette & Green have not started but gotten decent mopup duty.
DE: Travon Walker vs. Mykel Williams
DT: Devonte Wyatt vs. Bear Alexander
NT: Jordan Davis vs. Zion Logue
Jack: Nolan Smith vs. Chaz Chambliss
SAM: Adam Anderson vs. MJJ
ILB: Nakobe Dean vs. Jamon Dumas-Johnson
ILB: Quay Walker vs. Smael Mondon
Hybrid Rush LB: Channing Tindall vs. Jalon Walker
Star: William Poole vs. Javon Bullard
CB 1: Derion Kendrick vs. Kamari Lassiter
CB 2: Kelee Ringo vs. Everette/Green (no definitive winner IMO)
SS: Lewis Cine vs. Malaki Starks
FS: Chris Smith vs. TBD
2021: 6
2023: 6
No definitive winner: 1
1. DE: 2021 (Travon Walker) vs. 2023 (Mykel Williams)
Starter: Mykel Williams 2023
Comments: Many may not agree but I'm going with Mykel over Travon. In one season, MW has already better football production and instincts than Walker did in his first two seasons. MW started multiple games as a true freshman whereas I don't think (could be wrong) Walker ever started a game over Malik Herring. Walker is the superior athletic freak but Mykel is the better football player at this point in their respective careers (again spring camp before their most recent season with UGA)
2. DT: 2021 (Devonte Wyatt) vs. 2023 (Bear Alexander)
Starter: Bear 2023
Comments: This one is very close but what we saw from BA in year one, especially to cause havoc plays in the backfield was more impressive than what we saw from Wyatt prior to his final season with UGA when of course he broke out and ultimately earned a first-round grade.
3. NT: 2021 (Jordan Davis) vs. 2023 (Zion Logue)
Starter: Jordan Davis 2021
Comments: Doesn't require much justification.
4. Jack OLB: 2021 (Nolan Smith) vs. 2023 (Chaz Chamblss)
Starter: Nolan Smith 2021
Comments: No contest. Note: if I mislabeled the two OLB spots wrong, you know what I mean.
5. SAM OLB: 2021 (Adam Anderson) vs. 2023 (MJJ)
Starter: AA 2021
Comments: AA had a lot of game film prior to the start of the season. MJJ doesn't have much. Note: if I mislabeled the two OLB spots wrong, you know what I mean.
6. Hybrid OLB/ILB: 2021 (Channing Tindall) vs. 2023 (Jalon Walker)
Starter: Jalon Walker 2023
Comments: Tindall was the forgotten man til his final year. Walker really came on late in his freshman year. Advantage to Walker.
7. ILB 1: 2021 (Nakobe Dean) vs. Jamon Dumas-Johnson
Starter: Dean but closer than you think 2021
Comments: If going by on-paper accolades only, I think JDJ wins this in a landslide. JDJ was a Butkus Finalist, All-SEC and All-American LB after his sophomore season. Dean was not. That said, I still think Dean was the better LB entering his JR season than JDJ is,
8. ILB 2: 2021 (Quay Walker) vs. 2023 (Smael Mondon)
Starter: Smael Mondon 2023
Comments: The way SM finished his sophomore season, I think he was a better LB than how Quay Walker finished his sophomore year. I also think Mondon is a better overall athlete in underwear Olympics.
9. Star: 2021 (William Poole) vs. 2023 (Javon Bullard)
Starter: Javon Bullard 2023
Comments: No contest.
10. Strong Safety: 2021 (Lewis Cine) vs. 2023 (Malaki Starks)
Starter: Lewis Cine 2021
Comments: Starks had a strong true freshman campaign but Cine had more a more reliable playmaker his first two seasons at UGA.
11. Free Safety: 2021 (Chris Smith) vs. 2023 (TBD-maybe DDS, Jacorey, Dan Jackson, Bullard, or Aguero)
Starter: Chris Smith 2021
Comments: No contest
12. CB 1: 2021 (Derion Kendrick) vs. 2023 (Kamari Lassiter)
Starter: Lassiter
Comments: DK was a proven player from Clemson but off-field stuff coupled dropped him a bit lower on my expectations board. Lassiter IMO will prove a better player this year than DK was for us.
13. CB 2: 2021 (Kelee Ringo) vs. TBD (Daylen Everette or Nyland Green)
Starter: TBD
Comments: neither entity was proven before the start of their year as starter. Kelee redshirted due to injury and Everette & Green have not started but gotten decent mopup duty.
Last edited:
