By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Spring football is underway in Athens, and the Georgia Bulldogs football are already starting to get a clearer picture of what the roster might look like heading into the 2026 season.

The Bulldogs are approaching the midpoint of spring practice, and in a recent press conference head coach Kirby Smart said he’s been pleased with the work his team has put in so far.

Practices have been competitive, with plenty of young players getting valuable reps as Georgia continues to build depth across the roster.

Of course, it wouldn’t be spring practice without a few bumps and bruises. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has been wearing a sleeve on his knee after dealing with a minor injury during offseason workouts. Smart said Stockton was limited a little early in spring practice but has been out there competing and continuing to improve.

Several other Bulldogs have also been limited.

Wide receiver Isiah Canion, a transfer expected to help lead the receiving corps, has been dealing with a sprained ankle. Defensive back, and former Camden County Wildcat Ja’Marley Riddle is still working back from a significant injury and hasn’t been able to participate much physically yet.

On top of that, a handful of players have been held out of spring practice entirely while recovering from injuries, including Drew Bobo, Gabe Harris, Zayden Walker, Jordan Hall, Kyron Jones and Carter Luckie.

Even with those setbacks, Smart says the team has shown good energy during the first several practices.

One of the biggest storylines this spring is along the offensive line. Georgia made a change during the offseason, promoting Phil Rauscher to offensive line coach after he spent last year with the program as an analyst.

Rauscher brings a long NFL background to the position, and players say he’s already introduced some new ideas, especially when it comes to understanding how the offensive line fits into the bigger picture of the offense.

There’s also plenty of competition up front. Georgia lost a couple of experienced linemen and is rotating multiple players at tackle, guard and center this spring.

Smart said the coaching staff is using spring practice to evaluate as many players as possible while building depth at one of the most important positions on the field.

Another player drawing attention early in spring practice is defensive lineman Elijah Griffin.

Smart said Griffin has shown flashes of being disruptive with his quickness and strength.

The freshman still has plenty of development ahead of him, but the coaching staff believes he has the tools to become a major contributor on the defensive front.

The quarterback room has also been busy this spring. Behind Stockton, several younger quarterbacks are getting a lot of extra work in practice and during seven on seven drills. Smart said repetition is key for developing quarterbacks, and Georgia has been intentional about making sure those players get as many reps as possible.

Meanwhile, the running back group is focusing on the next step in its development.

Smart said players like Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens are working on things like pass protection, catching the ball out of the backfield and creating yards after contact.

All of that work will eventually lead to one of the most anticipated events of the spring in Athens.

Georgia’s annual spring game, known as G-Day, is set for April 18 at Sanford Stadium.

The scrimmage begins at 1 p.m. and will give fans their first look at the 2026 Bulldogs in a game type setting.

With several practices still ahead, Smart says the focus right now is simple. He wants his team to keep competing, keep improving and keep building toward the fall.