Call Mike Bobo Canelo Alvarez. Because he’s just unified the belts and holds the undisputed title for “The Most Polarizing Man in Athens” after Carson Beck’s departure! Georgia’s offensive coordinator is synonymous with divisive. He’s got his proponents and cynics alike. But one thing is unequivocal- Coach Bobo is a legend of the program. The blood coursing through his veins is Bulldog red. A more than serviceable quarterback in his heyday, and a great coach since. He has left the program at multiple junctures in the chase of greener pastures. But always seems to circle back. It’s perhaps owing to an intrinsic, magnetic link he shares with the campus that just doesn’t let him leave. After all, he was born a mere 100 miles from it. Mike Bobo is so Georgia that his son carrying on the lineage only feels right.

The uninitiated may think Drew Bobo is only in Georgia because his dad is the OC. That partisan notion is very much untrue. The center was a 3-star recruit in the class of ‘22 and is donning that red and black on merit, of his own accord. After biding his time on the lower rungs of the depth chart, Bobo’s time in the sun is finally here. He’s expected to be the starting center for Kirby Smart’s team in the ‘25 season. Which is testament to how he’s gone from strength to strength in his time there, even if you believe he got through the door relatively easier than his peers. That said, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

After redshirting in 2022, Drew Bobo appeared in 6 games the next season. This past year, he got onto the field in all 14 of Georgia’s games. Including two starts against SEC contemporaries Auburn and Mississippi State. The year-on-year progression warrants optimism, but the reason for those two starts undercuts it. Bobo got his shot because Jared Wilson was sidelined with an injury. Which is baked into a couple of Georgia analysts’ concern for Drew Bobo and, by extension, that center position. Now that Wilson has ascended to the professional ranks with the Patriots, Kirby Smart and Mike Bobo’s oversight in adding requisite depth at the position has led to an ultimatum for Drew- Don’t. Get. Hurt.

Speaking over Dawg Nation at Large, Kaylee Mansell and Connor Riley vocalized their simmering worry about how thin Georgia is at center. Meaning if Drew Bobo isn’t performing at the level expected of him, or worse, has to miss time, then there’s marginal room for maneuver, if any. “I don’t know who’s behind Drew Bobo this year. I don’t know if anybody has the experience or the snap count to actually be able to come in and back him up,” remarked Mansell. Georgia’s options are redshirt freshmen Malachi Toliver and Waltclaire Flynn, alongside true freshman Cortez Smith. So there really isn’t any dependable alternative to Drew Bobo. Connor Riley doubled down on his co-host’s underlying concern and proceeded to warn Kirby Smart, Drew and Mike Bobo, and even the Georgia faithful.

Kirby Smart and Georgia’s fate hinges, poetically, on Mike Bobo’s kin Drew Bobo

“I do think that, in some ways, Drew Bobo can be an improvement over Jared Wilson in what he brings to the interior of that offensive line,” said Connor Riley to preface his take. That’s some real cause for positivity. But Riley giveth, and Riley taketh. “Drew Bobo cannot get hurt this year. If he misses any time like Jared Wilson did, you have major, major questions about what you have on that interior,” he resounded. 

Georgia’s dynastic success under Kirby Smart has stemmed from their incredible domination on the line of scrimmage. So, even if the coaching unit has complete faith in Drew Bobo, having no cover is quite bizarre. “You’re going to see Georgia cross-train guys at that center position,” continued Riley on a more positive note. But only to reiterate the gravity of this potential predicament. “They have so much riding on this offensive line in 2025 and specifically with Drew Bobo. Because we talk about the experience on the interior. If this group is going to patch it together and be a good offensive line, Drew Bobo is going to be a big reason.”

“I even feel like having this conversation and talking about injury that I need to knock on wood or something,” exclaimed Kaylee Mansell to sum things up. Mike Bobo has been gaining a lot of plaudits for successfully recruiting Georgia’s newest 5 star commit Jared Curtis. But, as aforementioned, he remains a polarizing figure within the fans. If his son can step up to the plate, it will vicariously reciprocate in increasing his own reverence, too. Blueblood Georgia’s tryst with competing for hardware continues in the fall. But this sure feels like the most in flux, questionable roster Kirby Smart is taking into a season in a very long time.