Something doesn’t smell right in Athens lately. Georgia fans might wanna sit down for this one, ‘cause it ain’t your typical “we reloaded” pep talk. Dawgs just watched 13 of their top dogs bounce to the NFL—again. Carson Beck peaced out to Miami for $4 million after throwing 12 picks for Bulldogs in 2024. And now Gunner Stockton’s the new sheriff, but folks inside the house are already side-eyeing the setup. Former All-American and Georgia alum just hit the red alert button like Kirby Smart left the locker room door open.

The Former Georgia Bulldogs Linebacker, David Pollack, pulled no punches on the “See Ball Get Ball” podcast with Brent Rollins on April 30th. He cracked the mic and said the quiet part out loud: “This is the first time to me going into a season where I’m like, who are Georgia’s dudes?” He questioned both sides of the ball—offense and defense—and it wasn’t a vibe. Pollack ain’t a hater, he’s just calling it how it is. Yeah, he believes Gunner Stockton is QB1. But after that? Crickets.

“I think branch is going to be one of the best players in the country with the ball in his hands, like he could be lead of elite with the ball in his hands, he’s got to catch it for sure, and he’s got some drops. They gotta, they gotta. They just got so many places where I go. There’s a lot of holes. And listen, do I know there’s talented guys on the roster?” Pollack said. He admitted the roster’s got talent, but talent ain’t experience. And experience is what you need when you’re trying to get back to the Natty.

Let’s talk numbers. Georgia watched THIRTEEN players hear their names called in the NFL Draft. Mykel Williams? San Francisco took him at No. 11. Jalon Walker? Off to ATL at No. 15. Malaki Starks? Already doing Ravens workouts at pick 27. That’s not just three starters. That’s three certified monsters. Then you got Tate Ratledge (Lions), Arian Smith (Jets), Smael Mondon Jr. (Eagles)—these guys weren’t just filling jerseys. They were wreaking havoc. Now Kirby’s got to patchwork a defense with a bunch of new blood while everybody and their mama in the SEC is loading up.

David Pollack gave props to Gunner: “Gunner could be better than Beck. He can be he has more variety, probably, with the run game, and he could do a little bit more. But no, I’m not…I can’t tell you what’s the position group, what’s the person, what’s the three or four people like that. I’m attaching the Georgia season to that. I know they’re going to be successful because I don’t see it like, I don’t know what it is,” Gunner Stockton’s got juice, no doubt. Dual-threat, moves better than Beck, and the arm’s got some torque. But don’t get it twisted—this ain’t no Disney movie. There’s no proven WR1. Branch got the sauce but also got butterfingers. Tight ends? Brock Bowers is no more in Athens. O-line low-key lost its anchor.

And let’s not pretend the run game was cooking either. In 2024, Georgia averaged 124.4 yards on the ground. Nate Frazier led with 671 yards, and Etienne chipped in 609. Not bad. But not Georgia good. They used to bulldoze people. Now it’s more like—nudge ’em and hope for daylight. It ain’t looking pretty for Kirby Smart and Dawgs.

Kirby Smart planning to lock in top-tier running back from the class of 2026

Kirby Smart might be gettin’ heat, but the show must go on. He’s already loading the chamber for 2026. Meet Jae Lamar, four-star beast outta Moultrie, Georgia. Per On3, Georgia’s got an 81.2% chance of locking him down. Next closest? Auburn at 6.1%. Yeah—this ain’t even close.

Lamar’s built like an SEC vet—6-foot, 205 pounds, 885 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in his junior season. Oh, and he torched Lowndes High for 182 yards on 13 carries with a 71-yard house call. Then casually added a 77-yard TD catch for dessert. Dog’s already breaking angles.

So here’s the play. Georgia ain’t dead, but they’re limping into 2025 with mad question marks. You lost your QB, your core defenders, your go-to playmakers, and now your own alumni are questioning the program’s soul. The Dawgs got raw talent, sure, but this ain’t a Madden roster. Chemistry matters. Identity matters. If Gunner can pop and the new guys gel quick, yeah—they’ll be in the playoff talk. But if they don’t? You might be watching Alabama and Texas eat your food. Kirby’s cooking for 2026, but right now?

It’s looking real shaky, baby.