Georgia football program tracker: Player movement, staff changes and other news

The makeup of Georgia's 2023 football program will take shape in the months ahead. This is your one-stop spot for player movement in and out of the transfer portal, those declaring for the NFL draft and coaching staff movement.

Georgia adds depth pieces at running back with Sevaughn Clark and Len'Neth Whitehead

May 19: Georgia ended spring practice with its depth thinned at running back, but has strengthened that this week.

Walk-on Sevaughn Clark confirmed to the Athens Banner-Herald Friday that he's decided to return for the 2023 season. The fifth-year senior from Dawsonville had put his name in the transfer portal about a month ago. Clark had 7 carries for 44 yards last season.

Georgia also added Tennessee transfer running back Len'Neth Whitehead, a local product who starred at Athens Academy.

Georgia running backs Kendall Milton (hamstring), Daijun Edwards (hamstring), Branson Robinson (foot) and Andrew Paul (knee) were out or limited this spring due to injuries.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Marcus Washington Jr. entering transfer portal

April 22: Marcus Washington Jr., a redshirt freshman reserve defensive back from Grovetown, announced Saturday via Twitter that's he's entering the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Washington saw action in just one game last year in week two against Samford. The former four-star prospect had one tackle as a reserve for the Red team in the G-Day game a week ago.

He's the son of former Georgia linebacker Marcus Washington.

Another recent transfer portal entry from Georgia was walk-on running back Sevaughn Clark who had 7 carries for 44 yards last season in three games including 5 for 35 yards in the blowout win over TCU in the national title game. He played in 11 games since 2019 for Georgia.

Georgia football offensive lineman Griffin Scroggs into transfer portal

April 19: Some more post-spring football practice attrition on the Georgia football roster.

Griffin Scroggs, a reserve offensive lineman from Grayson, put his name in the transfer portal, Adam Carter, his high school coach confirmed on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Scroggs was a three-star 2022 signee who redshirted last season and did not appear in a game. He was not listed as participating in the G-Day game last Saturday. Scroggs had backed off a Georgia Tech commitment before signing with Georgia.

Another player, walk-on defensive lineman Weston Wallace, also announced he entered the transfer portal. The junior from Eatonton did not appear in a game.

Georgia linebacker Rian Davis going into transfer portal

April 17: Another Georgia defensive player is entering the transfer portal.

Senior reserve inside linebacker Rian Davis posed on Instagram Monday evening: “Thank you UGA” with red and black hearts.

Davis played in all but one game last season, making 15 tackles with 5 quarterback pressures. He started against Auburn and Vanderbilt.

The Apopka, Fla., native battled injuries during his career. He joins inside linebacker Trezman Marshall, another backup last year, in leaving the program with eligibility remaining. Marshall transferred to Alabama.

Davis was listed on the Black team roster for Saturday’s G-Day game but didn’t participate, according to the school.

Georgia’s inside linebackers are led by Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Smael Mondon with Xavian Sorey working as the third linebacker. Freshman Raylen Wilson had an interception returned for a touchdown Saturday and redshirt freshman E.J. Lightsey and freshman CJ Allen add depth.

Transfer portal cranking up with DL Bear Alexander on way out

April 15: Here's some rather big news. Georgia defensive lineman Bear Alexander is putting his name in the transfer portal, he tells Hays Fawcett of On3.com.

Alexander is still listed on the G-Day roster for today.

That's a rather big blow for a defensive line that lost its best player, Jalen Carter.

Alexander had nine tackles including 3 for loss with 2 sacks in 12 games played last season.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Terrell, Texas native had 13 quarterback pressures last season.

Alexander was rated the No. 50th player by the 247Sports Composite in the 2022 class.

UGA pay, buyouts owed for Brandon Streeter, Darrell Dickey

March 23: Georgia athletics released the salaries for its two new football support staff hires on Thursday to the Athens Banner-Herald under an open records request.

Former Clemson offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter and former Texas A&M offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey each will be paid $70,000. They each have the title quality control coordinator.

Clemson owes Streeter just over $1.85 million as a buyout for when he was fired in January. That buyout is reduced by the amount Streeter will make at his new job.

Dickey is owed just under $1 million by Texas A&M for his buyout when he was fired after last season. That payment is also offset and reduced by his compensation at Georgia.

Defensive lineman no longer listed on the roster

March 16: Rising redshirt freshman defensive lineman Shone Washington isn't listed on Georgia's spring football roster or online media guide.

A team spokesman could not provide an immediate answer about Washington's apparent departure from the team. Coaches at Warren Easton High in New Orleans where Washington played did not return messages left for them. Washington finished at Life of Christian Academy.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Washington played in just one game last season against Samford and was credited with a tackle.

He was rated a three-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite.

Plenty of support staff movement

Feb. 23: Todd Monken’s departure to the Baltimore Ravens and Mike Bobo moving up to offensive coordinator isn’t the only staff news this month.

There has been plenty of support staff movement.

--Valdosta State graduate assistant Jeremy King, who worked with the running backs at that program, is a new G.A. for the Bulldogs working with the offensive line. The Macon native played offensive line for the Blazers and was a finalist for the Division II lineman of the year.

--Georgia made another recent offensive line hire in Manrey Saint-Amour.

The former Georgia Southern center started 36 games on the offensive line for the Eagles including on two FCS semifinal teams. He will serve as a UGA offensive line analyst.

Saint-Amour coached the Charleston Southern offensive line last season and was a graduate assistant at Alabama in 2001 and at Florida State in 2020. He was offensive line and team chaplain at Savannah State in 2019.

The native of Haiti played at North Gwinnett High School.

Eddie Gordon, who worked with the offensive line, is the new offensive line coach at UAB.

--Robert Muschamp, a defensive quality control assistant, has left for a job with the Chargers as a quality control coach for defense for the NFL team, he confirmed. Muschamp is the nephew of Georgia co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Robert Muschamp was on Georgia’s staff the last two seasons.

--Jackson Collier is moving from Georgia to rival Florida, he announced via Twitter. He will be the assistant director of creative media and branding for the Gators. He was a graphic design and photo intern as a student.

Bulldogs fill out strength & conditioning staff

Feb. 11: Georgia made a Saturday night announcement on a new addition to Scott Sinclair's strength and conditioning staff.

Markell Clark, who spent the past year on the strength and conditioning staff with Mississippi State football, has joined the Bulldogs as an assistant S&C coach.

The former Appalachian State defensive lineman is from Dacula but played at Spain Park in Hoover, Ala.

worked as an intern at Appalachian State on its strength staff in 2019 and 2020 and was a graduate assistant at Arkansas State in the 2021 season.

Georgia adds assistant to strength & conditioning staff

Jan. 23: Georgia has added a new assistant strength and conditioning coach.

K.J. Florence, who spent last season in a similar role at Virginia Tech and the two seasons before that at Ole Miss, will work under Bulldogs director of strength and conditioning Scott Sinclair.

The Virginia Beach native is a 2014 Old Dominion graduate who was an intern on the Bulldogs’ strength staff during the 2018 season and received a master’s degree from UGA in 2019 in kinesiology.

He spent the 2019 season at Marshall where he was an assistant strength coach for football and softball.

He is listed on the UGA staff directory along with strength and conditioning assistant coaches Jordan Barber and Lonnie Brown.

Two support staffers on the move

Jan. 18: Georgia offensive quality control assistant Eddie Gordon has been hired as offensive line coach under new UAB coach Trent Dilfer, according to Gordon's Twitter profile.

Gordon has served on the Bulldogs' support staff since 2019 when he worked under then offensive line coach Sam Pittman.

Another move came last week when assistant strength and conditioning Tersoo Uhaa joined Deion Sanders' new Colorado staff. Uhaa spent three seasons working on Scott Sinclair's staff.

Georgia playmaking WR AD Mitchell to enter transfer portal

Jan. 18: AD Mitchell, a playoff hero for Georgia football during its back-to-back to national championships, is entering the transfer portal, according to Jake Rowe of DawgsHQ.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound rising junior made the go-ahead 40-yard touchdown catch in the Bulldogs’ win against Alabama in the title game during the 2021 season and his 10-yard reception with 54 seconds to go put Georgia ahead in its 42-41 semifinal victory over Ohio State in the Peach Bowl this season.

Mitchell missed nine games and was limited in others after sustaining a high ankle sprain in the second game of the season.

He finished the season with 9 catches for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns including a 22-yard second-quarter score in the 65-7 win over TCU in the national title game.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Mitchell is from Missouri City, Texas near Houston but was bypassed from home state schools as a three-star recruit.

“Well, nobody knew who AD Mitchell was, what AD Mitchell had to an offer,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said two days before this season’s national title game. “AD Mitchell was more of a workout tape that he kept sending us. He's a unique situation.”

Bulldogs get good news with return of Ladd McConkey

Jan. 17: Ladd McConkey, Georgia's leader in catches for wide receivers each of the last two seasons, announced he's returning in 2023 when he will be a redshirt junior.

McConkey had 58 catches for 762 yards and 7 touchdowns in the 2022 season including 5 for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 65-7 win over TCU in the national championship game.

McConkey also had 134 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 7 carries.

The Chatsworth native announced his decision via Instagram, writing: "One last ride with my guys!" McConkey could have declared for the NFL draft and his name had been rumored as a possible transfer.

Wide receiver Dominick Blaylock planning to transfer

Jan. 16: Fourth-year Georgia junior wide receiver Dominick Blaylock is set to enter the transfer portal.

Blaylock was eighth on the Bulldogs with 15 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown this season on a team that relied heavily on two tight end sets with Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington.

John Woods, his step-father, confirmed the decision.

Blaylock has twice come back from torn ACLs and will have a chance to improve his pro stock elsewhere. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Walton High product considered declaring for the NFL after this season.

"Dominic has enjoyed his time at Georgia and has been a loyal teammate and DGD (Damn Good Dawg)," Woods said. "After considering about declaring, he has decided he would like to play one more year and work on his graduate studies at another university."

Blaylock had 35 catches for 548 yards and 6 touchdowns at Georgia with 5 of those touchdowns coming during his freshman season in 2019.

Kearis Jackson latest Bulldog to declare for NFL draft

Jan. 14: Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson became the seventh Bulldog since the championship game to announce he's declaring for the NFL draft.

Jackson had a year of eligibility remaining after the NCAA granted another season after the 2020 COVID season. He played the last four seasons after redshirting in 2019.

The Peach County High product had 21 catches for 320 yards this season. He had 78 catches for 1107 yards and 4 touchdowns during his Georgia career and returned and kicks and punts the last three seasons.

Georgia offensive linemen declares for the NFL draft

Jan. 14: Georgia redshirt junior offensive right tackle Warren McClendon waited until right after the national championship celebration in Sanford Stadium Saturday to announce what many expected. He's declared for the NFL draft.

Warren Ericson, a former starter before this season, also announced he's declared for the draft.

McClendon started 37 games for Georgia over the last three seasons before an MCL injury forced him to miss the Peach Bowl before he returned in a backup role in the national championship win.

The first-team All-SEC selection by the coaches announced his decision via Twitter.

Ericson started 17 games at Georgia including 14 in 2021 at right guard. The North Gwinnett grad has finished five college seasons, but could have chosen to return based on the extra COVID season of eligibility.

Georgia lands commitment from transfer DB

Jan. 13: Deyon "Smoke" Bouie, who at one-time during the recruiting process was a Georgia commitment, is transferring to play for the Bulldogs, according to his Instagram post. That followed On3's Jeremy Johnson reporting he had committed.

The Texas A&M transfer hails from Bainbridge, coach Kirby Smart's hometown. He spent last season in College Station where another Bainbridge product, Nick Williams, was on the support staff.

Bouie, a four-star recruit, was part of Texas A&M No. 1 ranked recruiting class of 2021.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder played in three games last season, making four tackles with one pass breakup.

He's the third transfer to join the Bulldogs, all from the SEC. The others are wide receiver Dominic Lovett from Missouri and Rara Thomas from Mississippi State,

Two UGA linebackers hit the transfer portal

Jan. 13: Two more Georgia players--both linebackers--are the latest from the team to enter the transfer portal.

M.J. Sherman, a junior outside linebacker from Maryland, entered the portal on Friday, his sister Raisa Sherman-Blue confirmed. Sherman had five tackles, a half a sack and three quarterback pressures this season. He had 15 tackles over three seasons for the Bulldogs as a reserve.

Inside linebacker Trezman Marshall also is in the transfer portal, according to Max Olson of The Athletic.

The redshirt junior from Clinch County High had his most productive season at UGA in 2022 with 19 tackles and 4 1/2 tackles for loss but played behind Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon and the Bulldogs have recruited well at inside linebacker in the 2023 class.

He played 14 games this season after seeing action in just seven total the previous two.

Another Georgia underclassman declares for NFL draft

Jan. 13 Georgia starting left tackle Broderick Jones is the latest Bulldog to declare for the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound redshirt sophomore from Lithonia was a first-team All-SEC selection that season. He started every game for the Bulldogs this season for an offensive line that allowed just 9 sacks.

Jones, a former five-star recruit, played in every game in 2021, starting the last four games of the regular season at left tackle.

Jones is viewed as a likely first-round draft pick and one of the top tackles available. He's the fourth underclassmen from Georgia to declare for the draft.

Offensive lineman Jacob Hood enters transfer portal

Jan. 13: Another Georgia player has entered the transfer portal after his first season with the Bulldogs.

Offensive lineman Jacob Hood, a former four-star recruit from Nashville, is seeking to play at another school, he confirmed on Friday morning. The 6-foot-8, 350-pound Hood was an early enrollee who did not play in a game this season.

Another freshman, cornerback Jaheim Singletary, also is entering the transfer portal.

Former five-star DB among three on the move as transfers

Jan. 12: Two more Georgia football players are moving on as transfers, making it three players since Monday's national championship game.

Freshman cornerback Jaheim Singletary, a former five-star recruit from Jacksonville, intends to enter his name in the transfer portal. Singletary played in three games this season, including the national championship blowout of TCU. He did not record any statistics.

Ryland Goede became the second Georgia tight end this week who plans to transfer. He posted on Twitter he's entering the portal as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. Goede played in 11 games this season as a reserve. He missed the 2020 season after shoulder surgery and played in six games in 2021.

Tight end Brett Seither from Clearwater, Fla., also reportedly entered the transfer portal earlier this week. He had 4 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown in three seasons. He played in 12 games this season as a reserve.

Georgia TE Darnell Washington, CB Kelee Ringo make NFL decisions

Jan. 12: In an expected announcement, Georgia tight end Darnell Washington made it official that the junior is declaring for the NFL draft. Cornerback Kelee Ringo, who strongly suggested on Monday night he was turning pro, announced he, too, is entering the draft.

Coach Kirby Smart had hinted Tuesday that was the way Washington was heading.

The 6-foot-7, 280-pound Washington had 28 catches for 454 yards and 2 touchdowns this season when he was named a second-team All-SEC selection. The Las Vegas native was a force as a blocker for a Georgia offense that averaged 41.1 points per game.

Washington is projected as the No. 2 tight end prospect by ESPN's Jordan Reid and Matt Miller.

Ringo announced his decision on Instagram Thursday. The 2021 national championship game hero with his pick six had four interceptions in his two seasons playing for the Bulldogs after redshirting in 2020. He had 42 tackles and 7 pass breakups this season. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is widely viewed as a first-round draft prospect.

They join defensive tackle Jalen Carter, considered a top five pick, who announced he was declaring for the draft hours after Georgia's championship win Monday.

Georgia football turns to portal for another WR

Dec. 22: Missouri's leading wide receiver, Dominic Lovett, will transfer to Georgia. The sophomore led the Tigers this year with 56 catches for 846 yards and three touchdowns. The announcement came just hours after Mississippi State receiver RaRa Thomas announced his commitment to the Bulldogs.

The pair of receivers complement a strong recruiting class announced yesterday by the school.

Bulldogs turn to the portal for wide receiver

Dec. 22: Former Mississippi State receiver RaRa Thomas committed through Twitter on Thursday to the Georgia Bulldogs.

The sophomore led Mississippi State's pass-heavy offense with 626 yards receiving (52.2 yards per game) and seven touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 185 pounder and former 3-star recruit from Eufala, Alabama, will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Bulldogs add to 2023 recruiting class

Dec. 22: The Bulldogs followed Wednesday's strong signing class with another big get on Thursday. Defensive lineman Jordan Hall, a 6-4, 300 pounder from Jacksonville, Florida, boosted Georgia's second-ranked class with a commitment.

Georgia football 2023 recruiting class: Grades, best get, biggest miss, future star

Hall, a 4-star, is ranked 73rd by the 247sports composite rankings and is considered the ninth best defensive lineman in the 2023 class. Hall joins 4-star Jamaal Jarrett as the only other true defensive lineman that Georgia signed in this class.

Tight end Arik Gilbert on the move again

Dec. 21: Georgia tight end Arik Gilbert will transfer from the program, On3 is reporting.

The Marietta native transferred from LSU two seasons ago but has seen limited action in his time as a Bulldog and stepped away from the program in 2021 for personal matters. This year, he appeared in just three games, catching two passes for 16 yards including a 4-yard touchdown against Vanderbilt.

He was a five-star prospect out of high school and won the 2019 Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Key Georgia support staffer Buster Faulkner heading to rival

Dec. 12: Georgia is losing a key offensive staff member.

Buster Faulkner, an offensive quality control coordinator, is leaving to become the offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech under new coach Brent Key, according to FootballScoop. Others have confirmed that report.

Faulkner, a former Southern Miss offensive coordinator, has been on the Georgia staff for all three seasons Todd Monken has served as offensive coordinator.

"He's been extremely important," quarterback Stetson Bennett said in New York where he was a Heisman finalist. "He's the one that runs us through drills and just talks ball. I think probably the main thing that he's helped at is on the sidelines. He is the mediator between me and Monk. Me and Monk don't really talk during the games, which I thnk is probably a good thing because we're both so (passionate) yeah. So Buster listens to what Monk says and filters it out. "

He added: "Buster keeps me sane, keeps me in the moment. Helps me out with what he might be seeing here on this play. His presence is comforting and he's a damn good football coach."

Reserve defensive lineman enters transfer portal

Dec. 7: The transfer portal has heated up this week after opening again. It was quiet on the Georgia front but no more.

Reserve defensive lineman Bill Norton, a redshirt junior who took part in Senior Day ceremonies, confirmed on his Twitter account he's entered the portal.

The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Norton, from Memphis, has played in every game this season with three tackles including one for loss and a hurry. He has 12 tackles with three and a half for loss in 26 games at Georgia.

Players transferring sometimes stay with the team until the end of the season, but it's unclear if Norton will do that. Norton did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football program tracker: The player and staff moves for 2023