Georgia Bulldogs: Five Potential Breakout Freshmen
By John Buhler
Sep 21, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt runs out with the team prior to the game against the North Texas Mean Green at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated North Texas 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
When you think of the Georgia Bulldogs’ pass rush in the Mark Richt Era, you think fondly back to all the greats coming off the edge for the Dawgs the last 14 seasons. But outside of the best defensive player to ever play for Georgia DE David Pollack, most of these sacred pass rushers have been linebackers. In recent years, it’s been guys like Justin Houston, Jarvis Jones, and now Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins and Lorenzo Carter. Do the Dawgs have the bite on front part of their 3-4 to get after opposing QBs in 2015?
Well, I think we’re about to find out. DE Jonathan Ledbetter was a major in-state target for the Dawgs in the 2015 class. After de-committing for the University of Alabama to come play for the Georgia Bulldogs with his brother RS Sophomore Joseph in Athens, Jonathan seems like a great piece on the defensive line for the Dawgs for years to come.
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I really think that Georgia is building the best defensive line in College Football and Ledbetter is a huge part of that. Top defensive line talent want to play for DL Coach Tracy Rocker, a former defensive coach for the Tennessee Titans and an Outland Trophy winner while at Auburn in the late 1980’s.
Georgia has had a good but not great front three the last few seasons. The no-name group has been solid even after Big John Jenkins’ departure to the NFL. But that’s all about to change in the next few years. I imagine that by 2017, the UGA defensive line will be the best in the SEC. With guys like Jonathan Ledbetter coming at them in addition to the always deadly pass rush coming from the OLBs, opposing QBs aren’t going to know if they’re the boxer or the bag. Expect Ledbetter to contribute right away for the Dawgs this year.
Next: The Next Great UGA LB?