Georgia Bulldogs: Five Potential Breakout Freshmen

The Georgia Bulldogs are losing two major pieces in their front seven in 2015.  Both starting inside linebackers Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera graduated, got drafted, and now play in the AFC for two contending teams in the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts respectively.  So UGA has to figure out who will play on the inside of a deep linebacker group for 2015.

I think that a few guys coming to Athens this season that ILB Coach Mike Ekeler could really enjoy coaching.  One of which is Natrez Patrick of Mays High School from Atlanta.  Patrick turned heads as an early enrollee in 2015 UGA Spring Practice.  I believe that the extra reps Patrick got in the spring gives him a leg up on his recruiting class on possibly getting some major playing time as a true freshman.

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Though UAB transfer Jake Ganus and Junior Tim Kimbrough might be the frontrunners to start for the Dawgs at inside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme, it wouldn’t surprise me if Natrez Patrick cracks the ILB rotation in 2015.  In years past, there hasn’t been much of a rotation at ILB for the Dawgs given the players it has had there: Herrera, Wilson and Alec Ogletree.  But I feel that this year is different.

Patrick seems to me like an inside linebacker that could be a starter for the Georgia Bulldogs for three seasons.  I’m not saying that he will earn a starting job at some point this season but I don’t think Richt intends to redshirt him.  Expect Ekeler to mix and match his ILBs this fall and that Natrez Patrick will definitely be in that rotation.

Next: The Other Next Great UGA LB?