The Georgia Bulldogs title defense is off to a solid start as they got a pair of cornerstones returning for another season as LB's Nolan Smith and Robert Beal both announced their intentions to return this week.
UGA will lose a lot defensively as multiple first round picks are headed out including LB Nakobe Dean and face-of-the-program DT Jordan Davis.
So with the face of the top-ranked Georgia defense headed to the NFL, who is next in line? DawgNation's Mike Griffith explains why he feels that Nolan Smith will be the guy in the spotlight next season.
"I think he's a guy that can benefit from another year. Nolan really came on the second half of the year," says Griffith. "He strikes me of the face of the program for 2022."
While Nolan Smith may be a slightly bigger name, LB Robert Beal has put up the flashier stats and actually led Georgia in sacks this past season and will hope to add more than the 6.5 sacks that he posted in 2021.
To hear all of Mike Griffith's comments, click here.
