Nobody can claim they don’t believe in the Bulldogs this season. We heard Kirby Smart and some players talk about how nobody believed in the team during their second straight national championship run in 2022. This will not be the case in 2024. Georgia has become college football’s media darlings this off-season. Whether it is media coverage, pre-season watch lists, or love from video game creators, it is heavy adoration for the Dawgs. The media picked Georgia to win the SEC following SEC Media Days. College football coaches across the country are also big believers in the Bulldogs. Georgia received the most votes and earned the top ranking in the preseason poll. The preseason accolades continue as numerous awards throughout the country have unveiled their watchlist. We will provide you with the full list of Georgia’s preseason award nominations, but first, let’s get into the gridiron on your screen.
College Football 2025 Awards
While we are unsure what 2024 holds for the Dawgs, the Last Word staff has enjoyed dominating College Football 2025 with Georgia. Before we get into the awards, let’s see how Georgia shapes up in the game.
Top 100 players
- Malakai Starks 95 OVR
- Tate Ratlege 95 OVR
- Carson Beck 93 OVR
- Mykel Williams 93 OVR
- Dylan Fairchild 91 OVR
- Oscar Delp 90 OVR
#1 Offensive Rating:
- 94 OVR
#2 Defensive Rating:
- 94 OVR
#5 Most Difficult Stadium in College Football
A final question on the College Football 2025
There has been plenty of smoke coming toward Georgia by way of the Ole Miss Rebels. The football account has posted a number of times about Ole Miss scoring against the Bulldogs in the game. The two teams meet in Oxford in November and could meet again in either the SEC Championship or College Football Playoff. You can bet the social media posts have the attention of Smart and the Bulldogs.
It's in the game 🥶
New white uniforms available to play in the latest @EASPORTSCollege update!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/cRir9OqgP9
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 8, 2024
Georgia’s Preseason Awards Watchlist
Three Players to watch
As you go through the subsequent list, three players’ names will continue to appear. The success of the 2024 team rests on the shoulders of three layers.
Carson Beck
To succeed in college football in 2024, you need a good quarterback. Beck is arguably one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft class and will likely garner strong consideration for the top pick. Brock Bowers may be gone, but he has plenty of options and weapons to lead a high-powered Georgia offense in 2024. A new face should enable Beck to attack defenses further down the field.
Trevor Etienne
Georgia is among the top end programs in college football in producing running backs. That was a noticeable miss in last year’s offense. Etienne comes in from Flordia, where he will be the #1 back, and he looks to spark Georgia’s rushing attack. Etienne will also be an option in the return game and out of the backfield.
Malakai Starks
Georgia is used to their defensive leader coming from the defensive line or linebacker group. This year, that onus will fall on Starks. He has been a playmaker since he first suited up against Oregon in 2022. Georgia will need Nazir Stackhouse and company to step up and provide a formidable force for Georgia to be successful on the defensive line. Starks will find ways to make his presence known and may be the spark to lead Georgia to a third title in four years.
Georgia’s Preseason Awards: Offense
The offense will be talented. The quarterback is elite and should be in New York in December, under strong consideration for another Heisman trophy for the SEC. The offensive line has depth and should complement Etienne’s emergence. Georgia continues to be Tight End U, with two players up for the top spot.
Davey O’Brien Award: awarded to the nation’s best quarterback.
- Carson Beck
Doak Walker Award: awarded to the nation’s top running back
- Trevor Etienne
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: awarded the nation’s top tight end.
- Oscar Delp
- Ben Yurosek
Outland Trophy: best interior lineman (offense).
- Xavier Truss
- Tate Ratledge
- Dylan Fairchild
Rimington Award: awarded to the best center in college football.
- Jared Wilson
Georgia’s Preseason Awards: Defense
Georgia succeeded in 2021 and 2022 in building a “wall” to stifle opposing offenses rushing game. That was missing last year. Stackhouse has the makings to be another force on the defensive line. Smael Mondon and Mykel Williams will be big factors in helping establish Georgia’s dominance.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award: awarded to the best defensive back.
- Malakai Starks
- Daylen Everette
Bronko Nagurski Award: awarded to the top defensive player in college football.
- Smael Mondon
- Mykel Williams
- Malkai Starks
Outland Trophy: best interior lineman (defense).
- Nazir Stackhouse
Fall Camp vibes ☀️#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/cPPiXseu2o
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) August 9, 2024
Georgia’s Preseason Awards: Specialists
The kicking game matters. Ask Ohio State. All three specialists earn spots on their respective watchlists. Look out for Brett Thorson, he is a budding podcast and social media star.
Ray Guy: awarded to the nation’s top punter.
- Brett Thorson
Lou Garza: awarded to the nation’s top placekicker
- Peyton Woodring
Patrick Mannelly: awarded to the nation’s top long snapper
- Beau Gardner
Other Awards
Smart even got in on the action, finding himself atop the coaching award. The real star of this list is Starks. Starks teamed up with Academy Sports + Outdoors to treat ten local kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Athens and Gladiator Youth Football to a $2,500 back-to-school shopping spree on July 30, 2024, in Athens, Georgia.
The Dodd Trophy: it’s awarded to the college football coach who enjoys the most success on the field.
- Kirby Smart
Walter Camp: awarded to the player of the year.
- Carson Beck
- Malakai Starks (DB)
Maxwell Award: awarded to the best player in college football
- Carson Beck
- Trevor Etienne
Comeback Player of the Year
- Branson Robinson (RB)
Paul Hornug Award: awarded to the most versatile player in college football.
- Trevor Etienne
Allstate Wuerffel Award: awarded for community service, honoring a student-athlete who inspired others.
- Malakai Starks
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team: awarded for an unwavering commitment to community service and their “good works” off the field.
- Malakai Starks
Preseason All-American
First Team:
- Malakai Starks
- Carson Beck
- Tate Ratledge
All-SEC Teams
First Team:
- Carson Beck
- Trevor Etienne
- Tate Ratledge
- Nazir Stackhouse
- Mykel Williams
- Malakai Starks
Second Team:
- Xavier Truss
- Dylan Fairchild
- Smael Mondon Jr.
- Brett Thornson
- Dillon Bell
Third Team:
- Dominic Lovett
- Oscar Delp
- Earnest Greene III
- Daylen Everette
