Six players from the Georgia football team are on ESPN’s list of the 100 greatest college football players ahead of the 2024 college football season.
There’s no doubt that Georgia has one of the most talented rosters in college football this season, maybe even the most talented, but that’s why so many believe they are the favorites to win the national championship this season. There’s even a belief that they could break their own NFL Draft record after this season. That line of thinking certainly aligns with ESPN’s list of the 100 greatest college football players.
The Bulldogs had six players total on the list, two of which were ranked in the top 10 and four in the top 30. Georgia will have to rely on these players this season because their regular season schedule is so tough, but these players are a big reason why some analysts still believe they win the SEC this season. Here’s where each player ranks and what ESPN had to say about them:
RB, Trevor Etienne, No. 83
“The Bulldogs like to rotate their running backs, but they could rely heavily on Etienne, who led rival Florida in rushing average (68.4 yards per game), rushing touchdowns (8) and yards per run (5.7) last fall. Etienne, the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Trevor Etienne, had three rushing touchdowns against LSU last season. He also contributed as a receiver (21 receptions) and on returns (224 kickoff return yards).”
LB, Jalon Walker, No. 67
“He was a backup in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, but he is expected to play a much more prominent role this fall. Walker led Georgia with five sacks and had a forced fumble against Florida. The former ESPN Top 40 recruit could climb up NFL draft boards with a great junior season.”
EDGE, Mykel Williams, No. 30
“Williams should be a first-round pick when the NFL Draft rolls around in April. The 6-5 junior from Columbus, Georgia, started 10 games for the Dawgs last season, collecting 18 tackles, 11 solo tackles and 4.5 sacks. He will be one of the most disruptive players in college football.”
OG, Tate Ratledge, No. 17
“One of the men responsible for Carson Beck’s safety is Ratledge, and he’s a good man to have on your safety team. He started 13 of Georgia’s 14 games at right guard for an offensive line that ranked first in the SEC with 0.93 sacks allowed. He was named a second-team All-American in 2023.”
S, Malaki Starks, No. 10
“Starks has been a starter since his freshman season and has been a cornerstone of Kirby Smart’s defense the past two seasons. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior was named an All-American last year. He was fourth on Georgia’s team with 52 total tackles and also had three interceptions. Starks was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive lineman.”
QB, Carson Beck, No. 7
“In his first season as a starter, Beck ranked third nationally and first in the SEC with 3,941 passing yards. His completion rate of 72.4% was fourth in the nation. Beck threw 24 touchdown passes and ran for four more. He was intercepted just six times in 417 pass attempts. The 6’2″ and 220-pound senior could be the best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft.”
Neither Williams, Walker nor Ratledge made ESPN’s list of the 100 greatest players before last season.
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