Georgia’s defense took a step back in 2020 after a phenomenal 2019 season in which the group ranked top-five in the FBS in nearly every category.

Last season, though, the Dawgs just seemed soft on defense, especially when it came to the passing game. After ranking 31st in the nation in 2019, Georgia’s passing defense ranked 88th last year, giving up 248.7 passing yards per game. Georgia’s rush defense, however, has now ranked No. 1 in the nation in back-to-back seasons, giving up an average of just 73.4 yards per game on the ground over the last two years.

And that has to be what led to 247Sports projecting Georgia to have one of college football’s top-10 defenses in 2021. Seeing as how Georgia loses Richard LeCounte, Mark Webb, Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, DJ Daniel and Tyrique Stevenson, I would not expect the passing defense to improve all that much.

On Georgia’s 2021 defense, 247 wrote:

Labeled the ‘alpha male’ on Georgia’s defense, nose tackle Jordan Davis has a chance to be the SEC’s top interior defensive lineman this fall. He’s that good. Behind Davis in the middle of the defense at linebacker is perhaps the Bulldogs’ top individual position unit. Upperclassmen Nakobe Dean, Adam Anderson, Quay Walker and Nolan Smith are the projected starters and each brings tenacity to the field. Dean led this defense in tackles last season and should do so again in 2021 if he stays healthy. He’s a player with a nose for the football and moves effortlessly at the position.