Georgia Football 2023 Freshman Standouts

A look back at the freshman standouts from the 2023 for the Georgia Bulldogs.

With the arrival of the new year and the completion of the 2023 college football season for the Georgia Bulldogs, it's time to shift focus toward the upcoming year for the program. While the season did not end with a third straight national title for the Bulldogs, it did provide insight into what Georgia will be working with moving forward on both sides of the ball—specifically, the true freshmen who saw the field in their first year as collegiate athletes. 

So here is a list of some of the freshman standouts who really made a name for themselves during the 2023 season. 

LB, CJ Allen

It didn't take long for Allen to make an impact on defense for Georgia. Part of that was due to injuries at the position creating a path to the field for Allen, but once he took over, he was nothing short of impressive. In 2023, Allen finished with 41 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He became the first true freshman linebacker at Georgia to record 40 plus total tackles in a season since Lorenzo Carter in 2014 and is just the third to do so since 2008. 

With former starter Jamon Dumas-Johnson electing to transfer to Kentucky, it now opens the door for Allen to be the full-time starter for the Bulldogs at inside linebacker. He finished true freshman season off strong and has fans excited for what the next at least two years of his career will look like for all of the right reasons. 

DB, Julian Humphrey

It looked as if Humphrey was going to be playing his 2024 season elsewhere but eventually made the decision to stay at Georgia. He was a redshirt freshman this past season, but when he was on the field, her certainly did not play like one. He only appeared in nine games but that was partially due to an injury he suffered late in the season. 

His most notable game came against the Missouri Tigers who boasted a prolific passing attack. Humphrey played a major role during that game to help slow down Missouri's receiving corps and showcased just how special of a player he is. The Bulldogs will need some defensive backs to step up next season as Kamari Lassiter is headed to the NFL, and Humphrey looked the part of an imposing threat in the secondary. 

Nov 4, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Julian Humphrey (12) is called for pass interference while covering Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

WR, Anthony Evans

His appearances may have been limited in 2023 but he made sure to make every single opportunity count when his number was called. Evans' first burst onto the scene came during one of the biggest moments of the season as he was sent back to return a punt during the SEC Championship game when the Bulldogs were in need of a score. He returned it for 28 yards and put his team in a great field position. 

Evans would also go on to make a big play during the Orange Bowl against Florida State as he caught a 14-yard pass for a touchdown, which brought his season total to four receptions, 35 yards and one touchdown. It's a small sample size to go off of but it's hard to ignore the impact he had when the ball was in his hands. 

Several other freshmen also showed signs of being potential major contributors in the near future. Some other notable names were offensive lineman Monroe Freeling who stepped in at right tackle against Vanderbilt this year due to injuries and was rather impressive. Defensive lineman Jordan Hall and linebacker Gabe Harris both saw a good amount of playing time last season, and both are names that are worth keeping an eye on moving forward as candidates who could see their roles increase when the 2024 season rolls around. 

Other Georgia News:

• What We Learned During 2023 Season About Georgia
• Georgia Would Be Favored Against the Two National Championship Contenders
• Georgia Bulldogs Could Surpass 2023 Totals in This Year's NFL Draft

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