ATHENS, Ga. — The college football spring transfer portal window opens Tuesday, and Georgia got its first news a bit early: Andrew Paul, a second-year running back, told On3Sports that he will be entering the portal.
It’s not a huge shock: Georgia has seven scholarship running backs, and Paul was at best third on the depth chart.
But he had shown promise after missing his freshman season when he tore his ACL during 2022 preseason practice.
That’s the way of the world, and it’s who handles it and manages it best,” ninth-year Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said. “It’s a new climate we’re in. The window will open and all across the country there will be guys going in and looking for greener pastures.”
The lure of NIL money or an immediate starting position elsewhere could lead to a surprise departure or two from Georgia, but no projected significant contributors on the 2024 team are expected to leave during the impending portal period (Tuesday-April 30).
More than 2,500 college football players entered the portal in 2023, per the On3 tracker, and another 2,398 had already entered in 2024.
The Bulldogs’ two-deep depth chart appeared rock solid as squads battled to a 20-20 tie in the G-Day scrimmage on Saturday, another indication this next round of free agency will produce several more headlines of players leaving than coming.
Georgia appears to have a surplus of talent at the defensive back and offensive line position, making them the two position groups most likely to see attrition.
“We’ll see what happens, I can’t predict the portal, I won’t even try to,” Smart said after the G-Day Game. “I’m worried about our guys and the retention of our players.”
It’s a star-studded roster highlighted by Heisman Trophy candidate Carson Beck at quarterback and returning Nagurski finalist Malaki Starks at safety.
There are no glaring needs, to the extent the only position Smart has publicly discussed in relation to the portal this spring is adding a backup quarterback.
Smart said he prefers to have four scholarship quarterbacks, and in fact received a pledge from QB Jayden Maiava in the previous portal window (Dec. 4-Jan. 2) before the UNLV transfer flipped to USC.
