Georgia

Kirby Smart displays cautious optimism about Georgia WR room: ‘I like that group right now’

Published

4 days ago

March 27, 2025

Press Room

Kirby Smart displays cautious optimism about Georgia WR room: ‘I like that group right now’

ATHENS — Kirby Smart is cautiously optimistic about the state of his wide receiver room.

Not just with his words but also in his actions this spring as well.

“You gotta show toughness and grit, and I like that group right now,” Smart said following Tuesday’s practice. “I really do, I think that group has a chance to be good.”

Wide receiver was a major problem for the Bulldogs a season ago. They led the nation in drops and lost multiple members throughout the year to either dismissals or suspensions. Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett, the two statistical leaders a the position in 2024, are off to the NFL.

To address those concerns, Georgia dipped into the transfer portal to add Zachariach Branch and Noah Thomas. Both come from Power 4 programs and possess traits that should help make a difference for Georgia this fall.

“Those guys are monsters, man,” safety KJ Bolden said. “Zach, I gotta guard Zach every day, so we’re going at it every day. Now, Zach is definitely a great player, he go 100 to him every day. He’s gonna try to give you his best, feel me? And then same with Noah, Noah just a big guy, big, tall receiver. You love those type of guys, kind of remind me of Colbie. Just him and Colbie’s lineups on the side, it just looked different.”

Georgia signed five wide receivers as a part of the 2025 signing class to pair with Branch and Thomas. Four of them are already on campus but Tyler Williams (ankle) and Landon Roldan(hamstring) are dealing with injuries at the moment.

Expectations are high for Talyn Taylor and CJ Wiley, given they are both top-100 prospects.

If they weren’t, Smart wouldn’t call out his freshmen receivers like he did.

“They’ve got to get in shape. They’re constantly tired at practice,” Smart said. They’ve got their hands on their hips, exhausted. I think there’s a little anxiety in that…They get really tired. So, you know, they’re trying.

“There’s no lack of effort and they’re talented, but they’ve got a long way to go in terms of learning what to do and that’s our job. Our job is to get them ready to go. They are not where they need to be.”

For as much chatter as there has been regarding the new faces in James Coley’s room, it is how Smart has handled some of the returning players that is perhaps most interesting.

Smart brought back wide receiver Colbie Young after he missed the last nine games of the 2024 season due to a suspension. His legal status has since been resolved and is now fully back practicing with the team.

Young is dealing with a groin injury at the moment, but Smart indicated it was nothing too serious.

As one receiver returns, another has been suspended. Nitro Tuggle is currently suspended indefinitely following a reckless driving and speeding arrest.

Tuggle is a promising young receiver and someone Georgia would love to see take strides forward. But given the nature of his arrest, Smart has been left with no choice but to suspend the sophomore.

“Yeah, disappointed, obviously, in those two young men and the decision-making process for each one,” Smart said when asked about Tuggle and offensive lineman Marques Easley. “Both of them are younger players and have made crucial mistakes.”

If Georgia were a little thinner at wide receiver, perhaps Smart wouldn’t have opted to suspend Tuggle indefinitely. Smart never publicly suspended running back Trevor Etienne last season following a March arrest.

Lastly, there is Dillon Bell. He’s the most experienced player in Georgia’s receiver room as he enters his fourth year in the program.

Which makes the fact that Georgia is playing him at running back this spring all the more interesting.

“We mix Dillon in practice to practice,” Smart said. “He works in the slot. He’s tried to develop as a wide receiver and a back. He’s been great and in a good attitude and being committed to “Coach, if it means me playing 10, 15 snaps at back, I wanna do it. If I can develop as a slot, I wanna do it.‘”

Bell has worked at running back before, moonlighting there during the 2023 season. Injuries have become an issue in the running back room and that Bell is taking reps at that position suggests that right now it may be a bigger position of concern than wide receiver.

There’s plenty of reason to be skeptical about Georgia’s wide receiver room entering this upcoming season. It’s fair to question this group, given drops were a consistent issue last season.

Georgia will have a new quarterback as well, with Gunner Stockton likely stepping in for Carson Beck on a full-time basis.

He’ll need his wide receivers to help him this fall. While there is still a long way to go between now and the season-opener against Marshall on Aug. 30, there have been signs of positivity from this oft-maligned group.

“There’s days I want to see more toughness,” Smart said. “I want to see more run-through tackles, don’t lay on the ground, don’t hold your hands up if the ball’s not in the right spot. Just, body language drives me nuts. But that’s not all of them, and they’re getting better. Day by day, they’re getting better, and there’s a good depth in that group.”

Kirby Smart provides update on Georgia wide receiver room

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Georgia

Missing Georgia child located in Gulf County, found with a 17-year-old

Published

6 hours ago

March 30, 2025

Press Room

Missing Georgia child located in Gulf County, found with a 17-year-old

GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office located a missing child from Georgia Sunday.

GCSO says at 1:15 p.m., they were contacted by the Sandy Springs Police Department in Georgia about a child abduction. GCSO was given a possible location of the suspect, along with details that he was armed in a Mercedes SUV.

Officials say multiple agencies including The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, Port Saint Joe Police Department, FWC, and Florida Highway Patrol made a felony stop on the white Mercedes SUV and found the who child, who was safe.

The suspect, 17-year-old Camilo Campagna was taken into custody on warrants out of the state of Georgia. Campagna is being charged with child pornography, aggravated child molestation, child molestation – victim between 14 and 16, possession of child pornography, possession of sexually explicit content, grooming of a minor, loitering and prowling.

Officials say he will be detained at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Bay County due to his age.

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Georgia

Georgia football’s future schedule

Published

17 hours ago

March 30, 2025

Press Room

The Georgia Bulldogs have a pretty enticing future schedule. Georgia will some of the nation’s elite college football programs over the years if things go as planned.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to play Power Four schools like NC State, Louisville, Ohio State, Clemson and Florida State over the next decade. Of course, Georgia is also set to continue its annual rivalry with Georgia Tech through the 2037 season.

Georgia’s future schedule is subject to change (including the dates and locations). The biggest factor impacting UGA’s future nonconference schedule is if the SEC expands to nine conference game. The SEC currently plays eight conference games with one permanent opponent.

Georgia’s permanent SEC opponent is the Florida Gators. The Georgia-Florida schedule will be held in different locations starting in 2026 due to stadium major renovations taking place in Jacksonville.

Conference realignment can also always impact future schedules. Since this article focuses on Georgia’s future schedule, we don’t have UGA’s 2025 schedule included. If you wish to look at Georgia’s 2025 schedule, then we’ve included it below.

Georgia football’s 2025 schedule

As of late March, 2025 Georgia and the SEC don’t know the 2026 conference schedule, so Georgia’s entire future schedule revolves around nonconference games. Remember, Georgia is still guaranteed to play Florida every year.

What opponents does Georgia football have scheduled for the future?

2026 schedule

Sept. 12: Western Kentucky (home)
Sept. 19: Louisville Cardinals (away)
Nov. 28: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (home)

Georgia and the SEC still have an eight-game conference schedule, so UGA could add a nonconference game in 2026 or maybe the SEC will expand to nine-game conference slate.

2027 schedule

Sept. 4: Florida State Seminoles (away)
Sept. 18: Louisville Cardinals (home)
Nov. 27: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (away)

If Georgia’s schedule remains as it currently is in 2027, then the Dawgs would face three ACC opponents and (at least) 11 Power Four opponents during the regular season.

2028 schedule

Sept. 9: Florida A&M Rattlers (home)
Sept. 16: Florida State Seminoles (home)
Nov. 25: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (home)

Georgia is in line to have a lot of home games in 2028. Of course, the Florida State series could be moved to a neutral site.

2029 schedule

Sept. 15: Clemson Tigers (away)
Nov. 24: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (away)

Clemson and Georgia are scheduled to play each other in the regular season in 2029 for the first time since the 2024 season opener. The Georgia-Clemson game could easily be moved to a neutral site.

2030 schedule

Aug. 31: Clemson Tigers (home)
Sept. 7: North Carolina A&T Aggies (home)
Sept. 14: Ohio State Buckeyes (home)
Nov. 30: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (home)

It’d be surprising to see Georgia have four nonconference home games, but man this would be a fun schedule. Ohio State has never played in Sanford Stadium.

2031 schedule

Aug. 30: Ohio State Buckeyes (away)
Sept. 6: Western Carolina Catamounts (home)
Nov. 29: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (away)

UGA has also never played at Ohio State. This would be a really awesome road game for Dawgs fans and the weather in Ohio is better in the summer than in the winter, so that’s a plus.

2032 schedule

Sept. 4: Clemson Tigers (home)
Nov. 27: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (home)

Georgia plays its two top ACC rivals in 2032. UGA is set to play Clemson four times between 2029 and 2033.

2033 schedule

Sept. 3: Clemson Tigers (away)
Sept. 17: NC State Wolfpack (home)
Nov. 26: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (away)

Georgia is scheduled to play a trio of ACC opponents in 2033. The Dawgs would probably add a non-Power Four opponent to this schedule if the SEC stays at eight conference games per season.

2034 schedule

Sept. 17: NC State Wolfpack (away)

Nov. 25: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (home)

Georgia is 6-1-1 against NC State in school history, but has not played the Wolfpack since 1973.

2035 and beyond schedules

Georgia Tech is the only team on Georgia’s future schedule beyond 2034. Georgia is scheduled to play Tech through 2037. All of UGA’s future scheduled games are according to FBSchedules.com.

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Georgia Southern’s treasured live bald eagle mascot, ‘Freedom,’ passes away | Newsroom

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2025

Press Room

Georgia Southern’s treasured live bald eagle mascot, ‘Freedom,’ passes away | Newsroom

March 29, 2025

Georgia Southern University’s beloved live bald eagle mascot, “Freedom,” passed away Saturday.

As an ambassador for Georgia Southern, wildlife and as a symbol of our nation, Freedom inspired thousands annually at Georgia Southern sporting events, the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah, commencements, community events and other appearances across the State of Georgia and the nation.

Through the Georgia Southern University Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center, individuals of all ages could visit Freedom and learn about wildlife, their care and conservation.

Freedom has been a part of the University community since 2004, when he was found knocked out of a nest in Maitland, Florida, and permanent injury to his beak prevented his release into the wild. He was acquired with the permission of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

“We are incredibly saddened by the passing of Freedom, who soared as a symbol of Georgia Southern pride and True Blue spirit,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “Freedom was more than a mascot; he represented strength, spirit and unity for Georgia Southern. His loss will be felt by so many in Eagle Nation.”