The Georgia Bulldogs find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they prepare for the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame. More than ten players will be absent, sidelined by a mix of transfers, suspensions, and injuries.
The biggest loss? Starting quarterback Carson Beck. In his place, Gunner Stockton steps in—a backup thrust into the spotlight. With just 51 career passing attempts, Stockton’s experience is limited, his potential unproven.
The stage is immense, the stakes towering. For a program defined by dominance, the question looms: can they rise again despite the weight of absence? For Stockton, the Sugar Bowl isn’t just a game; it’s a chance to rewrite the script of Georgia’s season—and maybe his own story, too.
Georgia Bulldogs Out With Injuries
Carson Beck – QB – Out For Season
Carson Beck, Georgia’s steady hand and signal caller, now finds himself in a different role.
A surgical procedure on his elbow has sidelined him for the Sugar Bowl, ending his season earlier than anyone hoped. The cheers he once commanded will now be given, his voice rising from the sidelines instead of the huddle.
For Beck, it’s a moment to support, to lead in a new way. For the Bulldogs, it’s a challenge they must embrace without their quarterback at the helm.
Seasons don’t always end as scripted. But even from the sideline, Beck’s presence remains a part of the story—a reminder of what he’s given and what this team still has left to fight for.
If Carson beck is seriously injured Georgia is now out of the college football playoffs because we don’t know if the backup qb is good . That’s how this works right ? Or was that Just for Florida state last year pic.twitter.com/ijfgN5o7Pc
— John (@iam_johnw) December 7, 2024
Brett Thorson – Punter – Out For Season
Brett Thorson, Georgia’s star punter and a quiet cornerstone of the Bulldogs’ success, will not take the field again this season.
A knee injury suffered in the SEC Championship game has sidelined him, and his booming leg is silenced for the year’s final act. For Thorson, it’s a painful pause to a brilliant campaign. For Georgia, it’s a new challenge.
In his place, freshman Drew Miller steps in—a young player thrust onto one of college football’s grandest stages.
The torch passes, as it always does in football, from veteran to newcomer. And while Thorson’s presence will be missed, his legacy this season will linger, carried forward by a team that knows the stakes are still as high as ever.
Roderick Robinson – RB – Doubtful
Roderick Robinson’s season, already a quiet one, takes an untimely pause.
A lower-body injury in practice has sidelined the young Georgia running back, leaving him unavailable for the Sugar Bowl.
Robinson’s contributions this season were brief—just two appearances—but his potential is undeniable. For a player still finding his place on a powerhouse roster, the setback is a reminder of how fragile opportunity can be.
On the sideline, Robinson will watch, wait, and prepare for what comes next. And for Georgia, his absence is a small part of a larger story—a team carrying on, reshaping itself, and striving forward, one game at a time.
Branson Robinson – RB – Doubtful
Once filled with promise, Branson Robinson’s season remains uncertain.
Absent from Georgia’s practices ahead of the Sugar Bowl, Robinson has reportedly faced a setback in his recovery from a knee injury—an injury that has kept him off the field for months. For a player known for his power and potential, the silence of the past season grows heavier.
Branson Robinson became the first true freshman #Georgia running back to rush for 95+ plus yards in his first 10+ carry performance since Sony Michel in 2014 #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/jL4q3RKSge
— Jonathan Williams (@Dr_JWill) October 9, 2022
With Branson Robinson and Roderick Robinson unavailable, the Bulldogs turn to Trevor Etienne, Nate Frazier, and Cash Jones—a trio ready to shoulder the load and carry the legacy of Georgia’s proud running back tradition.
In the shadows of absence, the next men stand ready. And the team, as always, presses on.
Joseph Jonah-Ajonye – DL – Out For Season
Joseph Jonah-Ajonye arrived in Athens with sky-high expectations, an elite recruit ready to leave his mark on Georgia’s storied defense.
But late October brought an unexpected turn—a leg injury that required surgery and sidelined the freshman defensive lineman for the remainder of the season.
For Jonah-Ajonye, the journey has shifted from the battlefield of the gridiron to the quiet resolve of recovery. Though his season ends without a single snap, the promise remains intact, waiting for the day he steps onto the field once more.
For now, his story pauses, not as an ending, but as the beginning of something greater yet to come.
Out Due to Suspension
Colbie Young – WR – Doubtful
Colbie Young’s season began with glimpses of brilliance—11 receptions, 149 yards, and two touchdowns that hinted at his potential to become a key piece of Georgia’s offense.
But since early October, when Georgia faced Auburn, Young’s path has taken an uncertain turn. Suspended indefinitely, he’s been absent from the lineup, his story paused in a way few could have predicted.
For a player whose talent once lit up Sanford Stadium, the road forward is now clouded by questions. Yet, as is often true in college football, redemption and resolution remain possible. The next chapter of Colbie Young’s story is unwritten, waiting for the moment he can rewrite it on his terms.
Georgia senior WR Colbie Young was looking good at Sugar Bowl practice yesterday.
Can't help but think about what might have been in 2024. There's new hope for him now in 2025. pic.twitter.com/66echGjsme
— Jeff Sentell (@jeffsentell) December 28, 2024
Georgia Transfers
Since the SEC Championship Game, nine Georgia players have entered the transfer portal, signaling the end of their tenure in Athens. Among them, two – David Daniel-Sisavanh and Rara Thomas – were absent from the team during the regular season. The remaining seven, however, have not been practicing and will likely miss the Sugar Bowl.
Of particular note, cornerback Julian Humphrey and defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett, key figures in Georgia’s defensive rotation, are expected to be sidelined for both the Notre Dame game and the playoff. Their absence leaves a significant void on a defense that has been a cornerstone of the Bulldogs’ success.
- Cornerback Julian Humphrey
- Wide receiver Michael Jackson
- Defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett
- Linebacker Troy Bowles
- Defensive back Jake Pope
- Defensive back Justyn Rhett
- Outside linebacker Samuel M’Pemba
