That said, there will also be some big holes to fill—on offense and defense. The biggest holes will arise with the exits of A.J. Green (who is all but certain to bolt for the NFL) and Kris Durham (who came into his own at the wide receiver spot this past season but is graduating).
Both players will be tough to replace and, as of now, there isn't much reason to assume that whoever does step in will be an adequate fill-in.
Even more, the likely loss of Justin Houston, coupled with the departure of Akeem Dent, leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive front.
Dent ranked 2nd in the SEC in tackles (121)—20th in the nation—while Houston became the terror off the edge that many predicted he would—ending the regular season with 57 tackles (19.5 for loss), 11 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
Keeping all this in mind, it seems that Georgia will need to find a few more role players to fill-in the gaps in 2011 if they expect to better their 6-6 regular season record, or stand any chance of winning the eastern division—a feat which seems a bit premature considering the numerous questions still left to answer.
So, what players need to finally start becoming the studs that Georgia expected them to be when they decided to make Athens their home? Read on, and feel free to drop a few names of your own in the comment section:
1. Marlon Brown, WR
He's got the height, the build, and the talent to be a talented receiver, but he's fallen short in two straight seasons. In year one, Georgia wasted an opportunity to redshirt him—a head-scratcher to this day—and his forgettable play amounted to two receptions for 15-yards.
This season, he caught 11 passes, for 125 yards, and a touchdown—better but still not impressive given the hoopla he garnered coming out of high school. With both Green and Durham gone in 2011, it's time that Marlon Brown start playing up to his potential.
He's had two years to get comfortable with the speed and defensive play of SEC opposition and now it's time for him to start earning his keep.
2. Rantavious Wooten, WR
He came on strong near mid-season of 2009, and finished sixth on the team in receiving yards. His inspired play made many predict 2010 as a potential breakout year. However, his inconsistent spring play, coupled with an inability to hang onto the football, made him a lesser factor as time wore on.
He finished the regular season with seven catches for 41-yards and a touchdown.
Wooten can be a deep ball threat when he's got everything going, but he doesn't seem to be as focused as he was in year one. He needs to fix what ails him in the mental department and step into his role as a solid contributor on this football team.
3. Caleb King, RB
King has mostly fallen flat during his career. He's never come close to eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark, and his numerous injuries have kept him on the sidelines more than we've seen him on the field.
If nothing is clear about the Georgia offense, this one thing is, they need a good rushing attack to make things happen in the passing game. If King can't be that guy, then hopefully Georgia finds the player who can be—the success of Mark Richt rests heavily on that factor.
4. Kwame Geathers, Nose
Geathers is a beast, but his commitment level has been a question mark since he entered the program in 2009—overweight and poorly conditioned. He's made great strides in the 18-months since that time, but he's still not proved to be the guy that coach Grantham is comfortable with at the all-important nose position.
Georgia experienced a lot of inconsistency at the nose this past season, and it's a position that has to be shored up if the defense expects to get any penetration off the edge. Geathers will be one of the key options the team looks to in that regard—he needs to be ready to make it happen.
5. Nick Williams, SS/LB
It's uncertain whether the learning curve for Nick Williams has been so slow because the coaches are confused about the best spot for him to play, or if it's due to Williams' inability to play consistently at either position.
Williams' desire to play safety has been well-documented, but it's obvious that coach Grantham sees a need to continue placing him at linebacker. Whatever the case may be, Williams is too talented to be relegated to the bench. Georgia needs to find away to get him more involved next season.
That said, Williams needs to find a way to play more controlled football when he does have his chance. His tendency to lose his temper and make careless mistakes after the play is just as much a reason for his absence on the field this past year.
