Second-year Dawgs primed for defensive breakout in 2025

The Georgia Bulldogs are once again loaded with talent on defense heading into the 2025 season, and much of the buzz in Athens centers around the second-year players poised for a breakout. After cutting their teeth in limited roles or on special teams during their true freshman seasons, several members of the 2024 signing class are now in line to take on much bigger responsibilities for Kirby Smart’s defense.

One of the most exciting players in this group is linebacker Chris Cole, who impressed coaches with his physicality and instincts during his freshman campaign. He appeared in all 14 games, contributing on special teams and rotating in at inside linebacker. With another offseason in Georgia’s strength program and a better grasp of the playbook, Cole is expected to be a key rotational piece — if not more — in a loaded linebacker corps. His speed and downhill aggression fit perfectly in co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann’s system.

Future Butkus Award Winner, Chris Cole. #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/pjetcbumbW

— Dawg Muse 🏆 (@UGAFanatic0) June 5, 2025

Another linebacker to watch is Justin Williams, the former five-star from Texas who saw spot duty last fall. Williams is a gifted athlete who brings versatility and range to the game. While the inside linebacker room is crowded with veterans like CJ Allen and Smael Mondon, Williams has the tools to force his way into the rotation. Expect him to be a difference-maker on special teams and earn more meaningful defensive snaps as the season progresses.

At the JACK linebacker spot, Quintavius Johnson is a name quickly rising within the program. Though he was brought along slowly in 2024, Johnson possesses the edge-bending explosiveness that Georgia covets at the hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker role. He has added weight and strength this offseason while maintaining his quickness off the edge. With Mykel Williams moving into more of a leadership role and new contributors needed at JACK, Johnson is primed to become a disruptive rotational pass rusher.

In the secondary, K.J. Bolden is already turning heads after flashing elite coverage skills as a true freshman. The former five-star safety allowed virtually nothing through last season and will now be in a leadership role in Georgia’s deep defensive backfield. His speed, instincts, and physicality make him a prime breakout candidate, and his ceiling is as high as any defensive back on the roster. Bolden is an All-American candidate and a possible future first-round NFL Draft pick.

KJ Bolden is the next star defender out of Georgia🐶

PFF’s No. 5 Returning Safety in College Football pic.twitter.com/M6hXcHdEQD

— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 7, 2025

On the defensive line, three second-year players stand out as potential breakout candidates in 2025: Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Nasir Johnson, and Jordan Thomas. Jonah-Ajonye, a top 50 national recruit, offers a rare blend of athleticism and versatility. He has the frame and footwork to line up both inside and outside, and he made a strong impression during spring camp with his ability to penetrate and collapse the pocket.

Nasir Johnson is a powerful, physically mature interior lineman who continues to turn heads in the weight room and practice field. At over 300 pounds, he brings needed mass and strength to Georgia’s interior rotation and has begun earning praise for his ability to anchor against the run. Meanwhile, Jordan Thomas, another top-tier defensive tackle signee, has developed well over the past year and offers plus athleticism for a player of his size. If he continues on his current trajectory, Thomas could be one of the most productive second-year linemen in the SEC.

Finally, Nnamdi Ogboko is a true nose tackle with rare power and a massive frame. Though raw out of high school, he has quickly absorbed Georgia’s defensive concepts and is becoming a reliable early-down option. His presence will be vital as the Bulldogs look to control the line of scrimmage against increasingly physical SEC offenses.

Together, this group of second-year defenders adds depth, explosiveness, and upside to a Georgia unit already brimming with championship-level experience. If even a few of them deliver on their potential this fall, the Bulldogs will once again field one of the most feared defenses in the country.