ESPN dropped their top 100 players in college football list. Georgia had three players that made the list. Safety KJ Bolden was ranked No. 80, defensive lineman Christen Miller came in at No. 56 and linebacker CJ Allen came in at No. 38.
“Overshadowed by inside linebackers Jalon Walker and Smael Mondon Jr. the past two seasons, it’s time for (CJ) Allen to take charge of Georgia’s defense,” Schlabach wrote. “In 12 starts in 2024, he was second on the team with 76 tackles. He showed up big in the Bulldogs’ most important games with eight tackles and one interception in a 34-20 victory against Florida and seven tackles and two interceptions in a 22-19 win against Texas in the SEC championship game.”
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It is Allen’s third year at Georgia and there is a consistency about a Georgia linebacker popping off into stardom. Butkus Award winners Roquan Smith (2017), Nakobe Dean (2021), and Jalon Walker (2024) were all in their third year when they won they award. Allen’s name has been all over All-American lists and been ranked No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 NFL draft.
“After a couple of injury-plagued seasons, (Christen) Miller finally showed flashes of the player he could be in 2024,” Schlabach wrote. “He had five tackles, one pass breakup and one quarterback pressure in Georgia’s 23-10 loss to Notre Dame in a CFP quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. At 6-3, 310 pounds, the junior needs to be a difference-maker in the middle of the defensive front.”
Miller posted 27 tackles and one and 1/2 sacks last season, but is set to take on a much larger role after over 75% of Georgia’s sack production left this offseason. If Miller takes that leap that many analysts think he will, then he could be a first-round pick.
“After playing in 14 games and starting two as a freshman, Bolden is being counted on to become a leader in Georgia’s secondary,” Mark Schlabach wrote. “With safeties Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson departing for the NFL, the sophomore is now the Bulldogs’ last line of defense. (In 2024), he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.”
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Last year, Bolden recorded 59 tackles, one forced fumble, one sack and one interception. Even though he started only two games he was essentially a third starting safety for the defense. Bolden is among the players that head coach Kirby Smart is looking to step up and become a vocal leader. He has a chance to become a household name and could become a future NFL starter.
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: ESPN recognizes Georgia Bulldogs football players
