Georgia football position breakdown: Defensive line

Published 3:16 am Friday, July 20, 2018

Chamberlain Smith | The Red & BlackJulian Rochester runs a drill during a Georgia spring practice March 20 in Athens.

This is part of a weekly series where the Red & Black sports desk will break down the 2018 Georgia football team by position groups.

Just a month and a half out from the first game of the season, Georgia’s defensive line remains one of the most interesting positions to break down. Dominating the trenches in the Southeastern Conference is necessary to win games. This year, Smart has a healthy mix of potential breakouts, leaders and seasoned veterans.

Here is a look at some of the returning players:

Leader: Jonathan Ledbetter, a senior defensive end, has emerged not only as one of the leaders on this year’s defensive line but in the team as well.

He’s vocal in the locker room. He’s one of the most experienced players. Plus, he gives the defense personality and a voice.

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After all the success of last year’s defense, it’s Ledbetter who will make the culture of being savages continue on.

In search of a new best friend: Junior Tyler Clark came up big in the last half of the season just in time for the Rose Bowl and the National Championship.

He teamed up alongside Trenton Thompson last year to plug up the holes through the middle of the line. He slid under the radar but his five tackles in each College Football Playoff game should be the expectation for this year.

The question that remains is who will step up next to him and fill the hole that Thompson left.

Diamond in the rough: Senior graduate Jay Hayes, a transfer graduate from Notre Dame, is a big answer for one of the bigger concerns for this year’s defense.

Hayes accepted a commitment to the Bulldogs in April after finishing 2017 with 27 tackles and one sack for the Fighting Irish.

He adds another number to the defensive line’s depth chart and brings loads of experience as well. Hayes should be a tremendous help in distributing the weight the line will need to carry this season.

Next guy up: With the loss of John Atkins, junior Julian Rochester is the next man up to be the anchor on the defensive line.

Rochester has played in every single game since coming to Georgia two years ago. Like Ledbetter, he is one of the most veteran members on this year’s line.

Atkins will be hard to replace after giving his all to the fans for five years. But his apprentice in Rochester looks to be mister reliable.

Breakout potential: Sophomore Devonte Wyatt enrolled in the spring after spending his freshman season with Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Like Hayes, his transfer will be another much needed addition to the line. He was a four-star junior college prospect and ranked eighth overall nationally among JUCO prospects according to 24/7Sports Recruiting rankings.

He would be the youngest player on the list if not for the last guy on here.

The kid: Defensive end Brenton Cox from Stockbridge, Georgia is one to watch for good reason.

Cox was part of last year’s No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. He was a five-star prospect and the No. 3 overall recruit in the state of Georgia for the class of 2018 according to 24/7 Sports recruiting rankings.

As one of the early enrollees this spring, Cox is the youngest player on this list. But his potential and playmaking ability justifies why he has a chance to play a big role this year.

Printed with permission from The Red & Black independent student media organization in Athens, Ga.; redandblack.com/sports.