Georgia football 2024 transfer portal tracker: players leaving the Bulldogs

Six Georgia Bulldogs entered the NCAA transfer portal when it opened on Monday (Dec. 4). Across the Football Bowl Subdivision, more than 500 players entered the transfer portal on the first day.

Georgia will see significant roster turnover over the next several months before the start of 2024 college football season. The Bulldogs have the No. 1 incoming recruiting class.

Georgia players are primarily entering the transfer portal in search of more playing time, but some are looking for better name, image and likeness deals. The Bulldogs are targeting top players in the transfer portal as well.

Many Georgia players in the transfer portal are back-to-back national champions. Most of them faced fierce competition for playing time and will have a larger role at another school.

Which Georgia Bulldogs have entered the transfer portal so far? Note: These players could still elect to return to Georgia, but statistically most don’t return.

Quarterback Brock Vandagriff

Georgia Bulldogs No. 2 quarterback Brock Vandagriff entered the NCAA transfer portal. Vandagriff, a redshirt sophomore, played in eight Georgia games this year. The former five-star recruit completed 12 of 18 passes for 165 passing yards and two touchdowns in 2023.

Vandagriff’s exit could be a sign Carson Beck is returning for another season.

Wide receiver Jackson Meeks

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Jackson Meeks entered the transfer portal. Meeks is a special teams ace for Georgia. However, Meeks had trouble earning significant playing time and targets in Georgia’s deep wide receiver room. Meeks hauled in one catch for 23 yards this season and will have one season of eligibility left at his new home.

Defensive end Jonathan Jefferson

Jefferson is in the portal after he signed with Georgia football as a member of the class of 2021. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive end played in seven games throughout the 2023 college football season.

Jefferson recorded one tackle against Kentucky this season, but did not see a bunch of snaps on a regular basis. The redshirt sophomore is likely looking for more playing time at his new home.

Offensive tackle Austin Blaske

Blaske, a former three-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting class, missed most of the 2023 season due to injuries. He competed with Earnest Greene for the starting left tackle role in the preseason and will be a good addition to another offensive line.

Outside linebacker Darris Smith

Georgia outside linebacker Darris Smith was the first Bulldog to declare his intent to enter the transfer portal after the regular season concluded. Smith recorded three tackles in 2023. The lengthy sophomore played high school football for Appling County.

Outside linebacker CJ Madden

CJ Madden came to Athens rated as a four-star recruit. Madden was the No. 16 edge and the No. 18 player in the state of Georgia in the 2022 recruiting class. Now, he is entering the transfer portal.

After redshirting his freshman season, Madden appeared in seven games in 2023, totaling three tackles. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Kicker Jared Zirkel

Georgia kicker Jared Zirkel entered the transfer portal, but plans to play in the Orange Bowl. Zirkel handles kickoff duties for the Bulldogs.

Cornerback Nyland Green

Georgia cornerback Nyland Green, a former five-star recruit in the class of 2021, entered the transfer portal. Green played in all 13 Georgia games in 2023, but he did not earn the starting outside cornerback role opposite Kamari Lassiter.

Wide receiver Mekhi Mews

Georgia wide receiver Mekhi Mews entered the transfer portal. Mews, who is very quick, served as Georgia’s primary punt returner in 2023. He memorably returned a punt for a touchdown early in the year.

Linebacker EJ Lightsey

Georgia Bulldogs redshirt freshman linebacker EJ Lightsey entered the transfer portal. Lightsey, three-star member of the class of 2022, played in four games and recorded three tackles during the 2022 season. Lightsey did not play during the 2023 season.

Linebacker Xavian Sorey

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Xavian Sorey entered the NCAA transfer portal. Sorey, who was a five-star recruit in the class of 2021, is a sophomore. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker recorded 19 tackles and a sack for Georgia in 2023.

Wide receiver Zeed Haynes

Georgia wide receiver Zeed Haynes entered the portal. Haynes played in four games as a true freshman and recorded one catch for 20 yards. He will have four seasons of eligibility at his new school.

Offensive lineman Aliou Bah

Outside linebacker Marvin Jones

Georgia outside linebacker Marvin Jones entered the transfer portal after his sophomore season. Jones Jr. is a former five-star recruit. He recorded one sack in 12 games for the Dawgs in 2023.

WR Logan Johnson

Redshirt sophomore Logan Johnson is a former three-star recruit out of the 2021 recruiting class that came to Athens as a walk-on. He appeared in one game his freshman season.

Johnson was high school teammates with UGA transfer quarterback Brock Vandagriff, who has committed to Kentucky.

Linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson

Jamon Dumas-Johnson will be Georgia’s biggest likely loss to the transfer portal. Dumas-Johnson has started at inside linebacker for the Bulldogs for the past couple of seasons. He missed the final several games of the regular season with a broken forearm.

Cornerback A.J. Harris

A.J. Harris played in seven games as a true freshman, but saw less playing time as the year went on. Harris is a former five-star recruit.

Story originally appeared on UGA Wire