No. 3 Georgia has QB Gunner Stockton back to lead pursuit of championships

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Coach Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs again have high expectations after being ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. The Bulldogs have won the last two Southeastern Conference championship games but lost their first two College Football Playoff games each year.

Georgia has Gunner Stockton as its returning starter at quarterback and the offense also returns running back Nate Frazier, a deep corps of tight ends led by Lawson Luckie and elite secondary talent with KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 12-2 record last year. They open the season at home on Sept. 5 against Tennessee State.

Expectations

Having a returning starting quarterback in Gunner Stockton and an experienced lead running back in Nate Frazier are good reasons for Georgia to again be considered a national championship contender. Having Kirby Smart back for his 11th season as coach is an even better reason.

Smart is 117-21 at Georgia with two national championships and four Southeastern Conference titles. The Bulldogs will try to extend a school-record streak of five seasons with at least 11 wins.

Even though it received no first-place votes in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, Georgia enters the season in the top five for the eighth straight year. Georgia was the choice of voters at the SEC’s annual media days to win yet another SEC title this season.

Strengths include the o-line and secondary

Tight end and the offensive line are strengths for an offense likely to feature Frazier, who rushed for 947 yards and six touchdowns a year ago.

The defense is led by defensive backs KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV and linebacker Raylen Wilson. Robinson tied for the SEC lead with four interceptions at cornerback as a freshman. Bolden, a safety, ranked second on the team with 76 tackles and had two interceptions. Wilson, who had 74 tackles last season, and Chris Cole make inside linebacker another strength.

Georgia’s deepest position may be tight end, where senior Lawson Luckie has 14 career starts. Sophomore Elyiss Williams (6-7, 255) had seven catches as a freshman and has breakout potential while Ethan Barbour was a starter as a freshman before suffering an ankle injury. Jaden Raddell also has experience at the position.

Weaknesses include wide receiver

Georgia lost its top five receivers, including Zachariah Branch, a third-round NFL draft pick by Atlanta, and Colbie Young, a fourth-round pick by Cincinnati. The unit also lost Dillon Bell and Noah Thomas. The lack of experience is a big concern for an offense looking to become more explosive.

London Humphreys, who had 18 catches and three touchdowns but no starts last season, is the top returner.

Georgia ranked last in the SEC with 20 sacks last season and is looking for increased production from such players as Zayden Walker, who showed promise as a third-down pass rusher, and Chase Linton.

New faces

WR Isiah Canion (transfer from Georgia Tech), WR Ryan Mosley, CB Khalil Barnes (transfer from Clemson), CB Gentry Williams (transfer from Oklahoma), CB Braylon Conley (transfer from Southern California).

Key losses

RB Dante Dowdell, a transfer from Kentucky, was expected to play immediately before suffering serious injuries in an offseason ATV accident. Smart said Dowdell is “not with us” and the emphasis is on his ability to recover for daily functions instead of football. Edge rusher Amaris Williams, a transfer from Auburn, suffered a torn ACL in spring practice.

ILB CJ Allen (Indianapolis Colts), DL Christen Miller (New Orleans Saints), Branch (Falcons), TE Oscar Delp (Saints).

Biggest games for the Bulldogs

Vs. Oklahoma (Sept. 26), at Alabama (Oct. 10), at Mississippi (Nov. 7).