It wasn’t the most dominant of seasons, but Georgia football will return to the College Football Playoff in 2024. Georgia will compete for a national title for the third time in four years after punching their ticket to the CFP via an SEC title. Last weekend, the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Texas Longhorns in a 22-19 overtime thriller, winning the SEC and earning a bye in the new 12-team CFP. However, in the new era of NIL, revenue sharing, and an overflooded transfer portal, even an SEC power like Georgia is susceptible to roster turnover.
On Friday, the Georgia Bulldogs lost former top recruits Samuel M’Pemba and linebacker Troy Bowles, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, to the transfer portal. Georgia football has lost multiple players to the transfer portal since winning the SEC title last Saturday. With Georgia losing many former high-end prospects and potential future contributors, Bulldogs fans reflected on the transfer portal’s effect on their team.
Georgia Football Fans Indifferent With Wave of Transfers
According to Graham Coffey of Dawgs Central:
A few members of UGA’s 2023 class announced intentions to hit the portal today…
– EDGE Samuel M’Pemba
– LB Troy Bowles
– S Justyn Rhett
All 3 were highly ranked coming out of high school and can play somewhere. All 3 were passed by younger guys on the depth chart this season.
Since last weekend, Georgia football has lost at least seven players to the transfer portal, including three former high-end prospects. On Friday, three of them, all former top recruits, shared their intent to transfer, ending their tenure with the Georgia Bulldogs. Headlining the group is Samuel M’Pemba, the 11th-ranked edge rusher in the class of 2023. He played in four games this season but did not record a tackle. Meanwhile, Troy Bowles and Justyn Rhett, four-star recruits in the 2023 class, will leave Athens, Georgia. Rhett had two tackles this season, while Bowles did not record a statistic.
Although Bowles, Rhett, M’Pemba, and, at a lesser level, Jah Jarrett would have had little impact on the 2024 rendition of Georgia football’s quest for a third national title, their losses could hurt the team’s future outlook. With the quartet failing to make headway on the depth chart as former top recruits, Georgia football fans took to social media following their departure:
Mpemba.. another example of how their stars don’t mean anything when they get to college. All we heard when we recruited him was what a stud he was and now he can’t even get on the field.
— Rich 🐶🏆 (@rolenek5287) December 13, 2024
This is the reason that the talent gap between the upper and lower tier teams is narrowing and there are more and more ‘upsets’ happening. Not saying it’s a bad thing, it’s just the way it is now.
— GC Chopper (@Papa1313131313) December 13, 2024
I don’t blame them. They wanted a chance to play on a championship caliber team, but if you’re getting passed by the younger guys, then I’d probably do the same. I imagine Bowles is a great dude and competitor given who his dad is too. Wish them the best!
— Robert (@RobertBickers16) December 13, 2024
It’s beyond ridiculous for there to be an open window for programs to poach players before the playoffs. Those making decisions to pay for play/unlimited transfers/expansion etc are killing college football and people are too blinded by the shiny new stuff to see it.
— Rainey J (@RaineyJP) December 14, 2024
M'Pemba is honestly a surprise to me. I thought he was a "can't miss" recruit that would be putting up numbers already.
— Gravel Dawg (@TSG83) December 14, 2024
Damn
— Rob 🏆🏆 (@BulldawgRob) December 13, 2024
I hope he balls out wherever he gets the chance at. Maybe returns home to Missouri** I think? But wherever kid lands I believe he's going to make an impact
— Wes (@Shy_Sly_Wes) December 13, 2024
Great athlete, not a great football player.. yet. He has all the tools, but needs to be developed. It’s understandable that he’s not going to get the reps needed to do so sitting at GA. Best of luck
— Godly.algo (@HimmmyNeutr0n) December 13, 2024
Why do people look to transfer so quick, literally isn’t a better place to develop as a defensive player in cfb rn
— Brown guy that talks about sports way too much (@brownsportsdude) December 13, 2024
Another 5 star UGA bust. The sky is blue
— Blue-Orange Gator (@Blue_OrangeG8r) December 13, 2024
More Georgia Football News by Gridiron Heroics
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‘Glad To Have You Back’: Georgia Football Fan Celebrate Shocking Return of Former 4-Star Wide Receiver Prospect From Transfer Portal
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‘Forever a DGD’: Georgia Football Fans Praise QB Carson Beck Following Brutal Injury Update For 2024 CFP
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‘Kirby Is My Least Favorite Coach’: Georgia Bulldogs HC Kirby Smart Crushed By Fans After Shocking Call Out of SEC Commissioner
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