Evaluating the Top 10 Groups of FBS Returning Starters in 2017
By Zach Bigalke
It bears remembering that Jacob Eason was just a freshman last year, because the highly hyped quarterback went through growing pains last year but could be even better in 2017. With a half-dozen other players returning on offense, Eason has the tools at his disposal continue his maturation at the college level.
Where Georgia looks like the favorite in the SEC East, however, is not on offense but on defense. The Bulldogs return all but one of their starters from a unit that ranked 16th nationally in yards allowed last season. A skilled group could give opposing offenses even bigger fits this year, and that could be critical as the team enters year two of the Kirby Smart era if they hope to compete for the division and conference titles.