Georgia Football: 5 breakout freshmen to watch in 2018
2. Brenton Cox
One of the biggest staples of Georgia’s 2017 season was their incredible defensive line play. Led by Lorenzo Carter, the Bulldogs were able to devastate offenses all season, especially in the running game.
Tyler Clark, and Jonathan Ledbetter are back, but the losses of Carter and Trenton Thompson leaves an opening for new contributors. Georgia isn’t lacking in defensive line talent, so players like Julian Rochester, and Michail Carter should be able to step up, but Georgia is missing a key kind of player.
Just like in 2017, the Bulldogs are without a true pass rushing specialist. Ledbetter is solid, but not elite, and most of their returning depth are tackles, not edge rushers. Brenton Cox is just what this defense needs.
The homegrown edge rusher and former Ohio State commit should be able to contribute immediately. His 6-foot-5, 250 pound frame makes him the perfect size for an edge rusher. His speed and bend makes him an ideal fit, either as a 4-3 end or a 3-4 edge linebacker.
Brenton’s talent and athleticism makes the question about his playing time less of a “will he play” and more of a “how much will he play”. I don’t think he’s ready to start, both because of a lack of experience and some endurance issues, but he’ll absolutely play in 2018.
He’ll be a pass rush specialist for pass situations, and a fantastic complimentary player to the talent Georgia has on the inside of their line.