Georgia Football: 3 breakout candidates for 2021 season

Jalen Carter came to Athens from Apopka, Fla. He was a five-star recruit and one of the top-ranked players in the entire country, not just at his position. He is well known for his insane athleticism as he often threw down hammering dunks during his high school basketball career. He stands 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 310 pounds; it’s not common for players of that size to do the things he does on the football field.

Carter has all the potential and tools to be a first-round pick in a couple of years. He even caught a touchdown in the game against Tennessee, see how he sheds an incoming defender like it was nothing to get open in the endzone.

Similar to the running back room for Georgia, the defensive line group is crowded and not lacking in any aspect.

Carter found himself on the field for ten games last year, primarily in a rotational role. As for the upcoming 2021 season, we can expect to see him take a major step up.

In Week 1 against Clemson, it’s possible that Carter could be listed as the backup for two of the three starting positions along the defensive line. But within a few weeks, it’s a major possibility he takes control of the defensive tackle position and runs with it.

Carter can do it all: plug up running lanes and gaps, rush the passer on the outside, create pressure up the middle to affect the quarterback, and more. He finished the 2020 season with 14 total tackles and three tackles for loss. Expect those numbers to improve significantly in 2021.

Opponents of Georgia are going to have some real issues this upcoming season, the Dawgs have two guys along their defensive line that will often command a double team in Carter and Jordan Davis.