Georgia Transfer Portal: Top 5 recruits leaving the Bulldogs this transfer season

The Georgia Bulldogs is in the middle of a quest for their third national title in four seasons. Standing in their way in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff is the Norte Dame Fighting Irish. Their playoff game will be played on New Year’s Day on the Sugar Bowl.

While the Bulldogs are focused on the playoffs, they have also been generating some buzz on the transfer portal, but more about their own players entering them. They have a host of departures with most coming from the defense. Most of them were not heavily featured this season but will prove to be useful to other teams they have committed or will commit to for next season. We look at the Top 5 departures on Kirby Smart’s roster.

#1 Julian Humphrey (committed to Texas A&M)

Defensive back Julian Humphrey started off the exodus of players, being the first Bulldog to enter the transfer portal. The former four-star recruit has spent the past two seasons with the Bulldogs, starting for ten games this season at corner, but lost his job to Daniel Harris in the latter half of the season. He has tallied 21 tackes and 5 pass breakups in those two seasons.

Humphrey has since announced his commitment to the Texas A&M Aggies which means he stays in the SEC, but he returns to his home state. The Aggies have openings on the cornerback position after BJ Mayes and Jaydon Hill left after this season. Humphrey will have the inside track on being the starter and he will not be a rental as he still has two more years of eligibility remaining.

#2 Jamaal Jarrett (committed to USC)

Defensive lineman Jamaal Jarrett was a former four-star prospect for the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-5 350-pound lineman was viewed as a project with good potential but struggled with injuries throughout his two years in Athens. He played a total of 16 games for Georgia, primarily being used against the run and recorded nine total tackles. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

Jarrett has since announced that he has committed to the USC Trojans who lost many of their defenseive players this season. He will look to star on Lincoln Riley’s defense and try to fulfill his potential.

#3 Sam M’Pemba (committed to Texas A&M)

Sophomore edge rusher Sam M’Pemba entered the transfer portal after spending two years with the Bulldogs. He spent most of his stint as a reserve on the defense and was never able to play himself into the regular rotation. He finishes his Georgia career having played in 15 games and recording six tackles. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

M’Pemba has recently announced his commitment to the Texas A&M Aggies, who struggled last season in generating pressure. The Aggies ranked near the bottom of the SEC in sacks and ranked in the bottom half in total yards allowed (12th), and M’Pemba could figure into their pass rush come next season.

#4 Troy Bowles (committed to Michigan)

Troy Bowles, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, was a four-star linebacker and a Top 80 recruit back in the class of 2023. He had trouble cracking Kirby Smart’s defensive rotation, playing behind the likes of CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson. He decided to redshirt this season so that he could keep his three years of eligibility remaining.

He has since announced his commitment to the Michigan Wolverines, where he will have more opportunities to see the field. Coach Sherrone Moore could envision Bowles starting alongside Ernest Hausmann to form a potentially formidable linebacking group for the rebuilding Wolverines team.

#5 Michael Jackson III

With Georgia signing five wide receivers this past week, including a five-star prospect in Talyn Taylor, the writing was on the wall for Michael Jackson III. Appearing in only four games this season, he redshirted to preserve his remaining year of eligibility.

Prior to his one-year stint with Georgia, Jackson played for 2 seasons with the USC Trojans where he put up relatively meager numbers. He only put up ten receiving yards this season and was mostly featured in special teams.