Georgia football has seen another player decide to seek new opportunities, as redshirt sophomore safety Jake Pope has officially submitted the necessary paperwork to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal. Pope, who has two years of eligibility remaining, spent just one season in Athens, following a stint at Alabama where he redshirted in 2022. Pope’s decision comes after a season where he contributed mainly as a reserve and special teams player.
The Buford, Georgia, native initially entered the portal at the end of the 2023 season after seeing limited playing time. Pope narrowed his choices down to Georgia and North Carolina, ultimately deciding to stay closer to home and join the Bulldogs. However, with his decision to leave Georgia now official, Pope will look for a fresh start at a new program.
This marks the latest in a series of transfer portal moves for Georgia. In the past two days alone, Pope becomes the fourth Bulldog on the defensive side of the ball to declare intentions to transfer. Alongside him, safety Justyn Rhett, linebacker Troy Bowles, and EDGE rusher Samuel M’Pemba have also entered the portal. Georgia has seen a total of seven players either enter the portal or announce their intentions to transfer since it opened, signaling a shift in the Bulldogs’ defensive roster heading into the offseason.
Pope’s departure leaves Georgia with a need to fill the defensive backfield in the coming months. While the transfer portal presents challenges, it also offers opportunities, as Georgia has historically used it to bring in key talent like Trevor Etienne and Dominic Lovett, who have made significant contributions to the team’s success.
Georgia fans will be watching closely to see how the team adapts to these changes, especially as the Bulldogs aim for another championship run in 2024.
