Editor’s Note: This is the 23rd part of a 25-part series. Using our still-too-early Top 25, 247Sports is giving a post-National Signing Day outlook for college football’s top teams.

Georgia Spring Game: April 21

Georgia hired Kirby Smart to transform the Bulldogs from underachiever to national title contender, and in his second year the program took that step and then some. Georgia won the SEC, signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class and finished an overtime stop away from a national championship.

It won’t be easy for those in Athens to forget the championship that could’ve been, especially considering the game took place in Atlanta. But Bulldogs fans can take solace in the fact they're here to stay under Smart.

Offseason Outlook

(Returning Starters: Offense – 8, Defense – 4)

The Bulldogs have a quarterback to build around in Jake Fromm. A true freshman who forced offensive coordinator Jim Chaney to give him more and more responsibility as the season went along, Fromm finished 2017 with 2,615 yards passing, 24 touchdowns against 7 interceptions and a 62.2 percent completion rate. Sure, he struggled in the second half of the national title game. But Fromm generally flashed in the second half of the season when Georgia needed him most.

That said, the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect in the 2018 class, Justin Fields, is already on campus and not the type of prospect to spend two or three seasons stashed out of sight with a clipboard in his hand. And you don't have to go any further back than last season for an example of seemingly entrenched second-year QBs being usurped quickly at Georgia. It’s not likely, but Fields is a player to watch this spring.

Georgia’s four highest-graded players, per PFF College, are departing on offense. Isaiah Wynn rated as the nation’s No. 6 overall tackle, the combination of Nick Chubb/Sony Michel combined to rush for 2,572 yards and 31 touchdowns during their senior years and leading receiver Javon Wims (720 yards, 7 TDs) creates a deep-threat void for the Bulldogs.

Those losses aren’t insignificant, but they blows are ones that Georgia's roster is equipped to endure.

Offensive line was a weakness in Year 1 under Smart. Last year, the Bulldogs’ o-line transformed into a strength with all but one starter grading out as a 78.7 or better. Freshman right tackle Andrew Thomas could easily flip to the left side to replace Wynn. If that happens, a five-star freshman (Isaiah Wilson or Cade Mays) could step in on the right side. Georgia is bringing in, arguably, the top offensive line class in the country. The Bulldogs should be fine along their offensive front.

Chubb and Michel are two of the most productive rushers in Georgia history. D'Andre Swift could join that category soon. The rising sophomore rushed for 618 yards and 7.6 yards per carry in a situational roll last year, numbers that scream future superstar. Add to Swift a backfield that will include Elijah Holyfield (5.9 ypc in 2017), five-star true freshman Zamir White and the nation’s No. 41 overall player, James Cook, and the Bulldogs should be just fine at running back.

Receiver, too, is a position of potential strength for Georgia. Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman showed in the national title game they’re perfectly capable of filling in for Wims. Add in the return of Terry Godwin (639 yards, 6 TDs) and former five-star tight end Isaac Nauta, and the Bulldogs should remain explosive through the air.

Defense is where questions arise for Georgia. A unit that finished sixth nationally a year ago in total defense is losing seven starters (eight if you include STAR corner Aaron Davis, which you should). Among the notable departures are star linebacker Roquan Smith, a standout corner in Davis and an interior force in Trent Thompson.

In addition to Thompson, a former No. 1 overall player int he country, the Bulldogs' defensive interior is losing space eater nose tackle John Atkins. Those aren’t easy players to replace, but the Bulldogs do have some experience behind them. Tyler Clark, Thompson’s likely replacement, took 458 snaps a year ago – 123 more than Thompson – and drew a respectable 74 grade. As for Atkins’ nose tackle role, look out for Julian Rochester. He saw 346 snaps a year ago, though he drew a 52.6 grade (425th nationally among interior defenders).

Secondary could potentially create some question marks for Georgia. Davis rated as an 83.7 last year per PFF College, second among all Bulldog defensive backs. Dominick Sanders left Georgia as the program’s career leader in both starts and interceptions. Malkom Parrish also departed after a three-year starting career in Athens.

The Bulldogs will be buoyed by the return of Deandre Baker, who paced the Bulldogs’ secondary with an 87.1 PFF College grade last year – elite for his position. The return of starting safety J.R. Reed also brings some stability – Reed could shift to the STAR. As for the other spots, look for former five-star recruit Richard LeCounte to take one of the starting safety spots. Senior Jarvis Wilson, pending Reed’s position, could take the other. At corner, watch out for junior Tyrique McGhee or young players like Ameer Speed or Mark Webb.

As for linebacker, read on …

Offseason Storyline to Follow

Not only are the Bulldogs losing Smith, arguably the top defensive player in the country, but they’ll be without Lorenzo Carter (62 tackles, 8.5 TFL), Reggie Carter (36 tackles, 3.5 TFL) and Davin Bellamy (34 tackles, 7.5 TFL). They might not have been the most productive members of the defense, but that’s a ton of experience walking out the door.

Obviously, there isn’t a true replacement for Smith. Juwan Taylor is likely to get the first shot at the position, having taken 131 snaps a year ago. A rising senior, Taylor drew a 48 grade from PFF College in that time on the field. That’s not great, and if he doesn’t show some improvement talented underclassmen Nate McBride and Channing Tindall will push him for the spot this offseason.

Georgia is in good shape at JACK linebacker, where D'Andre Walker should lead the way. The rising senior finished second on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss a year ago, and he did so with just 270 snaps, per PFF College. Walker is at his best on the edge rushing the passer. Expect Georgia to let him do so next season with star underclassmen like Robert Beal and Brenton Cox spelling him. It should be noted Walker played plenty of snaps at SAM last year, and he could do so again.

Speaking of the SAM spot, Lorenzo Carter’s production won’t be easy to replace. If it’s not Walker taking over, it’ll likely be rising sophomore Walter Grant taking his spot. He produced 2.5 tackles for loss last year as a true freshman in limited snaps and should only get better with time.

At MIKE, rising senior Natrez Patrick is the likely starter pending his status on the team. He missed the College Football Playoff after entering a drug treatment program but is back at Georgia taking classes in the spring. Sophomore Monty Rice should also play into the race at one of Georgia’s inside spots.

The linebacker group will take on a completely new look next season. How it comes together this spring/summer will go a long way in determining if Georgia can repeat in the SEC.

Instant-Impact Addition

Jamaree Salyer (OG): Running backs Zamir White and James Cook are likely the safest true freshman bets to play next season, but Salyer might have the best chance to start. A 6-foot-4, 342-pound mauler, Salyer is among the most college-ready prospects in the country. He’s an excellent run blocker, and Salyer comes from a program at Pace Academy that prepares offensive linemen to play from the jump – just look at what Thomas did a year ago. The Bulldogs return all three of their interior starters, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see Salyer jump over Ben Cleveland or Kendall Baker at one of the guard spots.

Previous Teams Ranked in 247Sports' Top 25 Countdown

No. 25: South Carolina

No. 24: Notre Dame

No. 23: Oregon

No. 22: USC

No. 21: Kansas State

No. 20: LSU

No. 19: UCF

No. 18: West Virginia

No. 17: Virginia Tech

No. 16: TCU

No. 15: Florida State

No. 14: Mississippi State

No. 13: Stanford

No. 12: Michigan

No. 11: Auburn

No. 10: Penn State

No. 9: Washington

No. 8: Oklahoma

No. 7: Michigan State

No. 6: Wisconsin

No. 5: Miami