Georgia Bulldogs new star playmaker could be the key to success and a trip back to the College Football Playoff for Kirby Smart

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Georgia Bulldogs new star playmaker could be the key to success and a trip back to the College Football Playoff for Kirby Smart originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
The Georgia Bulldogs are going to have to rely on a number of things they aren't used to this season. Youth in several critical starting positions on both sides of the ball. Very minimal depth in terms of experience and high pedigree (by Georgia standards). An extremely inexperienced (yet promising) quarterback with a handful of transfer weapons coming in.
This Georgia team is going to look a bit different than fans are used to seeing. However, media closest to the team and national pundits everywhere can't help but be excited about one new star playmaker in Zachariah Branch and the revamped wide receiver room around him. And if Georgia is going to make a push back to the College Football Playoff they're likely going to need to see a special season from Branch perhaps more than anyone else on the team.
Zachariah Branch to lead Georgia WRs in touchdowns?
How good could the new Transfer Portal addition be for Georgia?
Well, the former five star wide receiver Zachariah Branch won All-American honors as a true freshman back in 2023 as he exploded onto the scene dominating as a pass-catcher and return weapon. His 2024 stagnated a bit with a quarterback change and the emergence of three other wide receivers alongside him, but that shouldn't deter Georgia Bulldogs fans from believing the hype.
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Why? Branch is expected to be a touchdown-scoring machine for the Bulldogs this year.
Jake Rowe who covers Georgia for DawgsHQ joined Andy & Ari of On3 this week and could not stop raving about what he and the coaching staff think of Branch:
'Well, I can tell you that [the Georgia staff is] really excited about [Zachariah Branch]. And they're excited about the way he came in and worked and kind of set the tone...Zach Branch comes into Georgia, [and] he's working really hard. He's already put on eight pounds of muscle. And he's certainly a different player than we really thought he was going to be. He's actually a little bit of a physical presence out here, despite his shorter size.
Sometimes you think of slot receivers as a dime a dozen. Like, that's kind of where you put your good receiver that's not great. But he is a guy that does bring some dynamics to that spot. Even with Dom Lovett being there last year and being a pretty good player, I think Zach Branch is just a different deal...[the Georgia staff] expects Zach Branch to come in here and generate touchdowns, explosives, and catch-and-runs...I think Zach Branch leads the team in touchdowns."
It may seem strange to believe that a 5'10", 185-pound slot receiver-type is going to lead Georgia in touchdowns but Ladd McConkey nearly did that back in 2023. And the strange thing is that Branch might just be much more explosive and dynamic than McConkey at his best.
Branch is still expected by many NFL Draft experts and scouts to be an early draft selection one day thanks to his incredible dynamism, speed, and creativity with the ball in his hands (as you can see in some of the intriguing plays from the post below). Branch just has a different gear than everyone else on the field at all times. That should certainly help Georgia's offense and their new starting quarterback.
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Georgia WRs could be what gets them to the College Football Playoff
Zachariah Branch should lead the way in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns for the Georgia Bulldogs this year, but he won't be doing it all by himself. Yes, the team did lose Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett to the NFL, but the receiving offense should be better overall.
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No, the team won't have a Brock Bowers at tight end or Ladd McConkey on this team, but adding Branch, plus Noah Thomas (transfer via Texas A&M), and a quintet of high upside true freshmen at the position should inject some new life into the position group.
Noah Thomas especially–at 6'5", 205 pounds–should be a smooth playmaking weapon for Georgia as soon as he sees the field this season. He may actually function as the mismatch nightmare teams had to adjust for in the Brock Bowers role from a couple years ago.
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And when defenses aren't losing their minds trying to chase down Zachariah Branch and match up physically against Noah Thomas, they'll still have to make sure they know where Dillon Bell is at all times given his dual-threat abilities as a ball carrier and receiver. They'll still have to find ways to win jump balls against Colbie Young. The speed of London Humphreys and Sacovie White will have to be accounted for on vertical concepts.
Georgia has all kinds of answers at wide receiver this year that fit a number of different projected roles. With Zachariah Branch leading the way, the wide receiver group may just be the key to success for Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs this season.
We'll be back with more Georgia Bulldogs coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
And if you haven't gotten an extended glimpse at the insane amount of upside Zachariah Branch could bring to the Georgia Bulldogs this year just check out his highlights below.
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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.