ATHENS — It’s not quite on the level of quarterback Carson Beck’s decision to return to Georgia next season, but Nazir Stackhouse announcing Friday he plans to remain with the Bulldogs in 2024 is up there in terms of being a big deal.
The 6-foot-3, 320-pound senior is Georgia’s most experienced defensive lineman, by far. Stackhouse’s start in the Orange Bowl was his 29th in a row, which matched cornerback Kamari Lassiter for most on the team. In total, he took 409 snaps in 2023, seventh-most on the team and almost unheard of for an interior defensive lineman in the SEC. Primarily manning the noseguard position, the responsibility of which mainly is to occupy blockers, Stackhouse racked up 24 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks this season.
Stackhouse’s announcement preceded by a couple of hours a similar one made by offensive lineman Tate Ratledge. A third-year sophomore guard from Rome and a two-year starter, Ratledge overlooked some mid- to late-round NFL draft grades to remain with the Bulldogs for at least one more season.
Like Stackhouse, Ratledge also is an extremely experienced player. Ratledge has started 28 games over the past two seasons. He also began his freshman season as a starter before sustaining a season-ending foot injury in the opening game against Clemson.
“There is nothing like being a football player at Georgia, and I don’t want my time here to end just yet,” Ratledge said in his post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I am excited to return for one more year in Athens.”
Later in the day Friday, offensive lineman Xavier Truss announced that he, too, is returning for another season with the Bulldogs.
Truss, a senior, also represents a large amount of experience. Truss played in all 14 games for Georgia this season, starting 13 of them. Overall, Truss has played in 53 games, starting 28, since he joined the program in 2019.
The highlight of Stackhouse’s career, thus far, was an interception and near-touchdown return of 44 yards, which assured victory for the Bulldogs in a 30-21 win over then-No. 12 Missouri on Nov. 4 at Sanford Stadium.
“Snap-wise, I just try to make the best of all the opportunities I get,” Stackhouse said in the Bulldogs’ locker room Dec. 30 following their 63-3 win over No. 5 FSU in the Orange Bowl. “Sometimes I fall short and sometimes I make a big impact, like I did against Missouri. But I’m just always trying to get better.”
Stackhouse has done that throughout his career. Arriving in Athens as a 4-star prospect out of Columbia High School, the Stone Mountain native played in reserve duty his first two seasons, backing up the great Jordan Davis. But he broke out as a starter in 2022, starting in all 15 games in Georgia’s undefeated run to the 2022 national championship. Stackhouse earned second-team All-SEC honors this season.
In coming back for a fifth season with the Bulldogs, Stackhouse not only gives a reliable, durable presence on the interior defensive line, but also a mentor for an otherwise youth-laden presence up front. Depending on the decision by fellow senior Warren Brinson, they would be the only upperclassmen among interior down linemen, which include freshmen Jordan Hall, Jamaal Jarrett and Christen Miller and five incoming signees, at least three of which will play in the A- and B-gaps.
Pending a couple of other decisions, Stackhouse’s return provides further clarity on the makeup of Georgia’s 2024 roster as the winter semester begins Monday. Thus far, the Bulldogs have seen 20 players from the 2023 team hit the transfer portal, have had 11 upperclassmen declare for the NFL draft, added 28 players during the December signing period and have brought in another five players via the transfer portal.
That puts Georgia at 90 scholarships. It will have to be at 85 before the 2024 season begins in August.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com
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