There are two ways to think about the below list of players.
For the optimist, they are all talented players who are going to have a chance to play in 2024 and could be household names by the end of the season.
The pessimist, though, could say that outside of recruiting pedigree, we still know very little about these players.
You can think what you want, but with fall camp open and the pads coming out, I know how I feel about potential breakouts. Snaps data is from the 2023 season and comes via Pro Football Focus.
2023 signees
KEON KEELEY, EDGE, ALABAMA
2023 snaps: 0
I always thought Keeley, the No. 3 player in the 2023 class, was best-suited as a 4-3 edge defender and not a 3-4 edge defender. Keeley gets a clean slate with a new defensive staff after not getting any reps as a freshman. Keeley will likely start camp as a No. 2 or 3 on the depth chart. I would think if he doesn’t get on the field this year, he’s in the portal. And I’m not sure he’s going to see the field much.
Breakout potential this year: No chance
JORDAN HALL, IDL, GEORGIA
Snaps: 177
Hall got in the rotation for 177 reps as a freshman and showed flashes of potential and out of all the guys the Bulldogs have, I think he has the best chance to break through on the interior. UGA kind of lacked that difference-maker in the middle they had in 2021 and Hall could be that guy even as he enters camp as the No. 2, but Georgia rotates as much as anyone in the country on defense.
Breakout potential this year: Solid chance