Bear of bad news: Georgia national championship star enters transfer portal

Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Georgia is losing one of its brightest young stars in defensive lineman Bear Alexander to the transfer portal.

In the hours leading up to G-Day, Georgia will be losing Bear Alexander to the transfer portal.

Alexander was a four-star recruit from Texas initially in the 2022 recruiting cycle, having played his senior year of high school football at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Although he was mostly a rotational piece along the Dawgs’ vaunted defensive line, he broke out in a big way during the national title blowout win over TCU in Los Angeles with two tackles and a sack in the big game.

Here is the bombshell tweet sent out by On3’s recruiting rockstar Hayes Fawcett on Saturday.

Keep in mind that Alexander nearly went to play for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M out of high school.

Georgia loses Bear Alexander to the transfer portal right before spring game

The timing of this could not be worse. G-Day is about only good vibes in The Classic City. It is a day for Georgians and Athenians abound to celebrate all that is amazing about Georgia football, not have to deal with crushing blow of losing one of the likeliest candidates to replace Jalen Carter along the defensive line. Georgia recruits phenomenally, but Alexander is every bit a blue-chipper.

While I would anticipate Kirby Smart and his coaching staff will have more than enough time to address losing Alexander to the portal, it serves as an ever-present reminder of how difficult it is to be the king of the hill. Georgia has won back-to-back national titles for the first time ever. They have a chance to pull off an unprecedented three-peat, but nothing is ever easy in college football.

Ultimately, players leaving top-flight programs like Georgia is nothing new. There could be more to this than we currently know, but there are plenty of reasons for players to transfer. It could be anything from playing time, spot on the depth chart, coaching staff changes, grades, being homesick, you name it. Let’s just hope that Alexander finds a good place to play after leaving UGA.

Thanks for playing a big part in one of the greatest seasons in Georgia football history ever, Bear!

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