Over the last three seasons, the Georgia Bulldogs have consistently been the top team in college football. Despite their remarkable success, even a school with two recent National Championships experiences players departing through the transfer portal. In fact, just as the spring transfer portal opened on Monday, the Bulldogs had two players enter it.

Georgia Sees Andrew Paul Hit The Portal

Earlier today, running back Andrew Paul made his way into the portal, and he wasn’t alone among Bulldog offensive players to do so on Monday afternoon.

Braxton Hicks Enters The Portal

Wide receiver Braxton Lee Hicks took to the social media platform X to express his gratitude to Georgia and its fans, penning a heartfelt letter. In his announcement, he declared his decision to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer, with two years of eligibility remaining. He concluded with appreciation for UGA and a spirited “Go Dawgs! 🐶💯” hashtag, emphasizing his belief in “God’s Plan.”

Hicks, a native of Georgia, is currently in his junior season but has seen limited playing time since arriving on campus. It’s reasonable to speculate that he may have been waiting to assess how spring practices unfolded before making a decision about entering the portal. Likely realizing that his playing time would continue to be restricted, he made the choice to join the portal to explore other opportunities.

The Spring Portal Is Different Than The Winter Portal For SEC Players

The distinction between the spring and winter transfer portals in the SEC is crucial. Entering the spring portal prohibits immediate eligibility for transferring to another SEC school, while players can transfer and play right away within the SEC during the winter portal window. Given this limitation, Hicks is likely looking outside the SEC for his next opportunity if he wants to play immediately. Considering his desire for more playing time and limited prospects within the Bulldogs program, he may opt for a smaller school where he can make a more significant impact on the field.