Georgia reportedly adds Miami DL Joshua Horton, Illinois RB Joshua McCray from transfer portal

The landscape of college football has evolved dramatically over the past few years, with one of the most significant shifts being the rise of the transfer portal. Programs have increasingly relied on the portal to plug gaps in their roster, bolster depth, and add immediate contributors. As one of the elite programs in the nation, Georgia football, under head coach Kirby Smart, has used the portal effectively to supplement its already-loaded roster.

On a pivotal Sunday, Georgia made two major additions from the transfer portal that are expected to have significant implications for the team moving forward. Joshua Horton, a defensive lineman from Miami, and Joshua McCray, a running back from Illinois, have both committed to Georgia, providing the Bulldogs with reinforcements in key areas. These moves are strategic and provide an interesting glimpse into Kirby Smart’s mindset as he works to keep Georgia at the pinnacle of college football.

In this piece, we will break down the details of these two additions and analyze what they mean for Georgia’s football program, its needs moving forward, and how these players will fit into the Bulldogs’ plans for the 2025 season and beyond.

Joshua Horton: Bolstering Georgia’s Defensive Line

Georgia’s defensive line has been one of the cornerstones of the program’s recent success. The Bulldogs have produced a number of elite defensive linemen, including Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Devonte Wyatt, who have anchored a defense that consistently ranks among the best in the country. As the team moves forward into the 2025 season, maintaining depth and talent along the defensive front will be critical for continuing that level of excellence.

Joshua Horton, the Miami transfer, provides an immediate boost to Georgia’s defensive line. Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 310 pounds, Horton is a physical force who can step in and contribute right away for the Bulldogs. His size and strength make him a prime candidate to add depth to Georgia’s defensive front, which is critical given the demands of the SEC schedule.

Horton brings with him experience from Miami, where he played in the competitive ACC and developed into one of the Hurricanes’ top defensive players. During his time at Miami, Horton showcased his ability to disrupt the line of scrimmage, demonstrating his talent in both run defense and pass-rushing situations. His versatility is a huge asset, as he can line up in various positions along the defensive line, offering defensive coordinator Will Muschamp flexibility in terms of scheming.

At Georgia, Horton will be expected to complement a defensive line that already includes strong players such as Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Michael Williams, and Tramel Walthour. The addition of Horton means that Georgia will have even more talent and depth on the defensive line, giving them the ability to rotate fresh bodies in and out throughout the course of a game. This will be key for sustaining pressure on opposing quarterbacks, stifling the run game, and maintaining the physicality that has become synonymous with Georgia’s defense.

In the SEC, where powerful offenses and mobile quarterbacks are the norm, depth along the defensive line is a necessity. By adding Horton, Georgia ensures that it will be able to continue its defensive dominance, particularly in critical matchups against high-powered offenses.

Joshua McCray: A Physical Presence in Georgia’s Running Back Room

While Georgia has long been known for its power running game, recent seasons have seen the Bulldogs develop a more diversified offensive attack. Still, the foundation of Georgia’s offense remains its ability to pound the ball on the ground, control the clock, and wear down opposing defenses. This philosophy has been a key factor in Georgia’s success, with running backs like Kenny McIntosh, Zamir White, and D’Andre Swift playing major roles in the Bulldogs’ national title run.

As the Bulldogs look toward the 2025 season, one area of focus has been to maintain depth at the running back position. While Kendall Milton, Dajon Edwards, and Branson Robinson are all key players in Georgia’s backfield, adding a player with the physicality and experience of Joshua McCray provides another important layer to Georgia’s already loaded offense.

Standing at 6’1″ and weighing 240 pounds, McCray is a powerful, downhill runner who excels at picking up tough yards and wearing down opposing defenses. His frame allows him to run through arm tackles and absorb hits, making him an ideal player for short-yardage and goal-line situations. In his time at Illinois, McCray proved to be a reliable and durable back, rushing for over 1,000 yards in the 2022 season and consistently being a key factor in the Illinois offense. His ability to handle a heavy workload and carry the ball in between the tackles will make him an asset to Georgia’s run-first offense.

While McCray’s playing style is relatively simple, he does possess the vision and balance to navigate through the tight creases of a defense. His ability to power through contact while maintaining his balance is one of his trademarks, making him a player who can churn out tough yards in the second half of games when defenses are worn down.

For Georgia, McCray’s addition fills an important need. While Milton and Edwards bring versatility to the table with speed and agility, McCray provides a power back who can be used to grind out clock, wear down defensive fronts, and be a consistent presence in short-yardage situations. His size and running style will complement the more dynamic, quicker backs on the roster and offer offensive coordinator Mike Bobo multiple options in the backfield.

McCray’s experience in a pro-style offense at Illinois means that he is well-equipped to adapt to Georgia’s offensive system, which also employs a balanced attack focused on the run game. His physicality fits perfectly into the SEC’s grind-it-out nature, where teams regularly rely on big, powerful running backs to control the tempo of the game. His addition gives Georgia another reliable option in the backfield, ensuring that they can stay fresh throughout the course of a long, physically demanding season.

The Strategic Impact for Georgia Football

Adding Joshua Horton and Joshua McCray to Georgia’s roster speaks to Kirby Smart’s ability to continually build on the program’s strengths while addressing areas of need. The Bulldogs’ success in recent years has been built on solid recruiting and development, but the transfer portal allows Smart to fill gaps and add immediate contributors in a way that traditional recruiting cannot.

Both Horton and McCray address key areas of need for Georgia, particularly in terms of depth and physicality.

1. Depth and Freshness

Georgia’s defense and offense are both predicated on depth. As evidenced in past seasons, the Bulldogs are at their best when they can rotate multiple players in and out without losing a step. Horton’s addition gives Georgia more strength up front, allowing the defense to stay fresh and effective throughout the game. On offense, McCray ensures that the Bulldogs have a diverse running back room, capable of handling different situations and making plays when needed.

2. Physicality and Power

Both Horton and McCray bring a physical presence to their respective positions. On defense, Horton’s ability to clog running lanes and create pressure in the pass rush will give Georgia the upper hand in controlling line of scrimmage battles. On offense, McCray’s size and toughness allow Georgia to maintain a physical style of play, which has been a hallmark of the team’s success.

3. SEC Championship Contenders

As Georgia aims for another SEC Championship and potentially another National Championship, adding these two players could prove to be crucial. The Bulldogs are known for their tough, physical style of play, and both Horton and McCray fit seamlessly into that mold. The physicality they bring will be key in crucial matchups against SEC powerhouses like Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee, as well as in national playoff games.

The transfer portal has become a cornerstone of modern college football, and Georgia’s success in navigating it continues to pay off. The additions of Joshua Horton and Joshua McCray from the transfer portal address specific needs and add immediate value to an already-loaded roster. These players bring depth, physicality, and experience, which will be vital for Georgia as it pushes for another SEC title and national championship in 2025.

With Kirby Smart at the helm, Georgia continues to be one of the premier programs in college football, and these moves in the transfer portal underscore the Bulldogs’ commitment to staying at the top. As the 2025 season approaches, Georgia fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the team’s prospects, thanks in no small part to these strategic additions.