ATHENS — Gabe Harris showed just how valuable he was to the Georgia team in 2025.

Playing significant snaps for the first team in his career, he blossomed into one of Georgia’s best defenders by November.

It was the natural progression defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann always hoped to see.

“When you’re coming out of high school, the amount of strength it takes,” Schumann said. “We’re not talking about, hey, knowing passing scenarios, third down. Like, to do the complete job and set edges against the grown men in this league, the offensive tackles, the tight ends in this league, that requires a technique, fundamentals, mentality, and a significant amount of play strength.”

Strength may be Harris’ best attribute. Not just from a physical standpoint, as he’s able to bowl over opposing tackles, but from a mental standpoint as well.

As Harris was playing his best football against Alabama in the SEC championship game, he suffered what would be a season-ending toe injury.

Harris missed Georgia’s season-ending loss against Ole Miss and then was limited for much of spring practice.

Georgia has been slow in bringing back the standout defender. In part because it knows how important Harris is to the team’s success.

“Gabe is tough, first thing, and extremely resilient, and I think he handled it well,” defensive line Tray Scott said. “If we didn’t protect Gabe from himself, he would have probably done something even crazier to it. That’s one thing you want to see with players. Gabe is looking for a way in, not a way out.”

Now in his fourth season in Athens, Harris is an unquestioned leader for the Bulldogs. He’ll play as a defensive end this season for Georgia, bouncing between the defensive line and outside linebacker position.

It’s normally a thankless role in the Georgia defense. But there have been stars to hold that spot, such as Travon Walker and Mykel Williams. Both went on to become first-round picks, with Walker going No. 1 overall.

Like Harris, Walker was a role player in his early days at Georgia. He then exploded during the 2021 season, one that ended with Georgia winning the national championship.

“When you look at a guy like Travon, he played only on third down for his first two years,” Schumann said. “You’re talking about the number one overall pick, and then he played 600 snaps the next year. He had become a complete player.”

Georgia believes Harris has done the same, even while proceeding with caution during the month of August.

With Harris on a pitch count, it will be critical for Georgia to have an option ready to go in case he’s not fully himself yet.

Joseph Jonah-Ajonye stepped up in the Ole Miss game. As he enters his third season, Scott likes who the former 5-star recruit pairs with Harris.

“Him and Gabe, they did a heck of a job working in a tandem last year, really kind of helping support each other,” Scott said. “We all looking for Joe — and Joe definitely being the first one to take that next step.”

Jonah-Ajonye saw Harris take that step a season ago. He had 4.0 tackles for loss in the final four games he played.

Injuries have slowed Jonah-Ajonye during his time at Georgia. The same is true for fellow former 5-star defensive lineman Jordan Hall.

If the Bulldogs are to have all three wrecking games, they’ll need to show that availability is among their best abilities.

“Focusing on your body. When you’re not playing, with the rehab and stuff and just staying on it,” Scott said. “And if things happen, little knickknack things, deal with it head on, don’t run away from it.”