ATHENS, Ga. — In the past two weeks, Georgia has had 15 scholarship players enter the transfer portal. Three of them were five-star prospects coming out of high school, and another seven were four-star prospects, per the 247Sports Composite. One was a Butkus Award finalist last year and one of the team’s defensive leaders.

Oh, and the Bulldogs are expected to lose the commitment of another five-star, quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was seen having a good time on his visit to Nebraska.

What’s happening here? Is the fabric of this two-time national championship program unwinding? Has Kirby Smart lost control?

Well, no.

Georgia has been enduring a two-week news cycle during which it only has been losing players, not gaining any, at least publicly. That’s about to change. The early signing period is almost here, meaning the team is about to officially add more five-star and blue-chips prospects, and some key additions out of the portal should come soon.

Let’s try to make sense of it all:

Those leaving: What does it mean?
Jamon Dumas-Johnson is the big name to go in the portal. He was the team’s second-leading tackler last year, a preseason All-SEC pick this year and the inside linebacker who made calls and knew the system. His departure leaves a void in leadership, and it won’t be filled by Xavian Sorey, the third-year inside linebacker and five-star prospect in the 2021 class who is also in the portal.

But Georgia is getting back the other veteran inside linebacker: Smael Mondon, second on the team in tackles despite dealing with injuries this year, has informed the team he will stay for his senior year. Georgia also has CJ Allen, a freshman who has started the past four games after Dumas-Johnson suffered a forearm injury. Raylen Wilson, another freshman inside linebacker, has shown flashes. It’s possible that Dumas-Johnson thought he risked getting fewer snaps if he stayed at Georgia another year and is looking to go somewhere that wasn’t a risk in his critical final season of showing off for the NFL.

Something similar seems to have happened with freshman A.J. Harris, a top-50 recruit last year who appeared in seven games this season at cornerback. Even with starter Kamari Lassiter probably NFL-bound, Georgia has a host of other young defensive backs, and while Harris was part of next year’s plans, he probably wanted more assurances.

Ditto for the receiver position, where freshman Zeed Haynes already has committed to Syracuse, where Fran Brown, Georgia’s defensive backs coach the past two years, is now the head coach. (Georgia replaced Brown on Saturday by hiring Donte Williams from the same job at USC.) Syracuse also added ex-Georgia receiver Jackson Meeks, while offensive lineman Austin Blaske (North Carolina), edge C.J. Madden (Purdue), defensive lineman Jonathan Jefferson (SMU) and quarterback Brock Vandagriff (Kentucky) have found new homes.

It wouldn’t seem a great look for Georgia, but it’s not clear anybody who went in the portal would have started next year other than Dumas-Johnson, and he might have had to fight for that role. The portal is open through Jan. 4, so there’s time for bigger losses to come, and they may. But Georgia, like every other program, has to get to the 85 scholarship limit, so room has to be made.

Who’s coming?
In the portal, Georgia is still the favorite to land receiver London Humphreys, who was Vanderbilt’s second-leading receiver as a freshman. That could be announced any day. Colbie Young, who was Miami’s third-leading receiver as a junior, visited Athens last week but is taking more visits.

Trevor Etienne, Florida’s leading rusher as a sophomore, is eyeing Georgia, and that would be a big one, as Etienne ranks third overall on The Athletic’s portal list. The Bulldogs are aiming for help on the defense line — South Carolina’s Xzavier McLeod has visited — and hosted Central Michigan safety Trey Jones. How soon any transfers become official is anyone’s guess.

But this week Georgia will add traditional recruits.

Even if Raiola signs with Nebraska, three other five-star prospects are set to arrive or already have enrolled: cornerback Ellis Robinson, linebacker Justin Williams and defensive lineman Joseph Jonah-Ajonye.

Six more are ranked in the top 100 overall: linebacker Chris Cole, tight end Jaden Reddell, running back Nate Frazier, cornerback Demello Jones, wide receiver NiTareon Tuggle and cornerback Ondre Evans.

Nine more are ranked in the top 250 overall: tackle Daniel Calhoun, athlete Dwight Phillips Jr., linebacker Kristopher Jones, quarterback Ryan Puglisi, defensive lineman Jordan Thomas, defensive lineman Justin Greene, defensive lineman Nasir Johson, tackle Michael Uini, running back Chauncey Bowens, tackle Nyier Daniels and tackles Marques Easley.

Three more are four-star prospects: tackle Marcus Harrison, defensive lineman Quintavius Johnson and wide receiver Sacovie White. The remaining players are three-star prospects: tight end Colton Heinrich, defensive lineman Nnamdi Ogboko, tackle Malachi Toliver and punter Drew Miller.

It’s not clear if Georgia’s class will remain No. 1 once the smoke clears — Raiola possibly flipping away, Alabama and Ohio State adding recruits — but as long as Georgia holds on to those 27 commitments, it’s still a top-level class.

What else to watch
NFL decisions aren’t due until Jan. 15, but some players will make those announcements beforehand by opting out of the Orange Bowl. Star tight end Brock Bowers, tackle Amarius Mims and Lassiter are almost certain to go, being likely first-round picks. The next most likely is receiver Ladd McConkey, who almost went after last year, although an injury-marred 2023 may have him rethinking it. Safety Javon Bullard could go either way.

Quarterback Carson Beck could announce his decision at any point, or he might not and just show up in Miami with the team. He’ll have to answer questions about it at some point. But the longer it goes without Georgia pursuing a quarterback in the portal — it has checked in with Texas’ Malik Murphy but not nailed down a visit — the longer it looks like Beck will be back.

There could be good news for Georgia along the lines. Defensive linemen Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson would be a big boost if they return, and it appears to be leaning that way. Another year with guard Tate Ratledge would be huge, literally and figuratively.