Saturday, UGA took another blow from Ole Miss. This time, in the transfer portal. After beating Georgia but then falling to Miami in the CFP, Rebels head coach Pete Golding has earned the commitment of a Georgia two-year defensive starter, safety Joenel Aguero.
Aguero primarily played in Georgia’s “star” role, where he totaled 39 tackles and an interception in 2025. Golding’s newest weapon will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Related: Every Georgia player to enter the transfer portal as of Friday
While several now-former Dawgs have entered the transfer portal, Kirby Smart has been out claiming talent for 2026.
Transfer portal additions will be vital in replacing key production in the secondary.
Aguero was a two-year starter, including the first 12 games of 2025. The hard-hitting safety missed the last two games of the season due to injury.
Aguero will face his former team on Nov. 7 in Oxford when the Rebels host the Bulldogs.
A former 5-star recruit in the class of 2023 out of St. John’s Prep in Lynn, Massachusetts, Aguero ranked as the nation’s No. 29 overall player, per 247 Sports.
Georgia has already landed three defensive backs in the 2026 transfer portal class.
- S Khalil Barnes from Clemson
- S JaMarley Riddle from East Carolina
- CB Braylon Conley from USC
The portal season has just begun. Georgia will be in the hunt to add several more high-profile transfers. They will also see more 2025 Dawgs enter the transfer portal.
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In Aguero’s absence during the last two games of the season, true freshman Rasean Dinkins stepped into the role. Smart has had high praise for Dinkins, comparing him to former Georgia star Javon Bullard, who two national titles with UGA.
“He’s a good football player,” Smart said about Dinkins. “He’s got some safety characteristics from his high school. He reminds me a little bit of Bullard. He’s got a potential to be able to move to safety and play. He’s got a really good skill set.”
