After a season where the Georgia Bulldogs led the FBS in dropped passes, the need for an infusion of talent at receiver was apparent.

Georgia not only signed five receivers in its No. 2-ranked 2025 recruiting class, but the Bulldogs also landed two veteran transfers, Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas.

“I'm excited about both those guys, both really good players,” Smart said. “Both have been successful in their organizations where they've been. They're both talented pass catchers, … and both of those guys are high-caliber athletes, but they're high-caliber people, and I've enjoyed working with them.”

Branch, a former first-team freshman All-American, should bring explosivity to Georgia’s offense and to its special teams as a returner.

In his two seasons at USC Branch totaled 953 combined yards and two touchdowns on punt and kick return for the Trojans. Meanwhile, as a receiver he totaled 823 yards and three touchdowns on 78 receptions in two seasons.

Smart credited Zachariah and his brother Zion, who also transferred from USC this past January, with bringing energy to the offseason workouts.

“And the Branch brothers have been a great kind of injection into our all season energy and workouts,” Smart said. “They love working out, their father trains guys, they love training. So the culture and work ethic that it requires to be successful here, they've jumped right in and done a great job of that.”

Then there is Thomas, who comes to Georgia after three seasons in College Station, where he gained the valuable experience of facing SEC defensive backs.

“Noah has too, he's played in the SEC, he's been successful,” Smart said. “So we've still got to go out and do it on the field, but I'm excited about who they are.”

Thomas, a 6-foot-6 receiver from Pearland, Texas, led the Aggies in receiving this past season. He recorded a career-high 574 yards and eight touchdowns on 39 receptions.

However, despite his career year, he transferred to Georgia this offseason, reuniting with Bulldogs receivers coach James Coley, who recruited Thomas out of high school.

Both Branch and Thomas will look to help a receiver room that lost two of its top three leading receivers from last season.