Category: Dawgs In The NFL

Pre-NFL Draft: where did Georgia Bulldogs land in Free Agency?

NFL Free Agency has been underway for over a month this off-season.  Georgia Bulldogs are headlining some of the league’s intriguing moves.

NFL Free Agency has been underway for over a month this off-season.  Georgia Bulldogs are headlining some of the league’s most intriguing moves.

In a surprising decision, the Los Angeles Rams have released Todd Gurley. Gurley has signed a one-year $5-million deal with Atlanta Falcons. He was the engine of Los Angeles’s Super Bowl offense in 2018. It’s a dream come true for Falcons and Georgia fans.

Oct 20, 2019; Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley catches a touchdown pass in front of Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears have released outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. Floyd signed a one year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. Chicago originally selected Floyd with a first round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

New York Jets outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins is returning to the Jets on a one-year $5M prove-it deal. He was New York’s sack leader in 2019.

The Cincinnati Bengals placed a franchise tag on wide receiver A.J. Green. It prevented Green from entering NFL Free Agency. Will he sign the tag with Cincinnati and pair up with projected number one overall pick Joe Burrow or hold out?

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Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift ranks top-five NFL backs

Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift ranked the top-five NFL running backs in today’s game.

Georgia running back D’Andre Swift is considered the top ball carrier in this year’s NFL Draft.

With the event set to take place next week, Swift should expect to hear his name called in either the first or second round of the virtual draft.

In an interview with USA TODAY’s Mackenzie Salmon, Swift was asked to rank either the top-five NFL running backs of all-time or the top-five that are currently in the league.

Swift opted to rank the five best current running backs.

Here they are:

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D’Andre Swift ranks top-5 NFL RBs, makes his own player comparison

Georgia football ball carrier D’Andre Swift ranked the top-five current NFL RBs and told us which guy he compares himself to.

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We are getting closer and closer to the start of the 2020 NFL Draft and Georgia running back D’Andre Swift continues to be viewed as the top ball carrier in this draft class.

Swift will be either a first or second round draft choice during next week’s event. In the meantime, he’s virtually meeting with teams, staying fit and taking part in interviews with the media.

USA TODAY’s Mackenzie Salmon sat down with Swift, virtually of course, and asked him who he thinks he resembles most in today’s game. She also got him to rank his top running backs currently in the NFL.

Swift’s versatility as both a ball carrier and a receiver is what makes him so special compared to other tailbacks in this draft class.

That’s why he compares himself to current Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

“Just because he does everything,” Swift said. “Catch the ball out of the backfield, they put him in space a lot, make a lot of people miss. And I think that’s something I can do really well.”

That’s quite the comparison, as McCaffrey just signed the richest running back contract in NFL history on Monday.

If you’ve seen McCaffrey play or are familiar with his production, you’re keeping your fingers crossed that Swift can produce similar numbers to the former Stanford great, who in 2019 tallied 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 yards receiving on 116 catches.

Swift also ranked the top-five current running backs in the NFL, but in an effort to get all three of the former Georgia Bulldogs, he had to expand that list to six.

His ranking is as follows:

1. Saquon Barkley

2. Christian McCaffrey

3. Alvin Kamara

And for 4, 5 and 6:

Nick Chubb/Sony Michel/Todd Gurley

Had to get them Dawgs in there.

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Mecole Hardman and Georgia track star Matthew Boling jokingly agree to 100m race

Former Georgia football WR and current KC Chiefs speedster Mecole Hardman jokingly agreed to a 100m race with UGA track star Matthew Boling.

First, the Twitter battle:

If you’ve been active on Twitter the past two days, you may have scrolled across a debate taking place between some high-profile athletes.

What’s the debate topic, you ask?

Which state has better high school football players, Georgia or Texas? 

You can see a summary of the Twitter war here

This dispute began when Hardman, who attended Elbert County High School in Georgia, replied to Tampa Bay Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans’ (who is from Texas) tweet about Texas football being the best in the country.

From there, things got wild. Dez Bryant got in on it. As did Nick Chubb and Patrick Mahomes.

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay, Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs, Redskins’ Landon Collins and Georgia wide receiver Lawrence Cager all said their piece as well.

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Matthew Boling vs Mecole Hardman:

Regarding a Texas vs Georgia all-star team, Nick Chubb tweeted that he would “run through anybody from Texas.” (Maybe the most trash talking Chubb’s ever done)

Mecole’s response is as follows:

Mecole’s tweet caught the eye of current Georgia track star Matthew Boling, who ran a wind-aided 9.98 second time in the 100-meter dash – an all-time all-conditions record.

Boling may be a Georgia Bulldog, but he hails from Houston, Texas and had to get in on the battle.

Boling responded to Mecole’s tweet with a simple cap emoji. For those who are a little out of touch with the current slang, cap apparently means that someone is lying. So, in simpler terms, Boling said that Mecole was lying about being able to outrun anybody from Texas.

That’s when Mecole, referencing Boling’s 9.98 second time in the 100-meter dash, told Boling that his speed would not translate to the football field.

Boling heard Mecole’s rebuttal and requested a race in the 100 meter dash.

Mecole wasted no time, and within an hour the two had agreed to what would be an epic showdown.

Sadly, it’ll never happen. But how incredible would it be if the two Georgia Bulldogs actually did pull off this race? That would be a quarantine classic.

Georgia has NINE players selected in 7-round NFL mock draft

Georgia football has NINE players selected in USA TODAY’s recent seven-round NFL mock draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft is just over one week away and a number of Georgia players are prepared to have their dream become a reality.

Twice has Georgia had eight players go in the same NFL Draft. Those years were in 2002 and 2013, where the Dawgs dumped a ton of talent into the pros.

But never has Georgia had nine players selected in the same draft. Luke Easterling of USA Today’s DraftWire sees that changing this year.

In his recent 7-round NFL mock draft, he has NINE Georgia players being taken in this year’s virtual event.

Here are his projected landing spots for these Bulldogs.

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Better HS football: Georgia or Texas? Mecole Hardman, Nick Chubb debate with Patrick Mahomes, Dez Bryant

Mecole Hardman and Nick Chubb debated with Patrick Mahomes and Dez Bryant over which state has the best HS football, Georgia or Texas.

Former Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman got into it with his current teammate on the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, as well as former NFL receiver Dez Bryant via Twitter on the topic of which state produces the best football players.

Now everyone has their bias, but history tells us the top high school football states are usually California, Georgia, Texas and Florida, in no specific order.  Some would throw Louisiana and Alabama in there as well.

This dispute began when Hardman, who attended Elbert County High School in Georgia, replied to Tampa Bay Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans’ (who is from Texas) tweet about Texas football being the best in the country.

After the rookie dropped this bomb, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, and Galveston, Texas native Dez Bryant had something to say.

Bryant had nothing but love for Mecole, but told him he was crazy to say Georgia high school football overlooks Texas.

Hardman then made claims that a Georgia high school all-star team would beat a Texas high school all-star team with ease.

When Seahawks safety, Texas native and former Longhorn Quandre Diggs posed the question as to who would tackle Earl Campbell (born and raised in Tyler, Texas) on this hypothetical Texas all-star high school team, Mecole had the perfect response.

I’ll take your Earl Campbell and I’ll raise you a Herschel Walker.

After Hardman’s confident attitude started gaining attention, his quarterback had to get in on the debate.

Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes attended Texas Tech and was born and raised in Texas. He was not about to allow his rookie receiver to take shots at his beloved state that easily.

The Super Bowl and former league MVP had to get at least a couple of jabs in on the Georgia native.

But wait it did not end there.

Nick Chubb, from Cedartown, Georgia, got in the action.

This thing keeps getting better and better.

Florida actually has the most active NFL players at 180, with California in second with 175, Texas with 137 and Georgia at 97. That being said, Texas has nearly three times the population that Georgia does and California closer to four times Georgia.

Who would you take in this battle of the states?

 

 

UGA’s Jake Fromm standing out in NFL interviews

Former Georgia Bulldog quarterback Jake Fromm is standing out in NFL Draft interviews.

Former Georgia Bulldog quarterback Jake Fromm is standing out in NFL Draft interviews according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Due to COVID-19, Fromm and 2020 NFL Draft prospects are having to conduct the vast majority of their interviews virtually.

Fromm has especially impressed NFL quarterback coaches in the pre-draft process. Fromm had control of Georgia’s offense throughout his career and is as seasoned of a veteran as any quarterback in the NFL Draft.

Despite a down junior season, it was inevitable that Fromm would rise during the interview process. Fromm never threw more than seven interceptions in his three seasons as a starter and his decision making and knowledge of the game are two strengths that general managers love.

Fromm helped UGA to three straight SEC Championship Games, winning his first. His steadying presence in the Georgia offense kept the Dawgs consistent and helped talented teams meet or exceed expectations year after year.

Additionally, Fromm learned to adapt to new receivers throughout the entire 2019 season. And given the adjustment from college to the pros, Fromm may be ahead of the pack in terms of the transition.

Fromm still likely won’t be a first round selection. That being said, his ability to operate an offensive system effectively won’t be overlooked.

Georgia fans should expect Fromm’s name to be called in either the second or third round.

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Which current NFL star does Georgia RB D’Andre Swift compare himself to?

Who does Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift compare himself to ahead of 2020 NFL Draft?

Georgia star D’Andre Swift is widely viewed as the best running back in the 2020 NFL Draft class.

Swift’s versatility as both a ball carrier and a receiver is what makes him so special compared to other tailbacks in this draft class. As a ball carrier, not only can he run you over, but he can also blow past you with his speed and he has one of the nastiest arsenals of jukes, spins and cuts that you’ll see from a college running back. But what really sets him apart is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make things happen.

That’s why, in a video tweeted by the NFL, he compared himself to current Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

(Keep scrolling for video)

That’s quite the comparison, as McCaffrey just signed the richest running back contract in NFL history on Monday.

If you’ve seen McCaffrey play or are familiar with his production, you’re keeping your fingers crossed that Swift can produce similar numbers to the former Stanford great, who in 2019 tallied 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 yards receiving on 116 catches.

“The team that drafts me is going to get a hard worker, somebody that’s committed to the process of football, the grind, loves the game of football, a leader and a competitor,” Swift said.

And a fun fact that we learned from this video: When Swift was six years old, he took his very first handoff for a 60 yard touchdown. He said that’s when he knew he wanted to play football.

The video closes out with Swift discussing the current success of Todd Gurley, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb — all former Georgia Bulldogs who are having great NFL careers.

“It’s amazing. Just to know you were on the field with those guys just not too long ago. So it kind of gives you a sense of hope, like, you’re on the right path and definitely can succeed at the next level. “

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2020 NFL Draft: Georgia football OT Andrew Thomas to Cleveland Browns?

Georgia football OT Andrew Thomas says that the Cleveland Browns are interested in him ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Georgia’s Andrew Thomas is considered one of the best, if not the best, offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft class.

He’s a guy that pretty much every NFL team will want to meet with prior to the draft, however, coronavirus has forced said meetings to be conducted via FaceTime or video conference chats.

One team that’s met with Thomas is the Cleveland Browns, where Bulldog legend Nick Chubb is making a name for himself as one of the league’s top ball carriers.

Cleveland holds the No. 10 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and it appears they’re eyeing Thomas as a possible selection.

Thomas said that Browns GM Andrew Berry is impressed with him both on and off the field.

“Andrew (Browns GM) said I had a lot of the intangibles that they’re looking to add to their team, good character,’’ Thomas told cleveland.com in a phone interview. “They feel that translates to playing on the field, so I feel that’s something I have.’’

Referring to a separate phone call with the Browns, Thomas discussed how new head coach Kevin Stefanski viewed him.

“He was saying me being athletic is something that they like as far being able to open up holes in the wide zone,’’ Thomas said.

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PFF releases RB superlatives for 2020 NFL Draft class: D’Andre Swift earns one

Pro Football Focus handed out running back superlatives for the 2020 NFL Draft class, and Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift earned one.

PFF (Pro Football Focus) recently released superlatives for the 2020 NFL Draft class’ running backs.

Georgia’s D’Andre Swift was named as the best receiver in the draft class.

In Swift’s three-year career at Georgia, he caught 73 passes for 666 yards and five touchdowns averaging 9.1 yards per catch.

PFF wrote:

“Swift is the modern do-it-all running back. His ability to torch linebackers one-on-one as a route-runner is what we here at PFF covet more than any other skill at the position.”

A few of the other superlatives given out were “best between the tackles,” which was awarded to Wisconsin’s record-breaking back Jonathon Taylor. “Best home-run threat” was given to Louisiana’s Raymond Calais and “most elusive” went to Utah’s Zack Moss.

On top of best receiver, I believe Swift deserved an honorable mention as most elusive as well — just ask any of the SEC schools how hard it is to tackle #7.

Swift’s versatility with and without the ball in his hands is what makes him so special compared to other tailbacks. Not only can he run you over, but he can also blow past you with his speed and he has one of the nastiest arsenals of jukes, spins and cuts that you’ll see from a college running back. But what really sets him apart is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make things happen.

Most mock drafts have Swift going late in the first or early second round in this year’s NFL draft.

If he is chosen in the first round, he will be the third UGA running back selected in the first round (Gurley, Michel) and the fourth Georgia back selected overall (Chubb) in the last five years.

RBU?

ESPN doesn’t think so..