The Georgia Bulldogs’ 2021 defense was historically great, and that reflected in Georgia’s draft status on that side of the ball in 2022. Edge-rusher Travon Walker went first overall to the Jaguars. DI Jordan Davis went to the Eagles with the 13th pick, linebacker Quay Walker went to the Packers 22nd overall, DI Devonte Wyatt also went to Green Bay, this time with the 28th pick, and safety Lewis Cine finished out the first round, going to the Vikings with the 32nd pick.
Five defensive players from one school in one first round? That’s the most ever. Linebackers Nakobe Dean (Eagles) and Channing Tindall (Dolphins) each went in the third round, so if you want to know how great that defense was, and those players were… there’s your answer.
Still, when you ask people familiar with Georgia’s defense, many will tell you that the best player on that defense in 2021 is still on the Bulldogs’ roster. That would be DI Jalen Carter, who’s eligible for the 2023 draft. Last season, Carter totaled four sacks, six quarterback hits, and 24 quarterback hurries. But as we have detailed, you can’t analyze Georgia’s defenders based on pressure numbers; you’ll miss the forest for the trees. You have to watch the tape, and in Georgia’s 2022 opener against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday afternoon, Carter already looked in playoff form. On this tackle for loss, Carter (No. 88) took Oregon’s Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu — all six-foot-6 and 330 pounds of him — and threw him aside like the proverbial sack of potatoes.
Jalen Carter lmao pic.twitter.com/3MTCBpFoBh
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) September 3, 2022
The six-foot-3,m 310-pound Carter had a knack for plays like this last season. Here, Georgia Tech’s right tackle tried to keep up with Carter on the edge, and one simple swipe move later, it was all over.
And on this play against Kentucky… well, I’m not sure how the right guard was supposed to deal with Carter’s ungodly combination of quickness across the blocker’s face and speed to the pocket, but it wasn’t this.
And if you’re going to run a simple slide against Carter, as UAB did here, you’re basically bringing a spork to a gunfight.
We’ll get a lot more into Carter’s pass-rushing abilities as time goes on — he seems like a lead-pipe top-three pick if this keeps up, and I had him going second overall to the Texans in my most recent mock draft, behind only Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. to the Falcons first overall. This is just a reminder to Georgia’s opponents that unless you get off the ball very quickly, and you bring all kinds of help to deal with him, Jalen Carter is going to ruin your offense.