Tag: Bulldogs

Browns safety recruits Mecole Hardman to Cleveland, WR responds

Mecole Hardman’s old KC teammate is trying to recruit the former UGA WR to the Cleveland Browns

Safety Juan Thornhill played alongside Mecole Hardman for four years during their time together with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Hardman, the former Georgia wide receiver who was taken in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft, is a free agent for the first time in his career.

Thornhill, who was also a free agent this offseason but signed with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, is already trying to recruit his former teammate to join him in Cleveland.

Hardman responded:

Hardman recently underwent successful surgery for a core muscle and pelvis injury that held him out of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the Eagles.

The Bowman, Georgia native missed much of the second half of the season with injury. He returned for the AFC championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals but re-injured his pelvis in that game.

Hardman is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs and has recorded 151 receptions for 2,088 yards and 20 total touchdowns in his career.

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ESPN ranks CFB teams with most returning production in 2023. Where’s Georgia?

Georgia will have a lot of talent to replace this offseason

The 2023 Georgia Bulldogs will enter the season as the back-to-back defending national champions, but they will have a new look after losing a number of guys to the NFL draft and the NCAA transfer portal.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly recently released his returning production rankings, which looks at which programs return the most production from last year’s teams. This category is one of the three factors that go into his SP+ rankings and account for a majority of the formula.

Georgia checked in at No. 80 in the rankings, returning 61% of its production from last season. Connelly also breaks it down by offensive and defensive production. Georgia returns 52% on offense (109th nationally) and 70% on defense (42nd nationally).

In 2021, Georgia ranked No. 96, returning 59% of its production from the previous season. And that was after losing 15 guys to the NFL draft and 13 more to the transfer portal.

Connelly listed Florida State, Michigan, Texas A&M, Missouri, USC, Utah, Texas and Washington as the teams most likely to improve next season.

Alabama, TCU, Kansas State, UTSA and Iowa are the teams Connelly considers most likely to regress.

For comparison purposes, Auburn ranks No. 28 with 71% production returning, Ole Miss ranks No. 30, LSU No. 32, Clemson No. 36, Tennessee No. 69 and Alabama No. 125.

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Former Georgia, Florida defensive coordinator accepts NFL job

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has accepted the defensive line coach job with the New Orleans Saints

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has accepted a job to be a defensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints. Grantham recently served as the defensive coordinator for the Florida Gators from 2018-2021.

Grantham was Georgia’s defensive coordinator from 2010-2013 during the Mark Richt era. Grantham, who played as an offensive lineman at Virginia Tech, had been coaching as an analyst for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Nick Saban and Alabama considered hiring Todd Grantham as its defensive coordinator this offseason. However, it appears Alabama is moving in another direction.

Grantham will be New Orleans’ defensive line coach. The Saints have consistently had a stout defensive front over the past several seasons. Grantham previously coached in the NFL from 1999-2009. He was the defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys during his time in the NFL. He served as the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator from 2005-2007.

The Saints have hired several members of Alabama’s coaching staff recently according to Saints Wire.

Grantham is the fourth member of Alabama’s coaching staff to join the Saints in the last year after New Orleans brought in offensive line coach Doug Marrone and strength and conditioning coaches Matt Rhea and Matt Clapp.

Alabama is still looking to hire a defensive coordinator.

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The greatest teams in the history of Georgia football

The 10 greatest teams in the history of Georgia football

Given Georgia’s history of excellence in college football dating back to 1892, it was not an easy task to assemble a list of the ten greatest teams in program history. But after winning back-to-back national titles, it got me thinking: Where do the 2021 and 2022 Georgia Bulldogs stack up amongst some of the other legendary seasons in program history?

The Bulldogs have won four national titles and come close on a number of different occasions, including multiple times in the past 10 years. Georgia’s seen its share of great teams, each possessing its own unrepeatable story and players who etched their names into the history books.

Below you’ll find my ranking of the ten greatest Georgia teams that have left their mark on the program. From national titles to iconic moments, the Bulldogs have a history of unbridled excellence that will be celebrated for years to come.

The ten greatest teams in the history of Georgia football:

Two Georgia Bulldogs go in first round of Mel Kiper’s NFL mock draft

Back-to-back natties and back-to-back No. 1 overall picks?

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has released his initial 2023 NFL mock draft, projecting the first round picks in this year’s draft. Kiper has two Georgia Bulldogs being taken in the first round, which only includes 31 selections since the Miami Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick for tampering violations.

Kiper has Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter going No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears. He notes that the Bears could trade the pick since they already have their quarterback for the future in one-time Georgia passer Justin Fields.

If Carter is indeed the first player selected, it would be the second year in a row that Georgia produced the No. 1 overall pick. “Back-to-back” would take on a whole new meaning for UGA fans.

Per BetMGM, Carter has +500 odds to be the No. 1 overall pick. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has the best odds at -120, while Ohio State’s CJ Stroud is at +250.

Via Kiper:

I thought long and hard about a trade here, with the Colts, Raiders and Panthers as the top candidates to move up for a quarterback. And if I’m Chicago general manager Ryan Poles and I can move down a few spots, add premium picks and still get my choice of the best defensive prospects, I’d make a deal. It takes two teams to make a trade, however, and that’s never a guarantee. For now, let’s stick with the Bears keeping this pick.

Chicago’s roster needs help from top to bottom, but its defense was particularly dreadful in 2022, ranking last in the league in sacks (20) and points allowed per game (27.2). It has to be D all the way for wherever the Bears make their selection. Carter, an explosive interior pass-rusher and run-stuffer, gets the nod over Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. on my Big Board. He’s the best player in this draft, a Day 1 starter in the middle of this defense.

At No. 16 overall, Kiper projects Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones to be drafted by the Washington Commanders as the third offensive tackle selected.

Jones, a first-team All-SEC offensive lineman, started all 15 games at left tackle for Georgia during the 2022 season.

Via Kiper:

Here’s yet another team with quarterback issues, as the Commanders traded for Carson Wentz last offseason (which cost them their third-rounder this year) but turned back to Taylor Heinicke down the stretch. Neither is likely to be their Week 1 starter; I wonder whether they will be players in the veteran-signal-caller market and bring in someone to compete with Sam Howell . No matter who is playing quarterback, though, they have to improve along the offensive line. Jones is a 310-pound mauler who didn’t allow a single sack as the Bulldogs’ left tackle in 2022. I wouldn’t be shocked if he went in the top 10.

A former five-star recruit out of Lithonia, Georgia, Jones redshirted his first season in Athens and played in every game during Georgia’s back-to-back title runs.

Other Georgia players that could potentially hear their names called as a first round pick or early-second rounder include cornerback Kelee Ringo, outside linebacker Nolan Smith, tight end Darnell Washington and safety Christopher Smith.

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Darnell Washington goes to the Saints in 2023 NFL mock draft

The Saints picked the Georgia Bulldogs’ biggest playmaker in a recent 2023 mock draft: 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end Darnell Washington

Tight end isn’t really a position of need for the New Orleans Saints, but it’s hard to not see the appeal in this 2023 draft prospect. Yahoo! Sports’ Charles McDonald has them selecting Georgia Bulldogs tight end Darnell Washington in a recent mock draft — the national champions’ biggest playmaker. Literally: Washington looks every inch of his listed 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, towering over many of his opponents and teammates out on the field.

Here’s what McDonald said of the match at No. 41 overall:

“New Orleans found a nice receiving option at tight end in Juwan Johnson, but that shouldn’t stop them from adding someone as talented as Darnell Washington in the draft. Washington can block like an offensive lineman and has untapped receiving potential for the next level.”

Washington broke out during his 2022 junior season for Georgia, racking up 28 receptions for 454 receiving yards (ranking fourth and fifth on the team in each category). He moves incredibly well for someone of his stature with highlight plays going viral on social media throughout the season; most notably when he broke one Oregon Ducks defender’s tackle and then hurdled another one of them in the season kickoff back in September. He broke down the play during an appearance on the SEC Network while towering over former Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (who also hails from the Bulldogs’ program):

We’re waiting on word as to whether Washington will declare for the draft as an underclassman, but he’s an intriguing NFL prospect despite only having caught 3 touchdown passes in 27 games at the college level. Washington is known as a powerful run blocker (it’s what helped him start over LSU transfer Arik Gilbert this season), and he could be an upgrade over Adam Trautman as the Saints’ No. 2 tight end despite the veteran’s greater experience. The position is known for its steep learning curve, sure, but you never know. Trautman will be a free agent after the 2024 season so it might be a good move to draft his replacement.

And it would be fascinating to see Washington coexist with Juwan Johnson. The former Oregon wide receiver has successfully converted to tight end for New Orleans and is now hoping to cash in as a restricted free agent, having broken out in 2022 with his own impressive stat line (having caught 42 passes for 508 yards and a team-leading 7 touchdown receptions).

But the Saints have bigger fish to fry as things stand right now. Their focus this offseason needs to center on finding a franchise quarterback, a quality running back to pair with Alvin Kamara, upgraded options along the defensive, and improved depth across the board. Still, let’s not rule out Washington just yet.

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Best viral moments from Georgia’s 2nd straight national championship

My favorites moments from before, during and after Georgia’s 2nd straight natty

I’m not sure any moment will ever top what we experienced last year when Georgia beat Alabama to win its first national title in 41 years. But going back-to-back is a pretty close second.

Like David Pollack said (right in front of Nick Saban), Georgia has taken hold of college football. And it feels good.

After beating TCU 65-7, in what was the largest blowout in any bowl game ever, social media erupted with viral clips. Some funny, some emotional, and some just interesting.

I compiled some of my favorites below.

Where does Georgia’s 65-7 win rank among biggest blowouts in history of CFB national championships?

Georgia won the natty by 58. See how it compares to other title game blowouts.

If last year’s win over Alabama did not solidify the Bulldogs as the kings of college football, a 65-7 victory over TCU in the 2022 national title game certainly did.

For anyone outside of the state of Georgia, this game was a snoozefest. For Georgia fans, it was pure beauty.  I mean, come on. A 58-point victory over the second best team in college football?

Where does this blowout rank among college football’s biggest national title game blowouts? See below.

Georgia vs. Tennessee: Score predictions from the national media

Georgia vs. Tennessee score predictions from the national media

It’s finally here. The battle of the two remaining undefeateds in the Southeastern Conference. Georgia-Tennessee kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

With both teams 8-0, the winner punches its ticket to the SEC championship. Georgia is an 8-point favorite to beat the Vols, per BetMGM. The over/under is set at 66.5.

Below we gathered some picks and predictions for the game from the national media.

National media’s picks and predictions…

Georgia vs. Tennessee: 5 reasons the Vols can beat UGA

5 reasons Tennessee is capable of pulling off the upset

It’s finally here. The battle of the two remaining undefeated teams in the Southeastern Conference, Georgia vs. Tennessee, kicks off this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

With both teams 8-0, the winner can punch its ticket to the SEC championship. Georgia is an 8.5-point favorite to beat the Vols, per BetMGM. The over/under is set at 66.5.

All of the talk has been about Tennessee’s offense, which is certainly fair. Look at the numbers; you’ll see the Vols either lead or almost lead the nation in the major categories. And Georgia’s defense is no joke, but it’s not on the same level as last year’s squad.

Defensively, Tennessee ranks very low practically everywhere, most notably in passing defense. Stetson Bennett could be due for a big day, but he needs to be perfect, which he has not been lately. Can he do enough to keep up?

Here are five reasons Tennessee can beat Georgia on Saturday…