Who are Georgia’s captains for the national championship game against TCU?
The Georgia Bulldogs have a chance to win back-to-back national championships thanks to some excellent leadership. Georgia lost 15 players to the 2022 NFL draft, but fought hard to return to the national championship game.
Per BetMGM, Georgia enters the big game as a 13-point favorite over TCU. The over/under is set at 63.5 with the Georgia money line of minus-500 compared to plus-375 for the Horned Frogs.
Georgia relies on several veteran leaders. This will be the final time numerous players, such as Stetson Bennett, suit up for the Bulldogs. Georgia’s leaders will have an opportunity to go out on top.
Who are Georgia’s captains for the national championship game against TCU?
Georgia Bulldogs defense back Christopher Smith has accepted an invitation to the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl
Georgia Bulldogs defense back Christopher Smith has accepted an invitation to the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl. The Senior Bowl will be played on Feb. 4 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
The game is played annually in Mobile, Alabama. The Senior Bowl is considered the top NFL draft scouting scrimmage ahead of the draft.
Christopher Smith was named as one of four finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Smith, a senior, has 49 total tackles, one sack, three interceptions and five pass deflections. Smith had a memorable blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in the SEC championship game against LSU.
Smith will enter the 2023 NFL draft following the end of the college football season.
Georgia’s defense ranks second in the country in scoring defense. Christopher Smith is a big reason why Georgia’s defense is so good. He seldom gets beat deep and is a strong run defender.
Smith returned to Georgia for another season to boost his NFL draft stock and to win another national championship. Smith has certainly has helped his 2023 NFL draft stock this season.
The senior made the midseason all-riser team for the Senior Bowl. Smith and true freshman Malaki Starks have played the safety position at an elite level for Georgia this year.
The Senior Bowl announced Smith’s accepted invitation via Twitter:
2 Georgia Bulldogs are among the nation’s top DBs…
The Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive back, has released its watchlist ahead of the 2022 season.
Two Georgia Bulldogs represent UGA football on the list, including 2021 Freshman All-SEC selection Kelee Ringo at cornerback and senior safety Christopher Smith.
Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo (5) intercepts a pass intended for Alabama wide receiver Traeshon Holden (11) and returns it for a touchdown late in the second half of the College Football Playoff championship game, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Ringo burst on to the scene last season after redshirting in 2020. The former five-star prospect’s natural cover skills helped the Bulldogs to the top pass defense in the nation a year ago.
The Tacoma, W.A., native’s 79-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the national championship for the Dawgs.
Ringo has been named both preseason First Team All-SEC (Media) and preseason First Team All-American (Walter Camp, Football Foundation, Athlon Sports).
Sep 25, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Christopher Smith (29) runs after an interception during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Christopher Smith was one of the steady hands in Georgia’s elite secondary last season. The Bulldogs entered the season with a young, talented group that was aided by Smith’s experience.
The former four-star recruit is the most seasoned player returning in the Dawgs’ secondary and has been under head coach Kirby Smart’s tutelage since 2018.
The Atlanta native had his best performance in the national title game, racking up a career-best seven tackles, two pass breakups, a quarterback pressure and a third-quarter interception.
Georgia may be losing much of its production from 2021’s record breaking defense, but there are several Bulldogs who have elected to return to Athens for 2022 that will make a huge impact.
Returning safeties Tykee Smith and Christopher Smith will help solidify the back end of Georgia’s defense after losing All-SEC starter Lewis Cine to the draft.
Pro Football Focus has tabbed the pair as two of the top-10 returning safeties in the entire country.
1️⃣ Antonio Johnson 2️⃣ Tykee Smith 3️⃣ Jordan Battle@PFF_Anthony ranks his top ten Safeties returning to CFB for 2022👇https://t.co/gn9r9BMlHK
Tykee comes in at No. 2 and Christopher is ranked No. 6 by PFF.
After missing most of 2021 with an ankle and eventually a torn ACL, Tykee will be asked to contribute as soon as he is healthy. He was an All-American in 2020 at West Virginia before transferring to Athens last summer.
Christopher led the Bulldogs in interceptions in 2021 with three and racked up 34 tackles and four pass breakups to boot.
