Tag: christopher smith

Jets double dip on offensive line in Draft Wire’s pre-combine three-round mock

Jets double dip on offensive line in Draft Wire’s pre-Combine three-round mock

The NFL world will soon descend upon Indianapolis for the scouting combine. Before we get there, our friends at Draft Wire released their latest three-round mock draft. The haul for the Jets should excite fans as this mock has the team addressing the offensive line with their first two picks.

First, it’s a trade back to No. 16 with the Washington Commanders. After the trade back, the Jets select Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones, a player who has been touched on plenty as a first-round option for the Jets.

In round two, the Jets focus on the middle of the offensive line with Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz, who has a chance to follow up his strong week at the Senior Bowl with a strong performance at the combine.

Finally, in Round 3, the Jets go defense and take their second player from the national champion Bulldogs, safety Christopher Smith II.

Highlights: Georgia Bulldogs in Senior Bowl one-on-one drills

How are Georgia Bulldogs performing in Senior Bowl practice?

Georgia’s Warren McClendon, Christopher Smith, Jack Podlesny, and Kenny McIntosh are all participating in the 2023  Reese’s Senior Bowl. The Senior Bowl is one of the top NFL draft scouting events.

Georgia has 13 players with a realistic shot of being drafted in the 2023 NFL draft. Most of these NFL draft prospects will go through various predraft workouts like the combine and pro day. However, the Senior Bowl is widely considered one of the best NFL draft scouting events thanks to the transparency it has.

How are Georgia Bulldogs performing in Senior Bowl practice? Here’s a peak at some of the more interesting one-on-one reps featuring Georgia Bulldogs:

Senior Bowl measurements released for 4 Georgia football players

Senior Bowl measurements for 4 Bulldogs…

Four Georgia Bulldogs are participating this week in the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Running back Kenny McIntosh, offensive lineman Warren McClendon, safety Christopher Smith and kicker Jack Podlesny will showcase their skills in front of a host of NFL organizations ahead of the 2023 draft.

On Tuesday, the Senior Bowl measured each player much like the NFL combine does. Here are the results for each Bulldog.

First up is McIntosh: 

McIntosh is ranked just outside of ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr’s Top-10 running back prospects.

Next up is McClendon:

Like McIntosh, McClendon is ranked just outside of Kiper’s Top-10 players at offensive tackle.

Next up is Smith:

Smith is the No. 6 safety prospect, according to Kiper’s Top-10 safeties.

Last up is Podlesny:

Podlesny is rated as the No. 7 kicker, according to Kiper’s Top-10 kicker prospects.

2023 Senior Bowl Preview: Safeties

We finish our Senior Bowl preview series with the safeties

One of the most important events on the National Football League calendar is the Senior Bowl. Held the week after the conference championship games, it is the true beginning of the NFL draft cycle.

Not only do scouts and analysts like us get to see over 100 draft prospects in one place competing against each other, but it’s also an opportunity for analysts and personnel alike to get together and have discussions about a number of topics.

As we look forward to this year’s Senior Bowl, both managing editor Tyler Forness and columnist Matt Anderson will be there in person to break everything down.

We will be breaking down each position group and what to look for throughout the week. Here is the edge rusher position.

Previous:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive tackles
Interior offensive line
Interior defensive line
Edge rushers
Linebackers
Cornerbacks

Senior Bowl coaching staff selects Saints assistant Cory Robinson

The Senior Bowl has selected Saints assistant Cory Robinson for its American Team coaching staff, where he’ll work with draft prospects like LSU’s Jay Ward:

The Senior Bowl announced Tuesday that it has selected New Orleans Saints assistant defensive backs coach Cory Robinson for its coaching staff, where he’ll work with draft prospects throughout a week of practices leading up to the all-star game. He’s one of four Saints coaches who will be working the event, along with passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry (the National Team offensive coordinator) and offensive assistant Declan Doyle (the American Team tight ends coach), plus another coach to be named later.

Robinson will be coaching the American Team safeties Jay Ward (LSU), Demarcco Hellams (Alabama), Jammie Robinson (Florida State), and Christopher Smith II (Georgia). This is a good opportunity for him to get valuable on-field and classroom experience while familiarizing himself with some of the prospects entering the 2023 draft.

Safety is a minor need for the Saints, who have a couple of older players under contract for the next two years in Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu. Maye missed seven games with injuries in 2022 and his backups, Justin Evans and Daniel Sorensen, didn’t inspire a ton of confidence. If they can tackle bigger problems in free agency, it would make sense to draft a safety in preparation for taking one of those roster spots in the near future.

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Georgia safety Christopher Smith declares for NFL draft

Smith plans to play in the Senior Bowl and is projected to be a late second round pick

Georgia Bulldogs safety Christopher Smith is entering the 2023 NFL draft. Smith is a former four-star recruit. He began his career at Georgia in 2018. His return boosted the play of Georgia’s secondary during the 2022 season.

Christopher Smith is an excellent tackler and rarely is out of position. The former Hapeville Charter standout will be missed. Georgia is expected to turn to Malaki Starks and David Daniel-Sisavanh at the safety position in 2023. The Dawgs signed elite safety recruit Joenel Aguero as part of the 2023 recruiting class.

Smith, who was named as an All-American, 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 in Mobile, Alabama. The Senior Bowl is considered the top NFL draft scouting scrimmage ahead of the draft.

Smith was named one of four finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Smith, a senior, finished the 2022 college football season 60 total tackles, one sack, three interceptions, a forced fumble and five pass deflections. Smith had a memorable blocked field goal return for a touchdown in the SEC championship game against LSU.

Smith finishes his Georgia career as a back-to-back national champion. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound safety is ranked as the No. 62 player in the 2023 NFL draft.

Smith thanked Bulldog nation via Twitter:

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Chiefs hit needs in Christmas 3-round 2023 mock draft

Our @goldmctNFL is celebrating Christmas with an early 3-round mock draft that hits some big needs for the #Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched their seventh consecutive AFC West title and if they’re looking to make it No. 8 in 2023, they’ll have some work to do come draft time.

With only two weeks left in the NFL regular season, we’re taking a look ahead at how the earliest rounds of the draft could shake out for Kansas City. Some prospects are getting ready to make their final impression during bowl season and the college football playoffs, while others have already opted out and begun training ahead of the draft. Which of college football’s biggest stars could K.C. end up adding in 2023?

Here’s a look at how the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL draft could shake out for the Chiefs, using the latest updated order following Week 15:

Georgia safety Christopher Smith accepts Senior Bowl invitation

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:

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Georgia Bulldogs Ladd McConkey, Christopher Smith talk SEC Championship

‘A lot of guys have not won one.’

No. 1 Georgia (12-0) preparing to face No. 14 LSU (9-3) in the SEC Championship on Saturday in Atlanta

Despite the Bulldogs recent string of dominant play and big wins, Georgia is 1-3 in SEC Championship apperances under Kirby Smart, including a 41-24 loss to Alabama a year ago.

Senior safety Christopher Smith noted the losses and the opportunity for redemption this weekend.

“It’s definitely one of our team goals to be able to win the SEC. I’ve played in this game three times and haven’t been able to win, so hopefully fourth time’s a charm,” Smith said. “We’re going to put in the work and execute the game plan as best as possible to go out there and get the win.”

The majority of UGA’s roster hasn’t experienced a conference championship win as Georgia’s last win came in 2017 in a 28-7 win over Auburn.

Sophomore receiver Ladd McConkey is also one of those players.

“SEC championships are hard to come by like we said. I haven’t won one since we’ve been here. A lot of guys have not won one. They’ve been in it before but haven’t won it. We know how much of a challenge it is to get to this point and how much of a challenge it’s going to be for the rest of the year. But yeah, we just want to go out, take it one game at a time, just put our best foot forward and do what we need to do to get the win.”

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET and will televised on CBS.

 

Georgia defender named as Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist

A UGA football defensive back is turning the heads of NFL draft scouts thanks to some of his performances this season.

Georgia Bulldogs defense back Christopher Smith has been named one of four finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Smith, a senior, has 36 total tackles, one sack, two interceptions and five pass deflections.

No defense has allowed fewer touchdowns (10) than Georgia’s. It is second in the country in scoring defense, and Christopher Smith is a big reason. 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.

Additionally, the Nagurski Trophy named Alabama defensive end Will Anderson Jr., Pittsburgh defensive end Calijah Kancey, and USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu as finalists for the award.

Will Anderson Jr. has eight sacks, an interception, and 42 tackles for Alabama. Calijah Kancey has 30 tackles and seven sacks for Pittsburgh. Tuli Tuipulotu has 11.5 sacks and 32 tackles for USC.

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