Tag: christopher smith

Brock Bowers, Christopher Smith lead Week 9’s top performers list

Who stood out in Week 9? Our SEC editorial team on the College Wire weigh in.

During Week 9 action in the SEC, the featured game on CBS pit the Georgia Bulldogs against the Florida Gators in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, Florida. While the game was close for a time, UGA ran away with it.

In the early window, we saw the final game of the Bryan Harsin era as the Auburn Tigers fell to the Arkansas Razorbacks 41-27. That snapped a six-game skid in the series for the Hogs. On Monday, Harsin was fired after just 21 games on the Plains.

After a huge win for South Carolina in Week 8, they fell to unranked Missouri at home, 23-10. The blowout of the week featured the Tennessee Vols rolling past Kentucky, 44-6. In the night game, we saw Ole Miss hold off the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, 31-28.

This week we will see all 14 SEC teams in action. The biggest showdowns will feature the Vols coming to Athens to face the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide heading to Death Valley to face off with LSU. Both games could determine the SEC Championship matchup.

With Week 10 on the horizon, our editorial team weighs in on the top performers in the SEC from last weekend’s action. Each editor voted on seven different categories.

The Voters:

Without further ado, let’s dive into the selections made by our editorial team:

Georgia DB named as a Senior Bowl riser

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 returned to school for another season to help boost his NFL draft stock and to try to win another national championship. Smith has certainly has helped his 2023 NFL draft stock in the first half of the year.

The senior made the midseason all-riser team for the Senior Bowl. Christopher Smith has 21 total tackles, two interceptions, and three pass deflections this season.

Smith has been solid in coverage and has provided excellent run support throughout the season. Smith, freshman Malaki Starks, and veteran Dan Jackson have all played well at the safety position for Georgia this year.

Jim Nagy announced the Senior Bowl’s all-riser team via Twitter:

Georgia did not have any players that made Nagy’s all-riser offensive team. However, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett has grabbed Nagy’s attention with some of his impressive performances this season.

Christopher Smith took advantage of the 2020 college football season not counting against players’ eligibility. He elected to return to Athens for a fifth season in 2022. Smith has five interceptions in his career at Georgia.

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Georgia places seven players on ESPN’s top-100 for 2022

Seven Dawgs made ESPN’s list of the top-100 CFB players for 2022

ESPN ranked the top-100 players in college football for the upcoming 2022 season and multiple Georgia Bulldogs made the list, including two in the top-ten.

Despite losing 15 players to the NFL and more to the NCAA transfer portal, the Dawgs still placed seven players inside the top-100.

Alabama leads the way with 8 players, including the No. 1 overall and No. 2 overall guys in quarterback Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson. Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud checked in at No. 3 on the list.

Here are the seven Georgia players inside the top-100:

NIL valuations for Georgia’s most valuable players

These NIL valuations for Georgia players will blow your mind

On3 has released its NIL Valuation Rankings, which sets the standard market NIL value for college athletes.

Taking into account a player’s performance, exposure and influence, On3 calculates an athlete’s NIL value, projecting out to as long as 12 months into the future.

On3’s “NIL100” ranks the 100 most valuable college football players in America. The most valuable college football player in America is Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, with an NIL valuation of $3.1M, $700K larger than Ohio State’s CJ Stroud who is tied for second on the list.

On3 also looks at high school prospects, where Arch Manning’s valuation is at $3.4M, making him the most valuable football player in America on either the high school or collegiate level. Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, has the largest NIL valuation of anyone at $6.4M.

The Georgia Bulldogs have nine players on the list, including five in the top-50:

UGA players discuss what they’re seeing out of 2022 Georgia Bulldogs so far

Georgia players discuss the 2022 Dawgs so far

On Thursday, defensive back Christopher Smith, running back Kenny McIntosh and center Sedrick Van Pran met with the media after their third day of spring practice.

All three played essential roles in helping UGA to a national championship during the 2021 season and  all are expected to be starters at their position this fall as the Bulldogs look to repeat in 2022.

There’s been a lot of turnover this offseason, both on the roster and coaching staff. Georgia will look to have as many as 15 players selected in the upcoming NFL draft, plus Kirby Smart was tasked with hiring four new on-field coaching assistants.

Below are comments from Smith, McIntosh and Van Pran on what spring practice has been like so far and what they are seeing out of their teammates.

Pair of Georgia Bulldogs named SEC Players of the Week

Pair of Georgia Bulldogs named SEC Players of the Week

A pair of Georgia Bulldogs have been recognized as SEC Players of the Week for their performance against Clemson.

Defensive back Christopher Smith has been named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Week and defensive lineman Jordan Davis was honored as the league’s best defensive lineman of the weekend.

Smith was responsible for the lone touchdown in Georgia’s 10-3 win over Clemson on Saturday.

Late in the second quarter, with the game tied at 0-0, Smith stepped in between the ball and receiver on a slant route and took an interception 74 yards to the house.

Davis also had a monster performance. The whole nation is talking about the 6-foot-6, 340 pound monster that is Davis. He was incredible on Saturday, recording 3 tackles, 1 sack and 2 tackles for a loss.

Georgia’s defense a tad better than Clemson’s

CHARLOTTE – Fifth-ranked Georgia entered the halftime locker room with a 7-0 lead over Clemson at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night thanks to outstanding defensive play. The Bulldogs broke gridlock in the scoreless game with 2:58 to play in …

CHARLOTTE – Fifth-ranked Georgia entered the halftime locker room with a 7-0 lead over Clemson at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night thanks to outstanding defensive play.

The Bulldogs broke gridlock in the scoreless game with 2:58 to play in the half with a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown by Christopher Smith.

Georgia held the Tigers to 90 yards of total offense and one yard on 10 rushing attempts. Clemson matched the defensive intensity holding the Bulldogs to 110 total yards in the opening half.

In the first quarter, the Bulldogs pinned Clemson deep in its own territory with drives that started at its own 10, its own 2 and its most favorable start at its own 20-yard line.

Georgia took full advantage of the tough field position and swarmed the Tigers with a pair of sacks in the first fifteen minutes and three in the half.

Georgia got an opportunity to score with a 12 play 44-yard drive at the end of the first quarter and set up a 36-yard field goal attempt for Jack Podlensy that was missed and gave the ball back to the Tigers with 14:19 to play in the second quarter.

Then with less than three minutes remaining in the quarter, after Georgia muffed a punt and gave the Tigers the ball at midfield, Smith jumped in front of Justyn Ross to intercept D.J. Uiagalelei’s pass and return it for a 74 touchdown to give Georgia a 7-0 lead.

Clemson finished the first half 2-for-8 on third down as it struggled to find momentum offensively. And Uiagalelei finished 10-of-20 for 89 yards and an interception.

Watch: Highlights of Georgia football DB Christopher Smith

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Christopher Smith stepped up into the starting safety role last season

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Christopher Smith stepped up into the starting safety role last season after Richard LeCounte was involved in an accident following the Kentucky game. Smith finished the 2020 season with 26 tackles and a pass deflection.

Smith came to Athens as a four-star recruit and has played in every game during the last two seasons.

This upcoming season is presumed to be Christopher Smith’s most important year in Athens. He’s expected to start at safety alongside Lewis Cine. Georgia has a thin defensive backfield, so it’s key that both starting safeties stay healthy next season.

Additionally, Christopher Smith will look to force more turnovers. Someone will need to step up to replace Richard LeCounte’s production. LeCounte averaged four combined interceptions and forced fumbles per season as a starter.

Before coming to Georgia, Christopher Smith helped Hapeville Charter win a GHSA state title in 2017. Smith and fellow University of Georgia defensive back William Poole were teammates at Hapeville Charter.

Check out Christopher Smith’s highlights here:

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UGA football player card: DB William Poole

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back William Poole redshirted last season. He came to Athens as a four-star recruit.

William Poole, defensive back (No. 31):

Class: Junior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

High School: Hapeville Charter High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back William Poole came to the University of Georgia as a four-star recruit. Poole redshirted last season (he played against Murray State, Arkansas State, and Georgia Tech).

He saw more playing time a sophomore in 2018. That season he played in eight games and secured ten total tackles.

Poole and fellow UGA defensive back Christopher Smith were teammates at Hapeville Charter. Both players will face a lot of competition at the defensive back position this upcoming season.

Georgia is stacked in the secondary. The Dawgs have Eric Stokes, DJ Daniel, Tyson Campbell, Kelee Ringo, Divaad Wilson, Mark Webb, and more at cornerback. Georgia’s defense will be elite once again next season. Dan Lanning and company already had a stifling defense in 2019. The Dawgs may be even better next year.

Poole had arguably the quote of the offseason with his Mother’s Day Tweet:

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UGA football player card: DB Christopher Smith

UGA defensive back Christopher Smith came to Athens as a four-star recruit out of Hapeville Charter in Georgia.

Christopher Smith, defensive back (No. 29):

Class: Junior

Height: 5-11

Weight: 180 pounds

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

High School: Hapeville Charter High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Christopher Smith came to Athens as a four-star recruit. Smith played in every game last season, recording seven tackles in the process, including two against Tennessee.

Smith helped Hapeville Charter win a GHSA state title in 2017. He ran tack in high school as well. Smith and fellow UGA defensive back William Poole were teammates at Hapeville Charter.

Smith will face a lot of competition at defensive back this upcoming season. Georgia is stacked at corner. The Dawgs have Eric Stokes, DJ Daniel, Tyson Campbell, Kelee Ringo, Divaad Wilson, Mark Webb, and more at cornerback. Georgia’s defense will be elite once again next season.

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