Tag: georgia bulldogs news

Former Georgia Bulldog Chris Kirk wins first PGA Tour event of 2024

Former Georgia Bulldog golfer Chris Kirk wins the first PGA Tour event of 2024 with a dominant performance

Former Georgia Bulldog golfer Chris Kirk has won the PGA Tour’s opening event of the 2024 season. Kirk played outstanding to win the Sentry. Fellow Georgia Bulldog Brian Harman finished tied for fifth in the event.

The Sentry is played at Kapalua Resort in Kapalua, Haiwaii. Chris Kirk shot 29-under par to win the Sentry. Kirk won the event with a narrow one-stroke lead.

Chris Kirk earned $3.6 million for winning the Sentry. The tournament had a significant $20 million purse. Kirk shot a 65 on the final day of the event in order to maintain the lead he built up entering Sunday.

Chris Kirk now has six career victories on the PGA Tour. Kirk’s victory means that he will have an opportunity to play in the 2024 Masters.

Fellow Georgia Bulldogs Sepp Straka and Harris English both posted top-15 finishes and shot at least 20-under par. The PGA Tour is filled with former Dawgs.

Former Georgia Bulldogs DT signs with USFL team

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle signs with the Memphis Showboats in the USFL

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman John Atkins has signed with the USFL’s Memphis Showboats. Atkins’ most recent professional football stint was with the Tampa Bay Bandits in the USFL.

The Thomson, Georgia, native went undrafted in 2018 but signed an undrafted free agent deal with the New England Patriots the same year. Atkins spent time with the Detroit Lions in 2019-2020 and with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 before this move to the USFL.

John Atkins has 22 tackles in his NFL career. Last season, the USFL ran from April to July. Atkins, who played for Georgia from 2013 to 2017, racked up 81 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and five pass breakups in his career with the Bulldogs.

The Memphis Showboats announced the signing of John Atkins via social media:

We wish Atkins luck with the Memphis Showboats. The XFL and USFL combined ahead of next season. The Memphis Showboats are one of four USFL teams in the merger.

 

Former Georgia baseball pitcher called up to MLB

The Seattle Mariners have moved up a former Georgia Bulldogs baseball pitcher to the MLB.

According to multiple sources, former Georgia Bulldogs baseball pitcher Emerson Hancock is moving up to the MLB with the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners selected Hancock with the No. 6 pick in the 2020 MLB draft.

The 6-foot-4, 213-pound pitcher went to Cairo High School in Cairo, Georgia. Hancock has a 3.99 ERA over 44 starts in three seasons with AA baseball. Hancock has a 21-10 record over his minor league career.

The Seattle Mariners are 60-52 and are looking to make a push for the postseason. It is unclear what Hancock’s role will be in the MLB.

Hancock finished his college career at Georgia with a record of 16-7 and a career 3.47 ERA across 33 total appearances, which were all starts.

Former Georgia pitcher Emerson Hancock is expected to get a shot to throw in the MLB with Seattle. (Photo by Kristin M. Bradshaw)

Hancock has been pitching well in AA baseball. He impressed scouts enough with his performances with the Arkansas Travelers to earn a call up to the MLB.

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UGA basketball adds transfer center Russel Tchewa

Former USF starting center Russel Tchewa is transferring to Georgia basketball

The Georgia Bulldogs are remaining active in the transfer portal. Georgia basketball coach Mike White and the Bulldogs just added another commitment. 7-foot, 280-pound center Russel Tchewa is transferring to Georgia from USF.

Tchewa, who has played four seasons of NCAA basketball, was a three-star recruit in the class of 2019. Tchewa began his college career at Texas Tech, but he seldom saw the floor. He then transferred to USF after his freshman season.

The lengthy center averaged 11.1 points and 8.6 rebounds in 31.4 minutes per game for the USF Bulls last season. USF finished the season 14-18. Despite Russel Tchewa’s size, he only averaged 0.3 blocks per game last year.

Former South Florida Bulls center Russel Tchewa could start for UGA basketball in 2023-2024. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Russel Tchewa gives Georgia basketball a much needed interior presence. He joins VCU forward Jalen DeLoach and Illinois forward RJ Melendez in transferring to the Bulldogs.

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Steelers Wire gives pick analysis on Georgia OT Broderick Jones

‘Jones is an ideal fit for the Steelers at left tackle.’

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded a fourth-round pick to move up and select former Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones with the No. 14 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that Jones was mentioned as a player to watch by Bulldog teammates when Tomlin visited Athens last year.

USA TODAY Sports’ Steelers Wire gave instant analysis following Jones’ selection.

“Jones is an ideal fit for the Steelers at left tackle. A long, mauling run blocker who mirrors speed rushers. He will plug and play at left tackle and replace Dan Moore Jr. in the starting lineup. Jones and newly-acquired offensive guard Isaac Seumalo form an impressive new left side of the offensive line.”

Jones, who declared for the NFL as redshirt sophomore, is coming off a first-team All-SEC season in which he did not allow a sack in 15 games.

Watch: Former Georgia teammates Nolan Smith, Nakobe Dean celebrate as Philadelphia Eagles

What a cool moment here from Nolan Smith & Nakobe Dean

The Philadelphia Eagles fan base may now be full of Georgia Bulldog fans. The Eagles took defensive lineman Jalen Carter (No. 9) and edge rusher Nolan Smith (No. 30) in the first-round of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night.

Carter and Smith join former teammates Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, who were drafted by the Eagles last year.

Dean was actually present at Smith’s draft party, which gave DawgNation a special moment between the two former Bulldog leaders.

Dean, Smith, Carter and Davis were a big part of Georgia’s record-breaking 2021 defense. NFL teams have clearly noticed what the Bulldogs are doing on defense under head coach Kirby Smart.

 

This NFL draft stat shows how dominant Georgia’s defense really is

This shows just how insane the UGA defense has been over the last few years

Head coach Kirby Smart has transformed Georgia’s defense into one of the most formidable units in college football. It has a track record of not only dominating on the field but also producing top-tier NFL talent.

NFL teams have clearly taken notice of UGA’s success and have embraced the defensive teachings of Smart and his team.

The Bulldogs have had a first-round defender taken at every defensive position over the last three NFL drafts, including three selections on Thursday night. Since 2021, the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles account for six of the eight Georgia defenders to be selected in the first round, with three selections each.

Here’s where each first-round Bulldog defender has landed over that time span:

Twitter reacts: Atlanta Falcons pass on Georgia’s Jalen Carter

The Atlanta Falcons had a chance to take Jalen Carter at No. 8…

Thursday night’s first-round of the 2023 NFL draft was another marquee showing by Georgia football, which tied for the most selections from one school with three picks.

There were mixed emotions from some football fans, the home-town Atlanta Falcons had a chance to take UGA star defensive lineman Jalen Carter with the No. 8 pick. Instead, they chose Texas running back Bijan Robinson.

The criticism of the Falcons here is not a reach. Atlanta finished second-to-last in total sacks in 2022.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the move on Thursday night:

Eagles Wire shares pick analysis of Georgia DT Jalen Carter

‘Carter is versatile and can play on the edge, giving the Eagles even more depth and rotations.’

The Philadelphia Eagles gained some serious value by taking Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter with the No. 9 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night.

Carter was widely considered one of the top, if not the best, prospect in the entire draft, but off-the-field concerns likely caused a drop down the board.

USA TODAY Sports’ Eagles Wire gave their analysis of Carter’s selection.

“There was talk of teams like Las Vegas taking Carter off their draft boards, but he lands with a gold-standard organization filled with solid veteran mentors. On offense, Carter will have Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and A.J. Brown, among others, to lean on. Defensively, he’ll be surrounded by solid and high-character veterans.”

The former five-star prospect is coming off an All-American season for the Bulldogs as an anchor on the defensive line, racking up 32 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles as a junior.

“Carter is versatile and can play on the edge, giving the Eagles even more depth and rotations.”

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Watch: Georgia football team erupts to Jalen Carter pick in NFL draft

Here’s an awesome clip of UGA football reacting to Jalen Carter’s pick…

It was an eventful night for Georgia football on Thursday in the 2023 NFL draft: Three Bulldogs heard their names called.

First off the board was star defensive lineman Jalen Carter, who was selected at No. 9 by the Philadelphia Eagles.

The cameras were live in Athens as Bulldog teammates watched Carter take the next step.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Crj93AHOoDq/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Offensive tackle Broderick Jones went to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 14 pick, followed by edge rusher Nolan Smith, who was taken by, once again, the Philadelphia Eagles, who are rebuilding the Bulldogs record-breaking 2021 defense.

The Eagles now have former Georgia star defenders Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith.