Nation’s No. 1 TE might not sign on National Signing Day per reports…
Five-star 2023 tight end Duce Robinson was expected to commit on national signing day, but according to a report today from On3 Sports, Robinson might not sign his letter of intent on Wednesday.
The reason for Robinson’s delayed commitment is not known. However, we know the nation’s No. 1 tight end also has Major League Baseball draft hopes.
“The goal is to be drafted in baseball (this summer) and then hopefully work something out where I could sign a baseball contract and then play college football as well,” Robinson told 247Sports. “If that doesn’t work out, I’ll just go to the college route and do both in college and hopefully it works out from there.”
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound prospect is the No. 19 recruit overall and is reportedly deciding between Georgia and USC.
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.
Monken is reportedly ‘a strong candidate’ for the Bucs…
As reported last week, Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken is interviewing this week for the vacant Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator role.
Sources tell me that UGA offensive coordinator/QBs coach and former Bucs and Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken will interview next week for the Bucs’ offensive coordinator position.
News broke a day later that Monken had already had an interview with the Baltimore Ravens for the same role.
The #Ravens interviewed Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken for their OC job this week, per source. Monken has been eyeing a potential NFL return and also is slated to speak with the #Bucs.
Monken to the Buccaneers is reportedly gaining steam as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo tab Monken as ‘a strong candidate’ for the role.
#Georgia OC Todd Monken is interviewing for the #Bucs OC job tomorrow, per me and @MikeGarafolo. Monken is a strong candidate to take his old job with a new head coach.
Monken served in the same capacity for Tampa Bay from 2016-2018 under former head coach Dirk Koetter.
Monken also has previous NFL experience with the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars.
With the success Monken has had in Athens, it’s no surprise that multiple NFL organizations are interested.
Georgia finished fifth in the nation in both total offense (501 yards per game), and scoring offense (41 points per game) in 2022.
Monken spoke on his future at Georgia leading up to the Bulldogs Peach Bowl win over Ohio State.
“At some point in my career I thought I knew exactly what I wanted next year, in five years, in 10 years, really what I wanted. I don’t know if it’s just getting old or the appreciation for the job you have, but I don’t control opportunities that come my way,” Monken said. “I would never say never to anything. I would never say no to anything, but I love where I’m at because I believe we’re going to win and I believe in the head coach. So those are all huge factors in where you decide to stay as a coach.”
Four Georgia Bulldogs are set to play in Super Bowl LVII next weekend. Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean with the Philadelphia Eagles will take on Mecole Hardman and Malik Herring with the Kansas City Chiefs.
This marks the 22nd straight season with a former Bulldog in the NFL’s championship game, the longest streak in college football.
Since 2001, Georgia is the only CFB program to have a player in each Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/vQhPgeLXot
Five-star cornerback Ellis Robinson IV is set to commit on Wednesday’s national signing day. The nation’s No. 1 corner in the 2024 recruiting class is currently projected to commit to Georgia, per 247Sports’ crystal ball.
The IMG Academy prospect stands 6 feet, 175 pounds and is the eighth-ranked recruit overall and the No. 3 player in the state of Florida.
Robinson is deciding among Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Miami and Colorado.
The Bulldogs hosted Robinson on an unofficial visit three days after winning the national title.
“The relationship is great,” he said. “I speak to coach Fran Brown, coach (Will) Muschamp and coach (Kirby) Smart all the time. The relationship has grown a lot throughout my recruitment. Me and my family feel very comfortable there. The staff is top notch from top to bottom. It always feels like home whenever I come to Athens.” – Via Scorebook Live
Robinson would be a huge addition to Georgia’s already loaded 2024 class, which ranks No. 1 in the nation.
Check back to the UGA Wire on Wednesday for Robinson’s commitment.
While McIntosh and McClendon are ranked just outside of ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s top prospect position rankings, Smith is rated by Kiper as the No. 6 safety and Podlesny is rated as the No. 7 kicker in this year’s draft.
The Senior Bowl is one of the most notable events for NFL bound prospects to show their worth to teams. General managers, head coaches and staff members from multiple NFL teams will be in attendance during the week.
Here’s a look at the American and National team’s coaching staffs.
American:
Offensive Coordinator – Atlanta Falcons Quarterbacks Coach Charles London
Defensive Coordinator – New England Patriots Defensive Line Coach DeMarcus Covington
National:
Offensive Coordinator – New Orleans Saints QB Coach/Pass Game Coordinator Ronald Curry
Defensive Coordinator – Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Backs Coach Grady Brown
Georgia football’s annual spring game “G-day” has been scheduled for April 15, according to a press releases via the school’s alumni association website.
That marks 10 weeks until the defending back-to-back national champions tee it up Between the Hedges in Athens.
Spring practice will begin March 14 and lead up to the exhibition game in Sanford Stadium.
The Bulldogs hosted the second-most spring game fans in college football in 2022 with 68,002 attendees. Oklahoma was first with 75,360.
Here’s the 3 Bulldogs tabbed to go in the first round by PFF
Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its latest first round 2023 NFL mock draft on Monday featuring three Georgia Bulldogs.
First up is defensive lineman Jalen Carter, who is picked at No. 2 overall by the Chicago Bears after a trade down with the Houston Texans.
Jan. 9, 2023; Inglewood, California; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter (88) chases TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) during the third quarter of the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
“When Bears general manager Ryan Poles addressed his team’s draft approach in his postseason press conference, he emphasized three areas: pass rusher, offense and cornerback — “premium positions.” Pass rusher doesn’t just mean edge rusher, either, and a three-technique defensive tackle is paramount to Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme. In a trade-down, the Bears can recoup the early second-rounder they lost in the Chase Claypool trade while still having their choice of any non-quarterback.
Following some hints and connecting a few dots leads me to believe the Bears will have Georgia’s Jalen Carter, who earned pass-rushing grades of 88.9 and 90.0 the past two seasons, at the top of their board.”
Next up is offensive lineman Broderick Jones, who is selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 11th pick.
Jan. 9, 2023; Inglewood, California; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Broderick Jones (59) in the tunnel before warmups before the CFP national championship game against the TCU Horned Frogsat SoFi Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
“Things have fallen off hard in Tennessee, and the best way to get back on track is through the trenches. Jones is still raw as a prospect, as this past season was just his first as a starting left tackle. But he has the size at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, and he moves like a real athlete along the line of scrimmage. For as physically imposing as he looks, it was his pass protection that stood out this past year. He earned an 84.2 pass-blocking grade with zero sacks and only nine pressures allowed on 449 pass-blocking snaps.”
Lastly is tight end Darnell Washington, who is projected to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 29th pick.
Dec. 3, 2022; Atlanta; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Darnell Washington (0) reacts after his touchdown reception against the LSU Tigers during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
“Washington feels too unique of a talent to not be a first-rounder. No, he’s likely not going to be a 1,000-yard receiver in the NFL, but at 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, he blocks like an offensive lineman. He earned an 81.3 run-blocking grade and a 78.4 pass-blocking grade in 2022, and he’s also a stellar weight-adjusted athlete who put up an 83.2 receiving grade, 475 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns this past season. His presence brings so much versatility to an offense’s personnel choices.”
The draft will be held on April 27-29 in Kansas City and will air on NFL Network.
PFF has the Bears trading down and selecting Jalen Carter at No. 2…
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter is considered to be in the running for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft this spring.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. made news last week after picking Carter to go to the Chicago Bears with the first pick, which would mark back-to-back years that a Bulldog was selected first overall after Travon Walker’s selection in 2022.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its most recent mock draft on Monday, which includes Carter going to the Chicago Bears with the No. 2 pick after a trade with the Houston Texans, who is projected to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young at the No. 1 spot.
The wide consensus is that the Bears are shopping the first pick and a trade would likely be with a team with a quarterback need like the Texans.
When Bears general manager Ryan Poles addressed his team’s draft approach in his post-season press conference, he emphasized three areas: pass rusher, offense and cornerback — “premium positions.” Pass rusher doesn’t just mean edge rusher, either, and a three-technique defensive tackle is paramount to Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme. In a trade-down, the Bears can recoup the early second-rounder they lost in the Chase Claypool trade while still having their choice of any non-quarterback. – PFF
No one knows what will happen on draft day, but Carter has a real shot at hearing his named called first on April 27.
Bulldogs Broderick Jones (No. 11 to the Tennessee Titans), and Darnell Washington (No. 29 to the Cincinnati Bengals) also received first round nods by PFF.
The draft will last through April 29 in Kansas City and will be aired on NFL Network.
