Tag: Mel Kiper NFL draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper names six Bulldogs in Top 10 positional rankings ahead of NFL draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has named six Bulldogs to his updated top 10 positional rankings ahead of the NFL draft. Listen here.

ESPN‘s Mel Kiper recently updated his top 10 rankings by position ahead of the 2021 NFL draft and Georgia football is represented by six players.

McKitty is ranked as Kiper’s No. 6 tight end. McKitty transferred to Georgia from Florida State for his senior season and battled through injuries at the top of the season. He did start the last seven games and caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Georgia tight end Tre’ McKitty runs a pattern during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Cleveland is Kiper’s eight ranked guard. The Toccoa, Ga., native was named 2020 All-SEC first-team by the league coaches and earned second-team All-American honors from the Athletic. Cleveland had a strong showing at Georgia’s pro day where he ran an unofficial 4.85 forty yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds 30 times.

Oct 5, 2019; Knoxville, TN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Ben Cleveland (74) blocking during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports

Hill is rated as the No. 7 center on Kiper’s board. Hill was an anchor on Georgia’s line the last two seasons. He was voted as 2020 preseason All-SEC before battling injuries throughout the season. He missed Georgia’s Peach Bowl win over Cincinnati recovering from knee surgeries. He looks to have made a full recovery and participated in Georgia’s pro day.

Apr 20, 2019; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Trey Hill (55) blocks during the Georgia spring game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Ojulari is the highest rated Dawg on Kiper’s board, coming in at No. 3 among outside linebackers. Ojulari is projected as a first round pick and for good reason. He was a semi finalist for the Chuck Bedarik Award, given to the nation’s best defensive player and was rated as one of the best pass rushers in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Jan 1, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Azeez Ojulari (13) celebrates after a sack against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Campbell is rated as the No. 5 cornerback on Kiper’s board. Campbell had a strong showing at Georgia’s pro day, clocking an unofficial 4.37 in the forty yard dash. Campbell was a lockdown corner for the Bulldogs the last two seasons and led the team with 5 pass break ups in 2020.

Georgia defensive back Tyson Campbell (3) covers a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Kiper has LeCounte rated as the No. 10 corner in the draft. Even though LeCounte’s production as a Dawg was incredible, draft scouts don’t relate that to an NFL field. At Georgia, LeCounte had 8 interceptions over his last 21 games and piled up 176 career tackles. His injury in a motorcycle accident last season kept LeCounte out of the spotlight.

Jan 1, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Richard LeCounte (2) on the field prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

 

A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” is here! J.C. is joined by former Georgia tight end Arthur Lynch to talk UGA football, his life as U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant and more. Listen here: