Tag: Tyson Campbell

Chiefs add playmaking CB, WR in 2021 NFL mock draft

Draft Wire recently sent the Kansas City Chiefs a talented CB and WR in the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The 2021 NFL Draft is still many months away, but with the Kansas City Chiefs on their bye week, there’s no better time than now to catch up on the latest mock drafts. Our friends over at Draft Wire are always mindful of ascendant prospects and their draft stock as the season progresses. In Luke Easterling’s latest two-round mock draft, he added playmakers on both sides of the ball for Kansas City.

In the first round, Easterling opted for University of Georgia CB Tyson Campbell. The Chiefs haven’t made a first-round investment in the CB position since drafting Marcus Peters in 2015. Campbell isn’t quite the ballhawk that Peters was coming out of college. You’ll notice that he hasn’t intercepted a pass in his three seasons with the Bulldogs, but it’s not necessarily about the production with this kid. He’s got the traits of an elite NFL corner, boasting a big frame, long arms and track speed.

The second-round pick chosen by Easterling is actually the one that excites me the most. He sent Ohio State Buckeyes WR Chris Olave to the Chiefs as the next big-time weapon for Patrick Mahomes. Here’s some of what I wrote about Olave in our weekly prospect series on Chiefs Wire:

“Listed at 6-1 and 187 pounds, Olave is a former three-star recruit who has exceeded all expectations with the Buckeyes. He was overshadowed as a true freshman by the likes of Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell. He’s since emerged as a dominant receiver in his own right.

Olave is a route-running technician, boasting incredible body control and awareness. He’s not a burner, but he has more than enough speed to be successful in the NFL. He also plays bigger than his size, coming down with a surprising amount of catches in contested situations.”

By my estimation, this would be a highly-successful first two rounds for Kansas City and GM Brett Veach. Sure the team would like to add some offensive line help but remember they have Lucas Niang. He’ll be joining the team as basically a bonus rookie in 2021 after opting out of this season. That could influence the Chiefs’ decision a bit when it comes to the draft.

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Which UGA players played best, worst against Alabama?

Which Georgia Bulldogs players performed well and poorly against the Alabama Crimson Tide?

The Georgia Bulldogs fell 41-24 to the Alabama Crimson Tide in an SEC showdown. Georgia took a 24-20 lead into halftime, but the Dawgs failed to score in the second half and turned the ball over multiple times.

First, let’s take a look at the offensive side of the ball for Georgia.

The Bulldogs offensive line held up well and did not commit many penalties in a road environment.

There was running room for the backs, but Todd Monken and Kirby Smart elected to roll with more of an aerial attack against Alabama.

James Cook stood out in the first half and exposed Alabama linebackers in the passing game. His 82-yard touchdown was Georgia’s best play of the game.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett played subpar in defeat. He struggled with ball placement and deflected passes at the line of scrimmage. One of his deflections at the line was intercepted in the first quarter, which was a large momentum change. Bennett deserves some fault for the interception. When four passes are battled down at the line of scrimmage, it is a pattern, not a freak play.

Bennett’s third interception was brutal. His pass went into a group of three Alabama defenders. Bennett played well in the first half, but grew uncomfortable in the second half and didn’t make the right read on a couple of occasions. Bennett was no match for Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, who is a superior downfield passer and connected for big plays all night.

Bennett’s No. 1 target throughout the night was Jermaine Burton. Burton’s stock is holding steady following the contest. He was a source of intermediate plays and was often open. He dropped a key pass in the red zone that was intercepted. Burton is promising considering he’s only a freshman.

Defensively, Nakobe Dean played well. He helped the Bulldogs get off the field on a couple of third downs and flashed elite speed. The overall performance from the defense was disappointing, especially in the second half when Dan Lanning’s group fell under immense pressure from turnovers and questionable officiating.

Defensive backs Tyrique Stevenson and Tyson Campbell were frequently victimized. The Crimson Tide have elite wide receivers with excellent speed. Jaylen Waddle burned Tyson Campbell and the UGA defense for a 90-yard touchdown in the second half. Campbell has the talent to play better, but he and the secondary needed more support from the pass rush.

Georgia’s pass rush needed a better performance from the interior. Jordan Davis, Travon Walker and company were quiet and didn’t disrupt Jones enough. Alabama frequently blocked with six players to stymie the UGA blitz.

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Matchup between Alabama, Georgia will feature handful of potential Chargers prospects

Nine prospects from the matchup between Alabama and Georgia could appeal to the Los Angeles Chargers.

The weekend is near which means that there will be plenty of football to soak in.

For Chargers fans, this would be a good time to catch some of the college football action on Saturday. One, the team is on their bye week. Two, a handful of them are already looking towards the future with Los Angeles sitting at 1-4.

One of the marquee matchups that’ll be featured is between Alabama and Georgia, which will start at 5:00 p.m. and will be televised on CBS. The showdown between the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs will have a large grip of players who the Bolts could have their eyes on.

Let’s take a look at who could be drawing the team’s attention:

Alabama

CB Patrick Surtain

Surtain is touted as one of the top corners in this year’s draft class. The 6-foot-2 and 205 pounder has been lockdown, only allowing three catches for 38 yards this season. Surtain is a long, smooth athlete who has impressive instincts and ball skills. He could afford to get more involved in the run game, but overall, he has the makeup of an All-Pro cornerback.

Projected Round: Top-10

OT Alex Leatherwood

Leatherwood, the 6-foot-5 and 313 pounder, has made 31 starts so far for the Crimson Tide with 13 of them coming at right guard in 2018. Leatherwood is an excellent pass protector who possesses great size, length and physicality to grow into a very reliable tackle or guard at the next level.

Projected Round: 1st

WR Jaylen Waddle

Speed kills. Waddle, the 5-foot-10 and 182 pounder, is a pass-catcher with elite phone booth quicks and legitimate breakaway speed to threaten a defense vertically. He can line up all across the formation as well as serve as a return man.

Projected Round: 1st

WR DeVonta Smith

While Smith may not have the track speed like Waddle, the 6-foot and 172 pounders plays with a well-rounded route tree, excellent footwork, and brings the separation tactics to thrive at the next level. Through four seasons, Smith has 2,425 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Projected Round: 1st-2nd

CB Josh Jobe

Surtain is the No. 1 corner but opposite of him is another player who has proven to put the clamps on receivers. Jobe, who leads the team in passes defensed (3), has good length and size at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, reactive athleticism and ball skills.

Projected Round: 3rd-4th

Georgia

CB Tyson Campbell

Campbell, the 6-foot-2 and 185 pounder, is a physically gifted and reactive athlete with great length that possesses speed, excellent closing speed and instincts. Through three games, he has three passes defensed.

Projected Round: 1st-2nd 

CB Eric Stokes

Stokes has been a ball magnet for the Bulldogs, totaling three interceptions and four passes defensed through the first three games. He now has 18 passes defended over his first two seasons. The 6-foot-1 and 185 pounder has the prototypical build for the position with speed, physicality and plus coverage ability.

Projected Round: 2nd

CB DJ Daniel

Overlooked due to the presences of Campbell and Stokes, Daniel, the 6-foot and 182 pounder, is a sub-package ace who is quick and agile with very good mirroring skills. In 2019, the JUCO transfer had eight passes defensed.

Projected Round: 2nd-3rd

G Ben Cleveland

Cleveland’s continuity has helped a partly revamped offensive line after three were drafted in this past draft. The 6-foot-6 and 342 pounder is a solid all-around interior lineman with proven durability and experience who is a strong blocker in the run game and has good awareness in pass protection. Most recently, Cleveland helped allow Georgia’s running backs to go for 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries last weekend against Auburn.

Projected Round: 3rd-4th

Georgia football at Arkansas: Key player matchups

We take a look at some key player matchups to keep an eye on going into Georgia football’s season opener at Arkansas.

There is officially only one day until Georgia football returns for the 2020 season, kicking off in Fayetteville, Arkansas against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The Dawgs are favored by a whopping 26.5 points (odds courtesy of BetMGM) but there are still some marquee matchups to be seen played out on the field this Saturday.

Georgia LB Nakobe Dean vs. Arkansas RB Rakeem Boyd:

Arkansas senior running back Rakeem Boyd has shown his ability to catch passes in the past, catching a total of 19 last season. The Razorbacks’ new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles will likely try and get creative with this matchup and get Boyd much more involved in the passing game.  Georgia sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean will need to read Boyd and Briles well this game to not only contain Boyd as a rusher but also as a receiver.  Eliminating Boyd from this game will most likely paralyze Arkansas’ offensive scheme, and it all starts with Dean.

Georgia RB Zamir White vs. Arkansas LB Bumper Pool:

Georgia running back Zamir White is coming off of his biggest game in last years Sugar Bowl, where he rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.  White also has had a strong preseason camp, his knee looking as healthy as ever.  Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool has some great instincts at the linebacker position and is also a very solid athlete. He was second on the team in tackles and had five pass breakups in 2019.  White will open up a lot of options for Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken, forcing Pool to focus on the run game.  With the addition of junior running back James Cook, ready to take on a much bigger role with D’Andre Swift now in the NFL, Georgia’s running backs could be a matchup nightmare for the Hogs’ linebackers.

Georgia QB D’Wan Mathis and OC Todd Monken vs. Arkansas DC Barry Odom:

Georgia’s offense and Arkansas’ defense both feature a number of new faces this year.  There will be a lot of feeling the other team out early on in this game since neither side has had much of an opportunity to scout the other.  Monken is well know for taking advantage of mismatches so lookout for some deep balls thrown to sophomore wide receiver George Pickens in the Arkansas secondary.  Monken will also probably try and use Cook a lot in the short receiving game once Pickens starts to draw multiple defenders deep.  Georgia has the edge on paper here but they are still starting redshirt freshman quarterback in D’Wan Mathis, who no one has seen much of lately.  Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom will likely lay some early pressure on Mathis and the new Georgia offensive line.  Mathis and the Dawgs offense will need to stay poised and put trust in Monken’s play calling even if they take some hits early on.

Georgia’s secondary vs. Arkansas WR Treylon Burks:

Arkansas sophomore wide receiver Treylon Burks is a complete offensive Swiss-Army Knife.  He stands at 6-foot-3, 232 pounds and was used in the Arkansas run and pass game very well his freshman season.  He was the Razorback’s leader in receiving yards as a freshman but had no touchdowns.  Kendal Briles will definitely try and get Burks involved early with some big plays but he will need to get past a mean Dawgs secondary in Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, Mark Webb and DJ Daniel.  This should be one of the best matchups of Saturday’s game.

Georgia football player card: DB Daran Branch

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Daran Branch comes to Athens after being a three-star recruit in the class of 2020.

Daran Branch, defensive back (No. 26):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 178 pounds

Hometown: Amite, Louisiana

High School: Amite High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Daran Branch comes to Athens after being a three-star recruit in the class of 2020. Branch has excellent length for a cornerback.

Before committing to the University of Georgia, Branch was committed to the Ole Miss Rebels. Kirby Smart and the Dawgs were able to get him to flip on signing day in 2020.

Daran Branch, Kelee Ringo (who recently underwent shoulder surgery), Jalen Kimber, and Major Burns make up Georgia’s four scholarship defensive backs in the class of 2020. Branch is the only player of the group who isn’t rated as a four or five-star prospect. That being said, three-star recruits commonly make impacts at both the college and pro football levels.

Dan Lanning and the Georgia Bulldogs defense has a loaded defensive backfield for 2020 and beyond. Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell are projected to be UGA’s starting cornerbacks next season.

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Who are UGA’s next CB targets in the class of 2021?

The Georgia Bulldogs are looking to add another cornerback recruit in the class of 2021 after the commitment of Tony Grimes.

Five-star 2021 cornerback Tony Grimes recently committed to North Carolina Tar Heels. Grimes was Georgia’s top target at the position in the class. Georgia was considered second-best in the running for his commitment

Grimes, out of Virginia Beach, ranks as the nation’s No. 1 cornerback in the 2021 class. He is also America’s No. 7 player overall and the best player in the state of Virginia.

Now that he’s committed to UNC, where does Georgia go from here? The Bulldogs currently have a commitment from David Daniel, a four-star defensive back/athlete, but Georgia could lose both Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes to the 2021 NFL Draft. That means Kirby Smart and Georgia will likely be looking for a pair of cornerback recruits in the class of 2021.

First of all, it starts with the class of 2020. Georgia secured a commitment and signing from five-star corner Kelee Ringo. Additionally, Jalen Kimber, a four-star cornerback from Texas, figures to be a contender to start at corner in 2021.

Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning, and the Georgia Bulldog defense will find an elite talent at cornerback. The main question is who? Nyland Green hails from Eric Stokes’ hometown of Covington, Georgia and is a four-star recruit. He’s considered the top in-state cornerback.

Kamari Lassiter put the Bulldogs in his top schools recently.He’s a three star recruit from Alabama.

De’Jahn Warren, a top 2021 community college recruit, is strongly considering UGA as well. Warren visited Athens back in December, but is favored to stay local and attend Penn State.

Lastly, Georgia is in the race for the best recruit in West Virginia in Isaiah Johnson. John is a four-star cornerback from Bluefield High School.

We’ll continue to update you throughout Georgia’s recruiting efforts. The NCAA has extended the dead period for recruiting.

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Chargers attain balance in way-too-early three-round 2021 mock draft

The Chargers address both sides of the ball in Pro Football Network’s very early three-round mock draft.

With the 2021 NFL Draft still lightyears ahead, it’s never too early to lay out what teams could do to keep improving their rosters.

Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings recently released a very early 2021 three-mock draft that sees the Chargers getting an offensive tackle, tight end and cornerback.

Let’s take a look at who Los Angeles picked up:

No. 11 | Jackson Carman | OT | Clemson

The Chargers have uncertainty at the left tackle position after failing to address the spot this offseason. If Sam Tevi, Trey Pipkins or Trent Scott don’t pan out in 2020, they could be fishing for Justin Herbert’s blindside blocker early on.

Carman, the 6-foot-5 and nearly 350 pounder is an enormous lineman with highly impressive athleticism and movement skills to match. In 2019, he was named Third-Team All-ACC, helping lead the way up front to 43.9 points per game and 528.7 yards per game.

No. 43 | Brevin Jordan | TE | Miami

Tight end Hunter Henry was franchise tagged rather than being signed to a long-term extension. There is still some time to commit to Henry for another few years, but for now, he only has one more season to prove that he can stay productive and healthy.

If he’s unable to do either or, Los Angeles could be seeking a tight end in the first few rounds, which is why they snag Jordan. The 6-foot-3 and 235 pounder is an impressive athlete with soft hands and a wide catch radius, as well as excellent toughness with and without the ball.

No. 75 | Tyson Campbell | CB | Georgia

The Chargers have one of the most talented secondaries, but there are still questions with the outside spot opposite of Casey Hayward. Michael Davis was strong in coverage last season, but he was inconsistent in the tackling department. Also, he is entering the final year of his contract.

If he isn’t re-signed, Campbell would be the ideal replacement. Campbell was hampered by an injury in 2019, but he is stout when he is healthy. The 6-foot-2 and 185 pounder has flashed the ball skills and reactive athleticism to thrive in Gus Bradley’s system.

Giants select WR Ja’Marr Chase in Draft Wire early 2021 mock

The New York Giants select WR Ja’Marr Chase and CB Tyson Campbell in Draft Wire’s 2021 two-round mock draft.

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The 2020 NFL regular season is most likely to happen and according to experts and fans, the New York Giants are bound to disappoint — again.

In Draft Wire’s way-too-early mock of the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, Luke Easterling has the Giants selecting fourth overall and then No. 36 in Round 2.

So, who will the Giants select with those picks? The usual suspects. With offensive line, quarterback, running back and much of the back seven on defense no longer pressing needs, Easterling has the Giants taking non-trench players again early in the draft.

No. 4 – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Another LSU wide receiver? Yes, but another really good one. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Chase won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2019 with an 84-catch, 1,789-yard performance that resulted in 20 touchdowns. Chase was a first team All-SEC selection and a unanimous choice for All-American.

Any NFL team would love to have Chase, who will complete the Giants’ “triplets” along with quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley.

Chase would have easily been a Top 10 pick in this year’s draft, which was considered one of the deepest wide receiver classes in recent memory. The Giants would be lucky to get him at No. 4 because he won’t last much longer after that. The first three picks per Eaterling are: Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence (Washington), Ohio State QB Justin Fields (Jacksonville) and Oregon OT Penei Sewell (Cincinnati).

Onto Round 2…

No. 36 – Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia 

Campbell is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect that probably needs a solid 2020 season to get up this high in the draft. He had a solid 2018 campaign with 42 tackles. A foot injury limited Campbell to nine games in 2019. He made just 15 stops but had four pass breakups.

It’s not a big year for pass rushers, so the Giants will have to settle for the best player they can find, even if it’s at a position they are fairly deep at. That is, of DeAndre Baker is exonerated in his criminal case.

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UGA football player card: DB DJ Daniel

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back DJ Daniel transferred to Athens from Georgia Military College.

DJ Daniel (#14):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-1

Weight: 185 pounds

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

High School: Spalding High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back DJ Daniel transferred to Athens from Georgia Military College. He was a four-star JUCO prospect and has lived up to the hype.

Daniel played in 13 out of 14 games last season and started the final eleven contests. He took over for former five-star recruit and uber-talented CB Tyson Campbell, who battled a nagging turf toe injury last season. The two will compete once again in the fall.

Daniel started opposite number one cornerback Eric Stokes. He was often picked on, but lived up to the challenge.

Daniel totaled over forty tackles last season and deflected eight passes. He helped break up a last minute pass versus Notre Dame. He was up for the challenge on a key play against Auburn. The same type of play burned stud LSU cornerback Derek Stingley.

Dec 7, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back DJ Daniel reacts after a pass break up against the LSU Tigers in the second quarter in the 2019 SEC Championship Game. Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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Four Georgia players make list of SEC’s top-25 2021 NFL Draft prospects

Four Georgia football players named on Athlon Sports list of the top-25 SEC players available in the 2021 NFL Draft

The Southeast Conference set records this year in the 2020 NFL Draft.  For the 14th straight year the SEC had more players drafted than any other conference.

63 players from the SEC were selected by NFL teams with 40 of those going in the first three rounds, including a record setting 15 in the first-round.  The remaining four Power 5 conferences had a total of 48 players drafted.  LSU had 14 players taken in the draft, the most of any SEC school.

Now that the 2020 draft has come and gone, analysts are already starting to predict next year’s outcome.

Athlon Sports released its list of the top 25 SEC players to watch for next year’s draft.  On that list, four Georgia players were named, and one in the top 10.

Incoming transfer senior quarterback Jamie Newman ranked 21st on the list as well as 2nd among SEC quarterbacks.

Newman completed 61% of his passes for 2,868 yards, 26 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and rushed for another 574 yards and 6 touchdowns last season at Wake Forest.  Now he will be bringing his talents to Athens, in hopes to spark the Bulldogs offense to championship form.

Rising junior cornerback Eric Stokes is next, ranked 20th on the list as well as 4th among SEC cornerbacks.

Stokes played a crucial role as a starter on the Dawgs defense last year.  He also saw some starts later on in the 2018 season.  Georgia’s defense finished first in the nation in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of just 12.6 points per game.

Stokes recorded 58 total tackles, one sack, 18 pass breakups, one forced fumble and two tackles for loss in the past two seasons. Cornerbacks do not usually eye-popping stats, but Stokes is a nightmare for receivers in coverage.

Rising junior cornerback Tyson Campbell comes in at 16th on the list, 3rd among SEC cornerbacks.

Campbell doesn’t quite have his starting job. Last season, D.J. Daniel took over Campbell’s starting spot following the third game of the year.

Campbell is now a veteran and certainly has the talent to contribute to Georgia’s elite defense. He missed five games last season with a turf toe. His position battle with Daniel will be one of Georgia’s most intriguing intra-squad competitions to start the 2020 season. Georgia has solid depth at cornerback either way and Campbell will likely win his job back.

In the top 10 o  the list is rising senior safety Richard LeCounte at the #8 spot.

Last season, LeCounte totaled 61 tackles, with an SEC-best three forced fumbles and tied for second in the conference in interceptions with four picks. LeCounte was responsible for seven of the 15 turnovers created by the Dawgs defense last year, proving himself to be the leader going into the 2020 season.

Athlon Sports also added a list of 25 honorable mentions to keep an eye on, including defensive tackle Jordan Davis, center Trey Hill and linebacker Monty Rice.