Tag: uga football news

4-star RB Taylor Tatum names top schools

The second-ranked running back puts Georgia football in his top seven.

Four-star running back prospect Taylor Tatum named his top seven schools: Georgia, Texas A&M, Michigan, Texas, Ohio State, USC and Oklahoma.

The class of 2024 running back visited Georgia on April 1. The four-star additionally checked out USC and Ohio State this spring. Tatum is a three-sport athlete. He plays football, baseball and track. The class of 2024 standout is also a good student.

The Bulldogs are looking to add another running back commitment in the class of 2024 after losing a commitment from Tovani Mizell. However, Georgia has a solid foundation at the running back position with a commitment from four-star running back Dwight Phillips.

Tatum is the No. 33 prospect in the junior class and the second-ranked running back. Tatum is the No. 6 recruit in Texas in the class of 2024. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound running back plays for Longview High School in Longview, Texas.

Taylor Tatum has received an invitation to the 2024 Under Armour All-America Game. The Longview superstar has explosive speed and great acceleration. Tatum is also an excellent receiver. He has experience lining up as a wide receiver and shows good hands and route running ability.

Taylor Tatum has some impressive 2022 high school season highlights via Hudl:

College and NFL teams love versatile running backs that are good options in both the rushing and passing game.

Where will Taylor Tatum play college football? He is currently projected to commit to the Michigan Wolverines, per 247Sports.

Kirby Smart and Georgia have the No. 3 class of 2024 in the country with 11 commitments. Only Ohio State and Michigan have better recruiting classes than Georgia.

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Former Georgia DB transferring to Louisville

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Marcus Washington Jr. is transferring to Louisville.

Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Marcus Washington Jr. is transferring to Louisville. Washington is a former four-star recruit. He is the son of former Georgia defender Marcus Washington.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back played in one game last season and recorded one tackle. Washington has the ability to start at the Power Five level. However, he is likely looking for more playing time at Louisville.

Georgia is expected to start Daylen Everette, Tykee Smith and Kamari Lassiter at cornerback this season. The Bulldogs lose a key depth piece with Washington’s transfer, but they have recruited the defensive back position at an elite level in recent seasons.

Washington announced his intentions to transfer to Louisville via Twitter:

Washington, Bear Alexander and Rian Davis have announced transfer destinations this spring.

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UGA football offers Michigan DL commit

UGA football offers three-star Michigan commitment Manuel Beigel

The Georgia Bulldogs recently offered scholarships to a couple of defensive linemen in the class of 2024. Georgia and offensive line coach Stacy Searles offered a scholarship to three-star Michigan commitment Manuel Beigel.

Beigel plays high school football for Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut. Beigel is ranked as the No. 662 recruit in the class of 2024. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive lineman is the No. 69 player at his position and the seventh-ranked recruit in Connecticut, per 247Sports.

It is intriguing that Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searles offered Beigel. Perhaps the Bulldogs consider Beigel more of an offensive line recruit.

Beigel came to the United States from Germany. He committed to Michigan in the summer of 2022.

The Choate Rosemary Hall standout recently received a scholarship offer from Penn State.

The three-star Michigan commit announced his scholarship offer from Georgia football via Twitter:

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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.

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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.

 

 

3 Georgia Bulldogs taken in the first-round of the 2023 NFL draft

Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith & Broderick Jones are official pros…

Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, offensive tackle Broderick Jones and edge rusher Nolan Smith were taken in the first-round of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night.

Carter, who was considered one of the best prospects, fell to No. 9 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Apopka, Florida, native 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.

Jones went next at No. 14 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2022 first-team All-SEC selection didn’t allow a sack last season.

The Lithonia, Georgia, native is still young, 21, and has tremendous upside and athleticism to boot.

With the No. 30 pick, the Eagles dipped into the Georgia defense once again and selected Smith, who led the Bulldogs with three sacks and 16 quarterback hurries before suffering a season-ending torn pectoral versus Florida.

The Savannah, Georgia, native joins Carter and former teammates Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean in Philadelphia. Each were a part of the Bulldogs record-breaking 2021 defense.

We expect to see plenty of more Georgia players selected throughout the weekend. The second and third rounds will begin Friday at 7 p.m. ET with the fourth through seventh rounds starting at noon ET on Saturday.

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