UGA likely to score another win over Tide, in NFL draft

Georgia gamers obtained their championship rings on the faculty’s spring recreation earlier this month, however a extra nationwide celebration of the Bulldogs’ title-winning season will come Thursday night time.

As many as six Georgia prospects may realistically be chosen within the first spherical of the NFL draft in Las Vegas, doubtlessly tying the report set by Miami in 2004 and matched by Alabama final 12 months.

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The Tide will doubtless personal two of the highest 15 picks in offensive sort out Evan Neal and extensive receiver Jameson Williams, however for the second time since January, the prime-time battle of the 2 SEC heavyweights is anticipated to be gained by Georgia.

Bulldogs defensive finish Travon Walker is the present betting favourite on BetMGM to be taken No. 1 by the Jacksonville Jaguars at -225, with Michigan defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson (+250), NC State offensive sort out Ikem Ekwonu (+400) and Neal (+2000) having the next-shortest odds. The dearth of an apparent blue-chip quarterback on this draft and the Jaguars’ decide of Trevor Lawrence first total final 12 months has stored this 12 months’s high decide extra of a thriller than typical.

If Walker is taken first total, it will be Georgia’s third No. 1 decide within the NFL draft since Alabama final had one in 1948. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was first off the board in 2009, and defensive finish Harry Babcock was the 49ers’ selection at No. 1 in 1953.

Past Walker, two different defensive lineman from Georgia’s title-winning entrance seven in Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt are safely thought-about first-round picks. Davis and Wyatt are ESPN’s Nos. 16 and 20 total finest out there gamers, respectively, whereas The Athletic ranks them Nos. 23 and 24.

Each Davis and Wyatt, however not Walker, can be joined by linebacker Nakobe Dean as Georgia’s three gamers invited by the NFL and confirmed to be within the Las Vegas inexperienced room on Thursday night time. Projections for Dean differ — he’s ESPN’s No. 12 total participant and No. 29 by The Athletic — however he’s more likely to have his identify referred to as throughout the first spherical.

Georgia would want two different gamers to chosen Thursday night time to tie the Miami and Alabama report of six. Security Lewis Cine has been included one some first-round mock drafts, together with at No. 30 on NBC Sports activities’ this week. He’s The Athletic’s No. 33 best-available participant for the 32-pick first spherical, and No. 52 on ESPN’s huge board. Linebacker Quay Walker (No. 31 by The Athletic and No. 35 by ESPN) is one other borderline first- or second-round decide who may have his identify referred to as on what’s being billed as an unpredictable first night time of the draft.

For Alabama, Neal and Williams are each on the NFL’s checklist of 21 invited gamers anticipated to be in attendance. That’s anticipated to be the extent of Alabama gamers taken within the first spherical in what can be the college’s smallest group since solely Ryan Kelly was taken in 2016. Exercise may decide up on Friday night time when linebacker Christian Harris, extensive receiver John Metchie and defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis will doubtless develop into second- or third-round picks. And on Saturday, Alabama ought to spherical out its class with working again Brian Robinson, exterior linebacker Christopher Allen and cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis and Josh Jobe.

Alabama’s complete draft class needs to be at the least 9 gamers — rivaling most up-to-date years — and will stretch to 10 or 11 if defensive lineman LaBryan Ray or extensive receiver Slade Bolden is chosen within the late rounds. In any case, the Tide is nearly sure to fall wanting its faculty report of 12 set in 2018, and the NFL seven-round draft report of 14 set by Ohio State in 2004 and once more by LSU in 2020.

The Tigers’ fall is a reminder of how the dimensions of a draft class, variety of first-round picks and having a No. 1 total decide can present a symbolic enhance to a program, but in addition how the status gained by gamers despatched to the NFL might be offset by expertise misplaced on the sector the subsequent season. LSU’s large 2020 haul — together with No. 1 decide Joe Burrow and 4 different first rounders — remains to be making an attempt to be backfilled by a crew with a dropping report the previous two seasons.

Georgia’s previous three recruiting courses ranked had been ranked by 247 Sports activities throughout the high 4 nationally and its in-progress 2023 class is No. 3, offering stability for Kirby Good as he enters his seventh season in Athens. However the still-groggy coach issued a warning the morning after Georgia’s title-game win that staying on high wouldn’t come simply.

“I don’t know that our crew our roster that’s coming again is ready for what they’re about to see,” Good mentioned Jan. 11. “As a result of there’s a way of entitlement, there’s a way of the illness that has at all times crept in at Georgia — there’s an enormous anointment and entitlement that may have an effect on your program. So now it turns for us to a different consideration of what we’ve acquired to do to maintain it going.”

Georgia’s losses to the draft lengthen effectively past its potential six first-round picks. Huge receiver George Pickens and offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer are projected second-round picks; linebacker Channing Tindall, working backs James Prepare dinner and Zamir White, punter Jake Camarda and offensive lineman Justin Shaffer are anticipated mid-round picks; and tight finish John Fitzpatrick and cornerback Derion Kendrick are potential late-round picks. Having all chosen would imply Georgia having 15 complete picks, breaking LSU’s seven-round report.

Even earlier than the ultimate day of the draft begins Saturday, Georgia may have matched or exceeded its faculty report of 9 complete picks set final 12 months. The varsity also needs to see its report of three first-round picks, set in 2018 after Good’s first two seasons, fall on Thursday night time.

Nonetheless, the rewriting of NFL draft report books lately by a few the Tide’s SEC rivals is extra of a commentary on the more and more top-heavy state of school soccer than it’s a signal of fading dominance by Alabama.

One fast peek on the 2023 draft — when quarterback Bryce Younger and out of doors linebacker Will Anderson are among the many early candidates to be chosen first total — confirms that.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Comply with him on Twitter @mikerodak.