Georgia Bulldogs Football

Forty-nine Georgia Bulldogs have been selected in the NFL draft since 2020, ranging from Travon Walker at No. 1 overall in 2022 (to the Jacksonville Jaguars) to Tae Crowder at No. 255 overall (Mr. Irrelevant) in 2020 (to the New York Giants).

The Bulldogs have made it a habit of sending great talents to the league, and this year will be no exception.

A total of 11 Georgia players made the 250-player cut on the B/R NFL Scouting Department big board. This year, the Bulldogs' defense will be well-represented.

Safety Malaki Starks is ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect on the B/R big board. He was a consensus All-American in 2023 and followed that up with 77 tackles (52 solo) in 2024.

B/R NFL scout Cory Giddings raved about his potential in a scouting report.

"With the ability to contribute from day one, Starks is poised to become a key player in any NFL secondary, offering the potential to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber safety," Giddings wrote in part. He also offered a pro comparison to Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, a two-time All-Pro second teamer.

Georgia still has impressive talent up front, though, with linebacker Jalon Walker and edge-rusher Mykel Williams providing big plays.

Walker had 60 tackles and six-and-a-half sacks, while Williams had 21 tackles and five sacks. Walker is ranked as the B/R NFL Scouting Department's top linebacker, and he received a pro comparison to 11-year NFL linebacker (and two-time Super Bowl champion) Kyle Van Noy in B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder's write-up.

Williams' potential is certainly intriguing, with Holder writing that he has "plenty of traits to give him a high ceiling in the NFL." He's notably the top-ranked Georgia prospect via NFL.com and No. 10 overall.

Obviously, pass-rushing is paramount on the defensive end, so it was clear going into Thursday evening that Williams wouldn't have to wait long to hear his name called.

Those are just three talents in a potentially loaded and deep Georgia class. Here's a look at where they all landed.

Georgia NFL Draft Prospects

S Malaki Starks: Round 1, Pick 27 (No. 27 Overall): Baltimore Ravens

LB Jalon Walker: Round 1, Pick 15 (No. 15 Overall): Atlanta Falcons

EDGE Mykel Williams: Round 1, Pick 11 (No. 11 Overall): San Francisco 49ers

IOL Tate Ratledge: Round 2, Pick 25 (No. 57 Overall): Detroit Lions (After Trade With Denver Broncos)

IOL Jared Wilson: Round 3, Pick 31 (No. 95 Overall): New England Patriots (After Trade With Kansas City Chiefs)

RB Trevor Etienne: Round 4, Pick 12 (No. 114 Overall): Carolina Panthers (After Trade With Dallas Cowboys)

IOL Dylan Fairchild: Round 3, Pick 17 (No. 81 Overall): Cincinnati Bengals

S Dan Jackson: Round 7, Pick 14 (No. 230 Overall): Detroit Lions (After Trade With Denver Broncos)

LB Smael Mondon, Jr.: Round 5, Pick 25 (No. 161 Overall): Philadelphia Eagles (After Trade With Houston Texans)

DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins: Round 5, Pick 1 (No. 139 Overall): Minnesota Vikings (After Trade With Cleveland Browns)

TE Ben Yurosek: UDFA

WR Dominic Lovett: Round 7, Pick 28 (No. 244 Overall): Detroit Lions

DT Warren Brinson: Round 6, Pick 22 (No. 198 Overall): Green Bay Packers

DT Nazir Stackhouse: UDFA

IOL Xavier Truss: UDFA

EDGE Chaz Chambliss: UDFA

WR Arian Smith: Round 4, Pick 8 (No. 110 Overall): New York Jets

Prospect list via NFL.com.

HEIGHT: 6'4"

WEIGHT: 327

HAND: 10¼”

ARM: 32½”

WINGSPAN: 78⅛”

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40-YARD DASH: 5.15

3-CONE: 7.65

SHUTTLE: 4.85

VERTICAL: 27.5"

BROAD: 8'9"

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POSITIVES

— Good upper body strength to stand up offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage and gain control of the block.

— Takes on blocks with good knee bend and a sturdy base, hard to move one-on-one and is solid at staying in his gap versus double teams.

— Quick to recognize down blocks, shifting his eyes and hands to take on the block and avoid getting washed inside.

— Decent athlete for his size and runs his feet well to avoid getting reached against outside zone runs.

— Can make tackles in his gap with offensive linemen hanging onto him.

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NEGATIVES

— Minimal pass-rush production, doesn't have any moves he can win with and has a sub-par motor to get coverage sacks.

— Often false steps out of his stance, hurting his get-off and bull rush.

— Hand placement is a little wide as a run defender, exposing his chest.

— Not violent when shedding or getting off blocks which can lead to him getting stuck.

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NOTES

— Born April 18, 2002

— 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— No major injuries

— 2023: Second-Team All-SEC

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OVERALL

Nazir Stackhouse is a solid run-defending interior defensive line prospect who can plug gaps. He's strong at the point of attack to gain control of blocks and hard to move one-on-one. Against double teams, he attacks and can defeat the man he's lined up across from. He has good knee bends and a sturdy base to absorb contact from the second blocker to stay in his gap.

Stackhouse also has solid quickness and lateral movement skills for his size which, combined with good block recognition, allows him to avoid getting reached or scooped out of his gap.

However, the Georiga product is more of a "do your job" type of player than someone who is going to make a lot of tackles and post flashy stats. He'll be in the right spot consistently but can struggle to disengage and get off blocks. Also, he offers nothing as a pass rusher, evidenced by his three career sacks in five seasons.

Overall, Stackhouse is a reliable backup defensive tackle in the NFL who can line up as a nose tackle or 2i-technique.

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GRADE: 5.6 (Backup/Draftable — 6th-7th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 289

POSITION RANK: DL31

PRO COMPARISON: Nick Eason

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 229

HAND: 9⅝"

ARM: 32⅝"

WINGSPAN: 80⅛”

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40-YARD DASH: 4.58

BROAD: 10'10"

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POSITIVES

— Solid size and a good frame to add weight, also has long arms.

— Good speed to carry tight ends and running backs on vertical routes, get to his spot in zone coverage, play Tampa 2 and help range against the run.

— Has solid instincts in coverage, puts himself in a position to stay in phase when playing man coverage or pattern matching, and shows eye discipline in zone coverage to locate threats coming into his area.

— Avoids the trash well in coverage and against the run.

— Good at finding lanes as a pass rusher to take advantage of breakdowns in protection schemes when blitzing.

— Sure tackler who wraps up and runs his feet through contact.

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NEGATIVES

— Sub-par instincts as a run defender, will fall for eye candy and can take too long to key and diagnose.

— Not strong enough to constrict running lanes against offensive linemen, needs to add some size and strength.

— Lacks pop behind his pads when taking on blocks or tackling, bigger running backs will get extra yards after contact against him.

— Lacks some short-area quickness to get in and out of his breaks, impacting his ability to cover angle routes and to close in coverage.

— Doesn't have an effective go-to pass-rush move when blitzing.

— Lengthy injury history.

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NOTES

— Born Feb. 13, 2003

— A 5-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2024 (Foot, missed 4 games), 2023 (Left foot, missed spring game, had surgery in the offseason), 2022 (Ankle, missed 2 games)

— 2023: Second-Team All-SEC

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OVERALL

Smael Mondon is a solid athlete who could be a good coverage linebacker in the NFL. He can be effective in man coverage with route recognition and speed, showing the ability to avoid picks and carry running backs and tight ends on vertical routes. Also, he has good eye discipline in zone coverage to locate threats and help tighten throwing windows.

Mondon has the potential to grow as a run defender at the next level as he takes on blocks with his hands, has long arms to get extension and rarely misses tackles. However, he needs to get stronger to be more stout against offensive linemen and avoid giving up extra yards to bigger running backs.

While Mondon put up 25 reps on the bench press at Georgia's pro day, he could use more lower body strength.

Also, the former Bulldog relies heavily on his speed against outside runs. His ability to key and diagnose run plays is sub-par, forcing him to play catchup and chase down running backs toward the sideline. That's worked in college but could be a bigger issue in the NFL against more complicated rushing schemes and faster backs.

Mondon's medicals could scare some teams away as he's suffered several lower-body injuries at Georgia. However, he's a good fit for a team that's looking for an athletic linebacker who can cover and contribute on special teams.

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GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 161

POSITION RANK: LB11

PRO COMPARISON: Troy Dye

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

Carson Beck resisted overtures from Georgia about returning for the 2025 season before he transferred to Miami, according to USA Today's Matt Hayes.

Hayes reported Alabama also reached out to Beck after he entered the transfer portal. The fifth-year senior decided to head south for the Hurricanes and secured an NIL package reportedly worth between $3 million and $4 million.

While that's a sizable sum of money, Hayes laid out the football-related reasons Beck came to the conclusion there were greener pastures outside of Athens, Georgia.

The Bulldogs' offensive line and receiving corps were both lacking in 2024. Hayes added that head coach Kirby Smart "historically hasn't recruited well at wide receiver," so there were no guarantees he could rapidly improve the unit through the portal.

Miami, on the other hand, built a system around Cam Ward this past year that allowed him to be the fourth-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy voting. Ward was second in the FBS in passing yards (4,313) and first in touchdowns (39).

Perhaps most importantly, the Davey O'Brien Award steadily climbed NFL draft boards as the year went on. Ward is the No. 6-ranked player on Bleacher Report's 2025 big board and went second overall to the Cleveland Browns in B/R's mock draft.

Contrast that with the trajectory of Beck's draft stock. He was the 13th-best player on B/R's initial big board in October and slipped to 37th in the most recent update. Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reported he "wasn't a lock to go in the first three rounds" even before he suffered a UCL injury in the SEC title game.

Especially at a time when he can be compensated handsomely through NIL deals, returning to college for one more season made plenty of sense for Beck, and he was equally sensible in asking whether Georgia was the optimal place for him.

That the Bulldogs couldn't make the strongest pitch before their own starting quarterback is the kind of thing that might keep Smart awake at night.

College football's transfer portal is reportedly adding a headline name.

Pete Nakos of On3 reported Thursday that Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is expected to enter his name into the portal. This comes after Beck previously declared for the 2025 NFL draft, meaning he can now entertain another option as he decides on his future.

Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that the Miami "looms as the favorite" to land Beck in the portal. Nakos also noted Ohio State and Texas Tech are "others to watch for."

Couple more details on Carson Beck, per an ESPN source.
*The timeline for a choice is within a week
*Beck will not be able to throw until March, and he’s expected to miss spring practice. He’ll be good to go before well before summer camp after elbow surgery

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 9, 2025

Beck arrived at Georgia as a 4-star prospect and the No. 9 overall pro-style quarterback in the recruiting class of 2020, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

The Bulldogs won back-to-back national championships during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns early in his career, although he saw limited playing time for those two teams. He took over as the starter in 2023 and led the team to a 12-0 record during the regular season.

While Beck and Georgia lost the SEC Championship Game to Alabama and missed the College Football Playoff, expectations were still high upon his return in 2024 considering he threw for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2023.

However, Beck was more inconsistent this past season while throwing for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Georgia lost to Alabama and Ole Miss during the regular season, although it defeated Texas in the SEC Championship Game and earned the No. 2 seed in the CFP.

Unfortunately, Beck was unavailable for the CFP run, which ended with a quarterfinals loss to Notre Dame. He suffered a UCL injury in the SEC title game and underwent surgery.

The statistical decline and his injury meant there were some question marks about his immediate future even after he declared for the NFL draft. B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the third-best quarterback prospect behind Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders on its latest big board.

However, it seems like Beck might now stay in college and give himself another year to further prove himself in the eyes of NFL scouts. It would also answer any lingering questions about his health if he returns from his injury and thrives during the 2025 college campaign.

What team he will suit up for remains to be seen, but there is now another veteran and talented option on the transfer market for schools still looking for a quarterback.

The Georgia Bulldogs defense is seeing some stars depart for the 2025 NFL draft.

Georgia safety Malaki Starks announced his decision to enter the draft on Instagram on Monday evening. This comes in addition to inside linebacker Jalon Walker and defensive end Mykel Williams declaring for the draft, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

Starks is the No. 4 player on Bleacher Report's NFL Draft Big Board, while Walker ranks 21st and Williams is 25th.

All three players were on Georgia's 2022 national championship team and helped the Bulldogs go 11-3 and win the SEC championship.

Starks played three seasons for the Bulldogs, recording 197 total tackles, 17 pass deflections and six interceptions in his collegiate career.. In the 2024 season, he had 77 total tackles, four tackles for loss and one interception. He was an All-American in 2023.

Walker also played three seasons for the Bulldogs and had 89 total tackles, 12.5 sacks and one forced fumble in his career. Last year was his breakout season, where he had 60 tackles and 6.5 sacks.

Williams had 67 total tackles, 14 sacks and three forced fumbles in his three-year career, recording 21 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks in 2024.

The 2025 NFL draft is scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay.

The Georgia Bulldogs were eliminated from the College Football Playoff with a quarterfinals loss to Notre Dame, but they can at least take solace in knowing their future looks better after Sunday's development.

As ESPN's Pete Thamel and Hayes Fawcett of On 3 relayed, safety Zion Branch and wide receiver Zachariah Branch decided to transfer from USC to Georgia:

BREAKING: USC Transfers Zachariah and Zion Branch have Committed to Georgia, @on3sports has learned

Zachariah was ranked as a Five-Star Plus+ Recruit in the ‘23 Class (No. 1 WR) & is a Top 3 Player in the Portal

Zion was a 4-Star in the ‘22 Classhttps://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/TcwN00rbN3

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 5, 2025

Zion Branch has committed to Georgia, per his Instagram. He’s a former Top 100 recruit who played all 12 games at safety for USC this year. He has two seasons remaining. pic.twitter.com/sDERdCdGbu

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 5, 2025

"I chose Georgia because I felt like the culture was something special," Zachariah told Thamel. "They have a great coaching staff, the brotherhood within the program, their will to win, being prepared for the next level and being as successful as possible on and off the field was important to me."

As for Zion, he told Thamel, "In 2025, I see Georgia continuing its legacy as one of the most dominant programs in college football. This team is poised to do something truly special—competing for championships and setting a standard of excellence that few can match. With the talent that's already there and the elite-level recruits coming in, the future is incredibly bright."

Zion arrived at USC as a 4-star prospect in the recruiting class of 2022, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Yet his brother was even more highly regarded as a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 wide receiver in the class of 2023.

Expectations couldn't have been much higher for Zachariah given his recruiting profile, but he never fully lived up to them during two seasons with the Trojans. He posted a combined 78 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns during those two campaigns as a solid-but-unspectacular contributor to the aerial attack.

He was third on USC with 503 receiving yards in 2024.

As for Zion, he appeared in 12 games for the Trojans this season and posted 19 tackles, three passes defended and one sack for a defense that made some strides from last year but still struggled in key moments on the way to a 7-6 record.

Both players will be expected to produce at a higher level for a Georgia program that is in national-championship-or-bust mode every season.

Zachariah in particular will be seen as an immediate option in a passing game that didn't produce a wide receiver with more than 817 receiving yards and had just two receivers with more than 466 receiving yards in 2024.

If the Branch brothers take some strides and thrive at Georgia, the SEC program could advance deeper in the CFP next season with two key additions.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada is set to potentially suit up for his third team in as many seasons after entering the transfer portal, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Rashada didn't see the field for Georgia in 2024 after transferring in from Arizona State.

The California native has become a poster child for the NIL era in college sports for all of the wrong reasons.

The Athletic's G. Allan Taylor detailed the timeline of Rashada agreeing to a $13 million NIL deal in preparation of signing with Florida, only to have the contract terminated. He subsequently received his release from the Gators and joined Arizona State.

In May, Rashada filed suit in connection to the abandoned NIL agreement and Florida head coach Billy Napier is listed among the defendants. Napier and others have filed motions to dismiss the suit.

Rashada knew signing with Georgia relegated him to backup status. Carson Beck was the incumbent starter and garnered preseason Heisman Trophy hype, so he wasn't going to be unseated.

The second-year signal-caller might've started to ask questions over his future in Athens, though, when Gunner Stockton was tabbed to replace an injured Beck midway through the SEC title game. With Beck moving on the NFL, Stockton seemingly has the inside track to be QB1 in 2025.

Still, Rashada reflected ahead of the Sugar Bowl that he "needed Georgia specifically" at this moment in is college football journey.

"Everything that I kind of had been going through and experienced this year, I learned a lot," he said, per The Athletic's Matt Baker. "I feel like I needed this year a lot, and it's exceeded every expectation plus some more."

The nomadic nature of Rashada's career is unlikely to do him any favors. Being a 4-star recruit in high school only goes so far after a while.

Jaden Rashada since June 2022:

• June 2022: Commits to Miami

• November 2022: Flips to Florida

• January 2023: Decommits from Florida

• February 2023: Commits & Signs with Arizona State

• April 2024: Transfers to Georgia

• Today: Re-enters portal

Quite the journey https://t.co/AGCHr1CN3Y

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 5, 2025

One factor working in his favor is that he'll have three years of eligibility remaining. It's tough for coaches to plan too far into the future anymore, but signing Rashada means potentially having your starter locked in place for multiple years.