ATHENS — Georgia could match the school record for NFL draft picks in one year with defensive players alone in 2021.
That’s right, it’s possible the 2020 Bulldogs could have at least eight players selected in the 2021 NFL draft next April.
It’s not out of the question that nine or even 10 players off this coming season’s defense could be picked, if everyone stays health and Georgia dominates as expected.
It sounds outrageous until you look at the names and consider Georgia had the best defense in the nation last season. The Bulldogs were No. 1 in scoring defense, No. 1 in rushing defense, No. 3 in total defense and No. 8 in pass efficiency defense.
Then consider that the only UGA defensive player drafted off the 2019 team was inside linebacker Tae Crowder. At that, Crowder was the last pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The takeaway from that is a lot of really talented players are coming back on a Georgia defense where 37 players saw 100 snaps or more.
Why UGA secondary could match draft success of 2019 O-Line
The Bulldogs have had seven players selected in each of the past two NFL drafts, but the 2021 NFL Draft should see 10 or more Bulldogs picked.
The record of eight Georgia players picked in the NFL draft was set twice, in 2002 and most recently 2013.
Georgia 2021 NFL Draft prospects
Defense
Sr. SS Richard LeCounte
Jr. CB Tyson Campbell
Jr. CB Eric Stokes
Sr. CB DJ Daniel
Sr. DB Mark Webb
Sr. LB Monty Rice
R.So. OLB Azeez Ojulari
Sr. OLB Jermaine Johnson
Sr. OLB Walter Grant
Jr. OLB Adam Anderson
Jr. NT Jordan Davis
Sr. DT Devonte Wyatt
Sr. DE Malik Herring
Sr. DT Julian Rochester
Offense
Sr. OG Ben Cleveland
Sr. OG Justin Shaffer
Jr. OL Jamaree Salyer
Jr. OC Trey Hill
Sr. QB Jamie Newman
Jr. RB James Cook
R.So. RB Zamir White
Jr. WR Matt Landers
Sr. WR Demetris Robertson
2020 Georgia draft picks
1st Round (4th overall) – OT Andrew Thomas, N.Y. Giants
1st Round (29th)— OT Isaiah Wilson, Tennessee
2nd Round (35th) — RB D’Andre Swift, Detroit
4th Round (111th) — OG Solomon Kindley, Miami
5th Round (167th) — QB Jake Fromm, Buffalo
6th Round (190th)— TE Charlie Woerner, San Francisco
7th round (255th) — LB Tae Crowder, N.Y. Giants
Free agent signings
PK Rodrigo Blankenship, Indianapolis
WR Lawrence Cager, N.Y. Jets
FS J.R. Reed, Jacksonville
RB Brian Herrien, Cleveland
TE Eli Wolf, Baltimore
WR Tyler Simmons, Houston
DL Tyler Clark, Cincinnati
DB Tyrique McGhee, L.A. Rams
2019 Georgia draft picks
1st Round (30th) – CB Deandre Baker, N.Y. Giants
2nd Round (56th) – WR Mecole Hardman, Kansas City
4th Round (126th) – WR Riley Ridley, Chicago
5th Round (168th) – OLB D’Andre Walker, Tennessee
6th Round (179th) – OC Lamont Gaillard, Arizona
7th Round (224th) – TE Isaac Nauta, Detroit
7th Round (237th) – WR Terry Godwin, Carolina
Free agent signees
DE Jonathan Ledbetter, Miami
MLB Natrez Patrick, Los Angeles Rams
RB Elijah Holyfield, Carolina Panthers
SN Nick Moore, New Orleans
WR Jayson Stanley, Atlanta
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