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Channing Tindall wait his turn at Georgia and became a positive, NFL-bound force

Travon Walker understands why his head coach so often fields questions about why certain players don’t play more.

“I know why fans be so hard on coach,” Walker said. “We have a lot of good players that can come in at any time.”

Perhaps no one better exemplifies this than senior linebacker Channing Tindall. The Columbia, S.C. native has made a number of impressive plays this season and led Georgia in tackles against UAB.

“His confidence has grown on defense, he’s got tremendous speed and closing ability,” Kirby Smart said of Tindall. “I’m so proud of someone who works so hard and has done so much to be a good player.”

Yet Tindall doesn’t start. He’s the third inside linebacker in the game for Georgia behind Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. And he’s perfectly fine with that role.

When asked about himself, he quickly deflects to speaking about the strength of the linebacker room. Not just Walker and Dean but also some of the young players such as Smael Mondon or Jamon Dumas-Johnson.

Tindall — who will be playing against his hometown South Carolina Gamecocks this weekend — enthusiastically raves about his teammates. Not just those in Georgia inside linebacker room but those he matches up with on the field. Whether it be about Nolan Smith’s leadership or Brock Bowers’ athleticism, Tindall is quick to praise and pump up almost every Bulldog except himself.

It’s a great trait for a senior linebacker to have.

“Channing Tindall is one of those players you feed off his energy,” defensive back Kelee Ringo said. “You look at him and already know he’s ready to go. He gives that look where it’s like, ‘I got you if you got me.’ The way he flies to the ball, if you’re not playing to his standard or above that, what are you doing?”

Through two games, only safety Lewis Cine has more tackles for the Georgia team. Tindall is one of the many reasons why Georgia has perhaps the best defense not just in the country but of the Smart era.

So you might be wondering why Tindall hasn’t been a bigger part of the Georgia defense in the past. He’s flashed before, such as when he notched 2.0 sacks against Tennessee in 2020.

In his own words, it’s because he wasn’t ready.

“I didn’t know a lot about inside linebacker,” Tindall said. “I just knew it was going to take me a little while to understand it. I didn’t try to use it as an excuse to leave or anything like that.”

Like so many on Georgia’s team, Tindall was a highly recruited prospect. In the 2018 recruiting class, Tindall ranked as the nation’s no. 103 prospect in the country per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Tindall had spent much of his high school career coming off the edge. But a move to Georgia meant he would have to play inside linebacker. Having close to no experience at the position — along with playing behind future NFL draft picks Tae Crowder and Monty Rice — Tindall was going to have to sit, learn and wait.

He surely could’ve found the field earlier elsewhere, including at South Carolina which recruited him hard out of Spring Valley High School. But thanks to the relationship he had with Glenn Schumann, Tindall wanted to bet on himself at Georgia.

“He was a big reason why I stayed,” Tindall said. “Just the things I was learning from him, the things I’m still learning from now. I feel like I know way more that will prepare me for the next level.”

Tindall knew what he didn’t know and used that to gradually improve. Smart also praised how willingly Tindall threw himself into Georgia’s various special teams units.

Those at the next level seems to have taken notice. Jim Nagy, the Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, tweeted out a clip recently highlighting why Tindall is going to be playing on Sundays.

Tindall never got his exact testing numbers from an offseason combine Georgia held. But he did have a rare moment of self-assessment when discussing his speed.

“I’m just a freak of nature altogether,” Tindall said. “I feel like the film will show for itself about (my) speed. When the time comes I’ll be worried about it.”

While Tindall has always had strong traits, teammates are now noticing a more confident and knowledgable Tindall on the practice and game field.

“You have to be fast, you have to know what you’re doing or he’s going to be right there,” junior running back Kenny McIntosh said. “Just watching him learn more, do certain things and go out there and not think as much, you really see it now.”

Through two games, the Georgia defense ranks first in yards per game allowed and third in yards per play allowed. Georgia has led the country in rush defense in each of the past two seasons.

Tindall has become a key part of that group. He continues to show he can be a presence as a blitzing linebacker as he notched his first sack of the season against UAB. Perhaps in a lesser defense, he’d have even better numbers as an individual.

His NFL abilities would be more obvious to the casual fan.

But those that know him and interact with him believe the positive linebacker is destined for big things. Beyond just some more snaps in a Georgia defense that Tindall thinks is tops in the country.

“Channing has done a tremendous job,” Smart said. “He’s earned the trust and respect, he works really hard every day. Nobody comes out to practice with more toughness and effort.

“He’s come a long way, he’s been able to do this because hard work pays off.”

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