Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the SEC. Welcome to a list of Georgia’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects, as seen by Draft Scout.
Each week brings us closer and closer to one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar — the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be held in Kansas City, Mo. from April 27-29.
Our series will run beginning Oct. 31 and running for five consecutive days, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the SEC’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up on Friday, Nov. 4. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.
SEC TOP 25 NFL PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Overall SEC Top Prospect List
SEC EAST PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Mizzou | South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt
SEC WEST PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | LSU | Mississippi State | Ole Miss | Texas A&M
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So we all know that not every team in the country has five surefire draft picks on it. Some programs do, especially in some of the more elite conferences, but the vast majority don’t have that many top-flight prospects. But, we also know that the definition “top-flight” doesn’t always pan out, and at the same time that strong undrafted free agent everybody forgot? He ends up making an NFL roster and flourishing.
Below is a look at Georgia’s Top 5 Draft Prospects, and how they project in the eyes of Draft Scout. For now, we’ll go strictly with seniors, as no underclassmen have been allowed to declare early yet, though when they do? We’ll update the lists below.
GEORGIA’S TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Nolan Smith (OLB)
DRAFT SCOUT PROJECTION: First Round
CAREER STATISTICS: 113 tackles (tkl), 11.5 sacks (sck), three force fumbles (ff), one interception (int)
THE TRUTH: Nolan Smith is a 6’3″ 235lb veteran outside linebacker on the Bulldogs’ defense. Smith was one of the few players to return after winning the national championship last year. With Georgia’s defense being so young they needed Smith to be a leader on the field. This season he already has 3 sacks so far compared to his 3.5 sacks total for all of last season.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME: Christopher Smith (FS)
DRAFT SCOUT PROJECTION: First round
CAREER STATISTICS: 98 tkl, 1 sck, 5 int
THE TRUTH: Christopher Smith is a defensive back in his senior year at Georgia. This season so far he has 27 tkl, 1 sck, and two int. Being another veteran defensive player with a young squad he was looked at as a leader for the DBs. He’s projected to go in the first round.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: Kenny McIntosh (RB)
DRAFT SCOUT PROJECTION: Second round
CAREER STATISTICS: 199 attempts, 1085 yards, 5.5 yards/rush, and 12 tds
THE TRUTH: Georgia has always had great running backs. So it’s no surprise that a running back would make Georgia’s Top 5 NFL draft prospects. McIntosh is one of many great rbs that they have had. Alo the Bulldogs are known for rushing by committee. This has great upside for the team but not as much as individual rushers. Mainly by cutting their attempts which hinders your stats.
McIntosh has managed to stand out among a team full of elite running backs. If this was a few years back he probably would’ve been a first-round pick, but the running back position in the NFL has lost its leverage lately. Mainly because of disappointing career lengths and production on the field.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Robert Beal Jr (OLB)
DRAFT SCOUT PROJECTION: Fifth round
CAREER STATISTICS: 56 tackles, 8 sacks
THE TRUTH: Robert Beal Jr is a 6’4″ 250lb linebacker who recorded 6 sacks last season. He has had a down season compared to last year. He still is projected to be a fifth-round pick. I believe he will go before then myself. I look for Beal to be a third-round pick.
NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Kearis Jackson (Wr)
DRAFT SCOUT PROJECTION: Fifth round
Kearis Jackson is projected to go in the fifth round. I believe this is about tight but I also wouldn’t be surprised if he slipped a round or two. His best season was in 2020 where he had 514 yards on 36 receptions.
Georgia’s Top 5 NFL draft prospects will change and be updated as underclassmen declare for the draft. By the time the draft comes along this list could and probably will look completely different. For now though, this is the list of seniors going into the draft.
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