Georgia Sports News

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  Georgia football podcast: One mistake Kirby Smart won’t ever make

  Georgia football is the No. 1 topic every day on DawgNation Daily the daily podcast for Georgia Bulldogs fans. Catch up on everything happening with UGA athletics with host Brandon Adams and the DawgNation experts as they break down the latest Georgia football recruiting news and discuss coach Kirby Smart's quest to return the Bulldogs to the top of the SEC. On episode No. 1,170 (April 8, 2020) of the podcast, Georgia fans can hear a discussion about a mistake that some well-known coaches have recently made that UGA coach Kirby Smart will probably always find a way to avoid. Georgia football podcast: One mistake Kirby Smart won't ever make Beginning of the show: Some college football coaches have recently spoken out and shared their opinions on the coronavirus including how and when the shutdowns will eventually end. The coaches such as Clemson's Dabo Swinney and Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy certainly have a right to express themselves, but their rights arguably conflict with their best interests when it comes to creating unnecessary distractions around their programs. I'll explain on today's show why Georgia coach Kirby Smart doesn't seem to have a problem avoiding the temptation to wade into controversy. 10-minute mark: I'll discuss the UGA players Smart singled out as having impressed during the offseason workouts prior to the coronavirus shutdown. 15-minute mark: DawgNation's Mike Griffith joins the show. Some of the topics covered include The ways in which UGA's athletic department can make use of its substantial reserve fund Why UGA defensive lineman Malik Herring fits the profile of one of the Bulldogs' most underrated players And a discussion about former UGA quarterback Jake Fromm 30-minute mark: I take a look at other SEC headlines including the continued fallout from Mississippi State coach Mike Leach's controversial tweet which referenced a noose, a strong NFL draft take regarding former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and an odd comment from Tagovailoa regarding his relationship with Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. End of show: I share the Gator Hater Updater. The post Georgia football podcast: One mistake Kirby Smart won't ever make appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Why Isaiah Wilson was always going to move up in 2020 NFL Draft process

  To some, it was a surprise when Isaiah Wilson announced along with Andrew Thomas that he would be skipping Georgia's bowl game against Baylor and preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft. Thomas had been seen as a first-round pick for well over a year and had manned the left tackle spot for Georgia for the past two seasons. Wilson though had been playing on the right side of the line and did not have the same national reputation as Thomas. Wilson has repeatedly stated that the reason he decided to skip out on the bowl game was that he wanted to spend time with his family in New York before going off to train for the 2020 NFL Draft. Related: Former Georgia OL Isaiah Wilson reveals years of family sacrifice At the 2020 NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis, Wilson admitted that it wasn't an easy decision for him to leave Athens. But he added that his matchups against elite talent let him know he was good enough to succeed at the next level. 'I was fairing well against first-round talent, and touted draft picks. Guys I know that have years on me,' Wilson said. That's when I decided that I think that I'm good enough.' At the beginning of the process, most mock draft experts saw Wilson as third-round pick. He obviously had a lot of tools to intrigue teams, but he was still less polished than the likes of Thomas, Iowa's Tristan Wirfs and Alabama's Jedrick Willis. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. even went as far to say that Wilson outright should've gone back to Georgia for another season. In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected guard Michael Deiter with the No. 78 overall pick. He signed a four-year contract worth $3.9 million, with $985,000 of that guaranteed. That dollar amount alone would've validated Wilson's decision to leave Georgia early. 'It was for sure hard. I created a family there,' Wilson said on leaving Georgia. 'My teammates there are brothers, not just teammates and it was tough to decide I was going to leave my last year. 'I decided that I was ready to go to work and attack the next level of my life.' Related: Isaiah Wilson on Georgia's 2020 offensive line: If you're sleeping on them, then they're going to wake you up' But as the draft process has progressed, Wilson appears to be moving out of that draft slot and potentially into a much more lucrative one. Both Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network and Dane Brugler of The Athletic stated that teams they've spoken with see Wilson as a first-round talent. The reason for this is that the NFL draft and really any draft is because it's not so much about what you've done in college but rather what you could be doing in a few years for a team. And Wilson's biggest asset is that he still has gobs of potential. Wilson is a rare athlete for someone of his size. He's listed at 6-foot-6 and 350 pounds. That seems massive but Wilson carries and moves with the weight very well. You can't coach size and Wilson certainly has that. If you were going to pick a Georgia offensive lineman to be the first one off the bus as a way to impress onlookers there's a real case to be made that Wilson would've been that one. While he didn't have the resume of Thomas, it's not like he accomplished nothing in his time at Georgia. He started 24 games over the past two seasons for Georgia and was named Second-Team All-SEC in 2019. Had he returned in 2020, most would've viewed him as one of the best offensive tackles in the country as he would've slid over to Thomas' spot on the left side of Georgia's offensive line. Wilson and Thomas both entered Georgia as members of the 2017 signing class. Thomas entered as the more polished player, which is why he started at right tackle in his freshman season while Wilson had to redshirt while he adjusted to the rigors of the college game. But it's worth mentioning that Wilson came to Georgia as a higher-rated prospect. Wilson was the No. 16 overall prospect in the signing class while Thomas came in at No. 45. The recruiting experts saw the same thing NFL teams are seeing now. Wilson still has room to grow and develop as a football player, which is what is pushing his draft stock up. In all likelihood Thomas is still going to be selected before Wilson will be in the 2020 NFL Draft. But it's becoming more evident that Wilson might not have to wait much longer to hear his name called on draft night. More Georgia football stories from around DawgNation Georgia football could have record 2020 NFL Draft class on tap Former Georgia QB Jake Fromm identifies deep ball issue it's not his arm Georgia football's most underrated defensive player: Malik Herring Georgia football podcast: UGA might get unexpected NFL draft success story Brock Bowers: Nation's No. 3 TE shares why Georgia made his top eight The post Why Isaiah Wilson was always going to move up in 2020 NFL Draft process appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Georgia football could have record 2020 NFL Draft class on tap

  ATHENS A record Georgia NFL draft class was predicted more than a year ago, and it appears the Bulldogs could be on the verge of making that vision a reality. RELATED: Why Georgia 2020 NFL class could produce record numbers Eight Georgia players are expected to be selected according to the most recent 7-round mock draft from CBSsports.com, a number that would match the program-high picked in 2013. Seven Georgia players were drafted last year. The 2020 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place April 23-25 in Las Vegas, but it will be closed to the public on account of the coronavirus pandemic. The mock draft, authored by Ryan Wilson, appears as follows: First Round No. 10 Andrew Thomas, Cleveland No. 26 D'Andre Swift, Miami Second Round No. 39 Isaiah Wilson, Miami Fourth Round No. 112 Jake Fromm, San Diego Sixth Round No. 193 J.R. Reed, Indianapolis No. 204 Solomon Kindley, New England No. 212 Rodrigo Blankenship, New England Seventh round No. 248 Charle Woerner, Houston Georgia receiver Lawrence Cager might be another candidate to slip into the draft, even though he was unable to workout at the NFL combine on account of his post-ankle surgery rehabilitation. Defensive lineman Tyler Clark is another UGA player who has appeared in some mock drafts, and tailback Brian Herrien was among the 10 Bulldogs at the NFL combine. Graduate transfer Eli Wolf posted an individual workout that included some impressive results. But Wolf, along with others like defensive tackle Michael Barnett and linebacker Tae Crowder saw their NFL draft hopes diminished when Georgia Pro Day was postponed, and then canceled, on account of the coronavirus. The only true first-round lock in this year's Georgia draft class is Thomas, though it seems very likely Swift will also be a first-round pick. The players' stock is a matter of position, with offensive tackles in great demand, and tailbacks seemingly undervalued. Indeed, there has been recent speculation that Wilson, as raw as some scouts believe him to be, could end up a first-round pick because of his massive size and potential. Swift, meanwhile, is viewed by most as the top tailback in the NFL draft and will be the first at his position off the board. Fromm's draft stock is a little bit more difficult to determine, as he's sure to have interviewed well. Coaches love the possibilities a fast processor and accurate thrower like Fromm could bring to the table, particularly if adjusting his footwork can add velocity and distant to certain throws. RELATED: Jake Fromm identifies deep ball passing issue Reed's drop to a third-day projection has been somewhat puzzling, with analysts citing a lack of athleticism. Reed has been one of the most reliable open-field tacklers in the SEC, and he was rarely caught out of position or beaten deep. Blankenship is another wild card of sorts, as most kickers don't find their way into the NFL draft. It would seem Smart's relationship with Bill Belichick could provide Blankenship a great boost if this projection is accurate. Flashback to 2013 NFL Draft *-still active First Round No. 17. Jarvis Jones, Pittsburgh No. 30 Alec Ogletree, St. Louis* Third Round No. 82 John Jenkins, New Orleans* No. 84 Shawn Williams, Cincinnati* Fifth Round No. 134 Sanders Commings, Kansas City No. 161 Tavarres King, Denver Sixth Round No. 188 Cornelius Washington, Chicago No. 191 Bacarri Rambo, Washington DawgNation Georgia NFL draft stories Mel Kiper Jr. Top 10 position rankings feature several UGA players Isaiah Wilson's NFL draft stock rising, per 7-round CBS mock Georgia football Mauler' Solomon Kindley on Atlanta Falcons radar Andrew Thomas in first-class form at NFL combine Isaiah Wilson sheds light on 2020 Georgia O-Line Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason reunite anf NFL combine Lawence Cager message at NFL combine high ceiling' D'Andre Swift draft stock makes Georgia football RBU' again Jake Fromm evaluation, comparison, per former Super Bowl scout Brian Herrien shares Nick Chubb story at NFL combine The post Georgia football could have record 2020 NFL Draft class on tap appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Former Georgia QB Jake Fromm identifies deep ball issue — it’s not his arm

  NFL draft analysts have repeatedly questioned Jake Fromm's arm strength, but the former Georgia quarterback doesn't see that as the root of his problem throwing the deep ball. 'I think it's been my feet,' Fromm told The Herald Bulletin. 'My feet have not been as clean as they needed to be this past football season. That's something that we've really been hammering throughout this process. 'So, for me, I'm trying to get my feet better and as good as they can be because wherever my feet are, and how they are doing, it's going to take care of the rest of whatever is going on. It starts from the bottom up. I'm really trying to take care of those.' RELATED: NFL Hall of Fame questions Jake Fromm combine session Jim Chaney was Fromm's quarterback coach his freshman season at Georgia, while James Coley worked with him the past two seasons. Chaney has moved on to Tennessee, and Coley is now the tight ends coach at Texas A&M. Fromm remains one of the more polarizing figures in the NFL draft, with some experts impressed by his ability to process at the line of scrimmage and manage the game. Fromm led Georgia to three straight SEC Championship Game appearances and dominated the Bulldogs' rivals. RELATED: Jake Fromm on point, slams Gators again Others, such as Mel Kiper Jr., have droned on about Fromm's lack of arm strength. Fromm also lacks the mobility of some of the top quarterback prospects in this year's NFL draft. RELATED: Kiper calls Fromm NFL draft status, Fromm calls turkeys Fromm has been back working with former Ole Miss quarterback David Morris of QB Country in Mobile since his freshman year of high school. Former Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens, now a backup quarterback with the 49ers, is also working with Morris. Mullens holds the distinction of being a former pupil of new Georgia offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Todd Monkey. Fromm, however, is more zeroed in on improving his draft stock that picking up any tips on how the UGA offense will look without him next season. Many thought Fromm would return with hopes of leading Georgia to a national championship, but his prayers led him to choose a path to the 2020 NFL Draft. Fromm is projected as being anywhere from a second-round pick to a fourth-round pick. Kiper has compared him to Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton, while Senior Bowl executive director and former NFL scout Jim Nagy sees similarities to Drew Brees. Fromm, himself, likes to model his game after the New Orleans Saints future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback. 'I would love to emulate my game the best way possible after Drew Brees,,' Fromm said at the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February. 'The way he approaches the game, the way he works and the way he throws, hopefully I can be as close to him as possible.' Certainly Georgia coach Kirby Smart gave the green light for Fromm to have the same sort of on-field control last season that Brees enjoys piloting the Saints' pass game. 'The coaches really trusted me a lot,' Fromm said. 'I could change a run to a pass, and a pass to a run, this play for that, and I really was grateful for the power they gave me with the offense. 'It was a great learning curve, for me and it will prepare me for this next level.' DawgNation Jake Fromm stories Georgia QB Jake Fromm shares light moment with Laura Rutledge Kurt Warner on Jake Fromm: Is there enough there?' Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason reunite anf NFL combine Jake Fromm evaluation, comparison, per former Super Bowl scout The post Former Georgia QB Jake Fromm identifies deep ball issue it's not his arm appeared first on DawgNation.
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  Georgia football podcast: UGA might get unexpected NFL draft success story

  Georgia football is the No. 1 topic every day on DawgNation Daily the daily podcast for Georgia Bulldogs fans. Catch up on everything happening with UGA athletics with host Brandon Adams and the DawgNation experts as they break down the latest Georgia football recruiting news and discuss coach Kirby Smart's quest to return the Bulldogs to the top of the SEC. On episode No. 1,169 (April 7, 2020) of the podcast, Georgia fans can hear a discussion about how former UGA offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson has emerged as a possible first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Georgia football podcast: UGA might get unexpected NFL draft success story Beginning of the show: Former Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson has gone from a player ESPN's Mel Kiper once suggested should've stayed in school to now being someone the NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah believes is a likely first-round pick. I'll discuss more about Wilson's journey on today's show. I'll also discuss why Wilson's story should be celebrated as a personal win for him, and not just a recruiting pitch for UGA or Sam Pittman Wilson's former position coach who recently became Arkansas head coach. 15-minute mark: DawgNation's recruiting insider Jeff Sentell joins the show to address the latest on the Bulldogs' 2021 class and to discuss how its progress is impacted by the coronavirus shutdown for both the football program and the players who hope to be part of it. 35-minute mark: I discuss how some recent sports news including the announcement of a new date for the Masters and a Major League Baseball proposal that could see games return in May could lay the foundation for college football's eventual return this fall. End of show: I share the Gator Hater Updater. The post Georgia football podcast: UGA might get unexpected NFL draft success story appeared first on DawgNation.