Mel Kiper Jr. reveals underrated Georgia Bulldogs star

As Georgia made a run to its first national title in 40 years, defense was the Bulldogs’ calling card. Many of their key defenders appear in NFL mock drafts, but ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. named one who’s flying under the radar.

On “First Draft” this week with Field Yates and Todd McShay, Kiper said Channing Tindall is being overlooked in NFL Draft circles. In 2021, he had 67 tackles — including 35 solo tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss — to go with 5.5 sacks. It was by far the biggest season of his college career, and now he’s getting ready for the next level.

CLICK HERE to get 30% OFF your Georgia Bulldogs National Championship apparel

Although he won’t necessarily be a first-round pick, Kiper said his upside could make Tindall an attractive second- or third-round pick.

“How can there be an underrated guy who’s a Georgia Bulldog?” Kiper said. “Well, there is. It’s Channing Tindall. Channing Tindall, nobody talks about. They talked about everybody else on that defense but Tindall. He flies to the football, he’s got pass rush ability inside and out, he’d be a special teams dynamo.

“He’s got that dual versatility. For today’s game, the way he can run to the football, I love Channing Tindall in the second or third round.”

During the NFL Combine, Tindall put together an impressive 40-yard dash. He ran it in 4.47 seconds, which ranked third among all linebackers at the combine.

Mel Kiper Jr. moves Jordan Davis up in his latest mock draft

Mel Kiper Jr. is smitten with former Georgia star Jordan Davis. As the 2022 NFL Draft moves closer, Kiper continues to move Davis up in each mock draft he releases.

During SportsCenter Special: Mel Kiper’s NFL Mock Draft 3.0, Kiper explained why he moved the former Georgia defensive lineman up into a premier selection.

“You get Jordan Davis,” Kiper said, revealing he’s mocking Davis to the Texans at No. 13. “You say, ‘Why Jordan Davis?’ Maybe a little high for me. I have him about No. 22 on the big board. But he’s a run-stuffer. A guy you cannot move. An immovable defensive tackle against the run, like an A’Shawn Robinson. 27th against the run the Houston Texans were. I thought about Jermaine Johnson II — pass rusher who was second in tackles at Florida State — but I went with Davis instead. So, you go in the trenches with those two first round picks for the Houston Texans.”

As you can see, Kiper believes NFL teams won’t be able to resist Davis after his mesmerizing NFL Combine performance. In addition to Kiper, fellow ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller stated Davis could be elite.