Miami Dolphins select Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall in 2022 NFL Draft

The Miami Dolphins are banking on Georgia product Channing Tindall to come in and bolster their linebacker corps. After playing a huge role throughout his time in Athens, the former versatile Bulldogs linebacker will be expected to do the same in his NFL career.

That’s why the Dolphins took him off the board early in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night, picking him No. XX overall.

In his four seasons with the Bulldogs, Tindall amassed 106 total tackles, 12.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Last season, Tindall realized his dream of bringing a championship to Georgia, helping to end a drought that spanned over 40 years when the Bulldogs defeated Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Additionally, Tindall was a terror during the title game, accumulating eight total tackles and sacking star Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.

Most importantly to Miami, Tindall has potential to become a key piece of a team’s defense in the NFL. He was dominant at times at Georgia, and many believe he’s just scratching the surface of his potential.

A former four-star recruit in the class of 2018, Tindall was the No. 7 linebacker in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The former Georgia star played his high school football at Spring Valley in Columbia, South Carolina. Tindall was the second-ranked recruit coming out of South Carolina in his class, and the No. 69 recruit overall per On3’s 2018 Consensus Top Football Recruits.

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Channing Tindall

Furthermore, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com broke down what Channing Tindall can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the linebacker’s draft profile. The analyst believes the best pro comparison for the former Georgia star is Cody Barton. Barton, a former third-round pick out of Utah for the Seattle Seahawks in the 2019 NFL Draft, has had a hot start to his NFL career, accumulating 84 total tackles and two forced fumbles over three NFL seasons.

“Inside linebacker who proved his toughness and dependability in Georgia’s stop unit,” wrote Zierlein. “Tindall played in a great scheme surrounded by NFL prospects, so projecting his pro potential is a little trickier. He has average size and instincts for work between the tackles, but the pursuit speed and tackling talent to run and hit from sideline to sideline. Play recognition versus the run and pass should improve with additional playing time.

“Tindall should be an early backup and instant four-phase special-teamer with the potential to eventually step into a starting role.”