Two Georgia rookies named players to know for NFL first-year honors
Eight Georgia Bulldogs were taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, and NFL.com’s Chad Reuter is predicting that a quarter of those are going to end up on All-Rookie teams. First-round pick Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders) and second-round selection Javon Bullard (Green Bay Packers) are drawing praise already from their teammates, coaches and now, the media.
“The Raiders should lean on two tight end sets much more often this year, with Bowers lined up at H-back, on the line or in the slot while 2023 second-round pick Michael Mayer plays the more typical off-tackle spot,” Reuter wrote about Bowers, Las Vegas’ selection at No. 13. “Bowers will be a matchup problem for most linebackers and safeties with his quickness, strength and strong hands, giving Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers a foil to stretch defenses vertically and horizontally. While it’s not the strongest part of his game, Bowers should also earn respect for his run blocking on the outside.”
“Bullard can make plays on the ball and secure open-field tackles whether he’s lined up deep or inside the box, which makes him a great complement to free-agent addition Xavier McKinney. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will have the flexibility to play single-high or two-deep coverage,” he added about Bullard, taken 58th overall. “Bullard showed a proclivity for making big plays in big games during his Georgia career. If he does the same thing this fall, it should lead to a successful Packers campaign and a spot for him on the All-Rookie Team.”
It’s just the latest folks are saying about Georgia’s rookies after Bowers, Bullard, Ladd McConkey, Kamari Lassiter and others were the talk of their new towns during OTAs.
Both Bowers and Bullard spent three seasons at Georgia, helping the Bulldogs win a pair of national championships in 2021 and 22. With 2,538 career receiving yards and a total of 31 touchdowns (26 receiving, 5 rushing), Bowers finished as UGA’s leading receiver each of the past three seasons – even though he missed four games entirely in 2023 due to an ankle sprain that required surgery. Bowers won his second straight Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end and earned unanimous All-American honors. Meanwhile, Bullard ranked third among all Bulldogs in tackles in 2023 as he moved to a new position on the back end of Georgia’s defense. An AP All-SEC selection, his impressive season including two interceptions and came on the heels of a strong finish to 2022, earning MVP honors in both of Georgia’s College Football Playoff wins.
Training camp for the two rookies gets underway later this month with each playing in their first preseason game on August 10th. A full list of regular season meetings between Georgia rookies and other older Bulldog stars can be found here.
