Georgia Football: ESPN looks ahead at top prospects for '24 Draft

With College Football season over and the NFL down to just four teams still remaining in the Playoffs, plenty of discussion is being devoted to the 2023 NFL Draft – and understandably so. However, ESPN also gave a look ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft recently with some names that are expected to be among the top players at their respective positions. As you might can guess, the two-time reining National Champion Georgia Bulldogs are well represented.

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers has been one of the best players in all of College Football the last two seasons, and he’s being forced to come back and play another year. Changing NFL rules hasn’t been a discussion but maybe it should be with how talented of a player the Napa, Calif. native is. He’s led the team in receiving each season he’s been in Athens and has been utilized in different ways than your typical tight end to the tune of nearly 2,000 total yards and 24 total touchdowns. Why would be believe Bowers won’t do it again in 2023? We don’t. Count on the Mackey Award winner and All-American to put up big numbers again next season and to come off of the board early in April 2024.

The comparisons to Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski and George Kittle are out there for a reason. Bowers is incredibly talented as a receiver, runner and blocker. It’s his ability to make defenders miss and break tackles that really separates hi.. Bowers can run around or through defenders, and his 20 touchdowns over the past two seasons are proof of his ability. He will be TE1 in 2024 and could find his way into the top five picks.

Matt Miller – ESPN

When the article was originally published, Georgia center Sedrick Van Pran hadn’t announced his NFL intentions one way or the other. However, after letting the world know that he’ll be back next fall for a third season as the Bulldogs’ starting center, it’s easy to see why he’d be included on the list of potential top prospects for 2024. Van Pran has started each of the last 30 games for Georgia at center helping the Bulldogs to two national titles in that time. This past season, Georgia became the first team to allow fewer than 10 sacks in a 15 game season. Van Pran was a big part of the reason why, and as a leader – for the offensive line in the middle of things and the team as a whole as a captain – he’ll be a big part of the reason why Georgia has a chance to three-peat next season.

An elite run-blocker, Van Pran could be the favorite for the top center position in 2024’s draft class — though he hasn’t officially announced whether he is returning to Georgia. He has ideal NFL size at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds while showing the second-level agility to be an impact player in zone schemes. His pass protection toolbox could use a boost, though, as he has allowed eight pressures over the past two years.

Matt Miller – ESPN

This one is an interesting one, but it makes sense in some ways. Xavian Sorey was a highly touted four-star prospect coming out of high school. Some folks had him as a top-five linebacker in the country, and according to the On3 Consensus, he was top-10 at No. 6 for the Class of 2021. Sorey however hasn’t quite found a major role though. He only played on defense in nine games this season with 90 snaps. He contributed on special teams in others. Sorey turned his limited action into three tackles this season after putting up two in four games as a true freshman. If he can put it all together, the talent is there. However, it’s likely an uphill battle behind two returning starters at the position, both of whom are his same class – Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon.

Yeah, Georgia has more defensive prospects. Sorey has been stuck in a logjam in the linebacker room (111 total defensive snaps over two seasons) while Georgia ran to back-to-back national championships, but scouts believe the former five-star recruit is the next Bulldog defender to break out. He’s a capable downhill player but has the quickness and range in the open field to be a problem for opponents once he has more reps under his belt.

Matt Miller – ESPN

Miller rounds out his predictions for 2024 draft prospects from Georgia with cornerback Kamari Lassiter. Stepping into a starting spot in 2022, Lassiter stood the test of playing defensive back in the SEC. In 15 games, Lassiter totaled 38 tackles including five for loss with half a sack. He had four pass breakups, and according to Pro Football Focus, only allowed two touchdowns all season. Georgia doesn’t necessarily play matchups at cornerback, instead rolling with their corners roaming a side of the field, but if the Bulldogs do decide to do that at all this year, Lassiter will be without a doubt CB1.

While Kelee Ringo received most of the attention in 2022, it’ll be Lassiter whom opposing offenses avoid in 2023. The 6-foot, 180-pound sophomore cornerback had four pass breakups this season but has shown the quickness, instincts and length to be a problem for NFL-caliber receivers. He’s likely to carry a top-32 grade entering the season.

Matt Miller – ESPN