Georgia gets 12 invited to NFL Combine, second to Alabama
The NFL released its list of invites for the 2023 Scouting Combine and 12 Georgia players will be there. The Bulldogs’ 12 is only topped by Alabama’s 13, and it includes players at 10 different positions.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett, running back Kenny McIntosh, wide receiver Kearis Jackson and tight end Darnell Washington make up the weapons on the offensive side of the ball that will be in Indianapolis. But that’s not all. Two offensive linemen – Broderick Jones and Warren McClendon – will also be representing Georgia at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Then, on the defensive side of the ball, defensive lineman Jalen Carter, outside linebackers Nolan Smith and Robert Beal, cornerback Kelee Ringo and safety Christopher Smith will be there. Georgia had eight players picked on the defensive side of the football including five in the first round last year.
Don’t forget about the specialist either. After punter Jake Camarda was selected last year, kicker Jake Podlesny looks to do the same as he comes off of an SEC Special Teams Player of the Year type season in 2022.
Georgia won its second straight National Championship this past season, becoming the first team to do so in the College Football Playoff era. The Bulldogs went a perfect 15-0 as they rolled through the regular season and won the SEC Championship in convincing fashion over LSU. Then, it took all of 60 minutes to take down Ohio State in the semifinal at the Peach Bowl, beating the Buckeyes 42-41 after a fourth quarter comeback. Finally, under the bright lights of the Los Angeles sky at SoFi Stadium, Kirby Smart’s squad rolled in a 65-7 win versus TCU to take home the title.
Stetson Bennett broke the single-season passing yard mark with over 4,000 yards. He was named a Heisman Trophy finalist, the first Georgia quarterback to do so. Meanwhile, Kenny McIntosh had over 1,000 total yards and Darnell Washington had the best season of his three-year college career. As for the offensive linemen, Broderick Jones and Warren McClendon were part of a group that kept their quarterback clean, allowing just nine sacks in 15 games – the first team to ever do so.
On the defensive side of the football, folks expected a drop off, but the Bulldogs didn’t have one. Georgia finished top 5 in the country for scoring defense and top 10 for total defense after sitting near the top of the list all year long. Jalen Carter is widely projected as one of the first players to come off the board while Nolan Smith and Kelee Ringo have been mocked in more than a few first rounds. Christopher Smith led the team in interceptions with three and scored an incredibly memorable touchdown for a second straight season – taking a blocked field goal back 96 yards for the score in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia had a modern era NFL Draft record 15 players picked in 2022. This year’s draft is set for Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. The combine can be seen on NFL Network March 2-5 with players first reporting to Indianapolis February 26 to start the week of interviews, workouts and meetings with the league’s 32 teams.
