Georgia in elite company of its own, breaking NFL Draft record for players picked
The 2021 Georgia Bulldogs already had a special spot in history, bringing home the program’s first National Championship in over four decades. Well, if there was any doubt about their all-time standing, the 2022 NFL Draft solidified that spot in the record books.
With 15 Bulldogs being selected, Georgia breaks the seven-round NFL Draft record for players picked in a single draft from the same school. The 2003 Ohio State Buckeyes and 2019 LSU Tigers previously held the record with 14 in the 2004 and 2020 NFL Drafts respectively.
Things got started in a big way during the first round for the Dawgs with defensive lineman Travon Walker coming off the board to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the first overall pick. Walker becomes the fifth Georgia player to be picked No. 1 overall, tying the NFL Draft record with Notre Dame, Oklahoma and USC. Previous No. 1 picks for the Bulldogs are Matthew Stafford (2009), Harry Babcock (1953), Charley Trippi (1945) and Frank Sinkwich (1943).
Jordan Davis (Eagles), Quay Walker (Packers), Devonte Wyatt (Packers) and Lewis Cine (Vikings) continued the run on Bulldogs in the first round, giving Georgia five players picked, all on the defensive side of the football. In doing so, they set a new program record for first round picks in a single draft as well as a record for the most defensive players picked from the same team in the first round.
On day two of the draft, which included both the second and third rounds, Georgia added four more selections. Wide receiver George Pickens was the first offensive player from UGA off the board, going to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round followed soon after by running James Cook to the Buffalo Bills. Then, in the third, it was a pair of inside linebackers getting picked with Nakobe Dean going to Philadelphia and reuniting with Jordan Davis and Channing Tindall being picked by the Miami Dolphins. That also gave Georgia the record for most defenders taken in the first three rounds on top of their first round record.
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Zamir White‘s selection to the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round put the Bulldogs over the top, followed shortly after by Jake Camarda to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a quiet fifth round, the sixth round brought more action with both of the big Bulldog offensive linemen available coming off the board – Justin Shaffer to the Atlanta Falcons and Jamaree Salyer to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Then, with back to back picks at No. 212 and No. 213 overall, Derion Kendrick (Los Angles Chargers) and John FitzPatrick (Atlanta Falcons) the Dawgs broke the record.
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