Georgia players all over Mel Kiper's first 2023 NFL Draft rankings

Earlier this week, Mel Kiper released his first set of rankings for the 2023 NFL Draft, which included the top ten at each position and the top 25 prospects overall. Of all of the college players that he included, Georgia (10) came in second for most players included, only trailing Alabama (12).

Here’s a look at who made the list:

Jalen Carter: No. 4 overall, No. 1 defensive tackle

Kiper’s comments on Carter: Georgia had five defenders picked in Round 1 in April, and Carter was arguably more disruptive than all of them last season. He’s explosive at the snap and finishes well around the ball, even though he didn’t put up huge numbers (8.5 tackles for loss). He has a big frame and can play as a 3-technique tackle. He will be in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick.

Kelee Ringo: No. 21 overall, No. 3 cornerback

Kiper’s comments on Ringo: You might know Ringo from his national title-clinching pick-six against Alabama in January, and he is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. If you were designing the perfect NFL cornerback, he’d have Ringo’s speed, size, and arm length. He has every tool to be a top-10 pick, but he needs to be more consistent this season and not just show a few flashes of brilliance.

Arik Gilbert: No. 1 H-back

Gilbert entered the program last summer with a lot of hype around his name before deciding to step away from the team for personal reasons. Now, less than a year later, the former Marietta High School star has emerged as a potential first-round pick without ever suiting up in the red and black. The 6’5 248 pound offensive weapon racked up 368 yards and two touchdowns on 35 catches in his time at LSU, and he looks to improve upon those numbers catching passes from Stetson Bennett.

Darnell Washington: No. 9 tight end

The Las Vegas native had a rocky start to his 2021 campaign, suffering a “lower leg injury” that held him out for the majority of spring practice. In his Bulldog career, the 6’7, 265 pound tight end has caught 17 passes for 320 yards, with his lone touchdown coming on a 5-yard score against Alabama in the 2021 SEC Championship Game. While Washington’s stats appear much weaker than many other notable tight end prospects on Kipers’ board, the Bulldogs’ frame and blocking ability land him on everyones’ draft board. If the junior can prove his threat as a downfield pass catcher, the sky’s the limit for Washington.

Broderick Jones: No. 4 offensive tackle

While Jones saw the field against South Carolina and Missouri in 2020, the 6’4, 315-pound tackle did not see meaningful action until 2021, where he appeared in every game for the Bulldogs. After Jamaree Salyer suffered a foot injury following the Florida game, Jones was tasked with replacing him at left tackle and held his own during the final stretch of the 2021 season. Now that Jones will likely replace Salyer full-time for the duration of the 2022 season, the Lithonia-native will have to protect the Georgia offense from some of the nation’s top edge-rushers.

Sedrick Van Pran: No. 3 center

Van Pran is coming off of a 2021 campaign where he played more snaps than any other Bulldog, including every offensive play in eight games. The 6’4, 310-pound center will once again play an important role in the success of the Georgia offense during the 2022 season. Out of New Orleans, Van Pran hopes to be drafted just two years after former Bulldog center Trey Hill was taken in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Nolan Smith: No. 5 outside linebacker

The highly-touted prospect out of Savannah had an explosive 2021 season, putting up 56 total tackles and 3.5 sacks, including a dominant performance against the Gators, where Smith had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception in a 39-second span. The effect that the Georgia defensive departure will have on Smith remains to be seen, but many NFL scouts currently have their eyes on No. 4.

Robert Beal: No. 9 outside linebacker

Heading into last season, Beal had only one sack in his collegiate career, coming against Joe Burrow in 2018. However, after playing all 15 games in 2021 and recording a team-high 6.5 sacks, the 6’4, 255-pound linebacker out of Duluth has reinvigorated his draft stock. Similar to Smith, the effect of Georgia’s departures remains to be seen, but a productive 2022 season could land Beal early in the draft next April.

Tykee Smith: No. 10 safety

Smith, the former West Virginia Mountaineer, got off to a slow start in the red and black, suffering an ACL tear in practice just weeks after appearing in his first contest for the Bulldogs. During his time in Morgantown, the 5’10 198 pound defensive back racked up 111 total tackles with one sack and four interceptions. The Philadelphia native will likely see his first start for Georgia in their season opener against the Ducks, but the junior has a lot of ground to make up to restore his hype prior to suffering the injury. 

Jack Podlesny No. 9 specialist, No. 3 kicker

After his career-long 53-yard long field goal to ice the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the senior kicker from St. Simons Island followed up with an impressive 2022 season, knocking in 22 of his 27 FG attempts. Similar to how every Georgia running back has had to follow Herschel Walker, Podlesney was faced with a big task in replacing Georgia legend Rodrigo Blankenship. Thankfully for the Bulldogs, Podlesney’s career field goal percentage is currently just over one percent lower than Blankenship’s, continuing an impressive stretch of kickers for Georgia.