Mel Kiper features five Georgia Bulldogs in first big board for 2024 Draft
ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. released the first edition of his big board for the 2024 NFL Draft on Wednesday with the start of College Football season coming this weekend. Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs have been on a record run the last few years with the most players picked from a single school in the modern draft era back in 2022 before their second straight double-digit pick draft in 2023.
As far as the next draft goes, there’s a chance Georgia is once again in that sphere.
Tight end Brock Bowers is seen as the No. 5 available player according to Kiper after he’s led the Bulldogs in receiving each of his first two seasons. With over 1,000 total yards in 2022 and almost 2,000 on his career, Bowers holds just about every record a tight end could at Georgia. He won the Mackey Award as the top player for the position last season and is looking to become the first two-time winner this year.
Bowers was an instant difference-maker for the Bulldogs as a true freshman in 2021, catching 56 passes for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns. He followed up that season with 63 catches for 942 yards and seven scores as Stetson Bennett’s No. 1 target, winning his second-straight national title. He’s an advanced pass-catcher and should make an instant impact when he gets to the NFL. Though he’s not huge — former teammate Darnell Washington made him look small at times — he’s a matchup nightmare for defenses. He has great hand-eye coordination and run-after-the-catch ability, and he can stretch the field down the seams. I also love the way he tracks the ball, high-pointing it above defenders. This will be his first season without Bennett, but Carson Beck just needs to get the ball in his hands. – Kiper
USC quarterback Caleb Williams, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Penn State offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye are the only players Kiper has above Bowers.
Offensive tackle Amarius Mims comes in at No. 25 according to Kiper, the final player he ranked on his overall list. Mims is in his first year as a starter, taking over for Warren McClendon at right tackle, but does have a good bit of experience under his belt playing for him in the College Football Playoffs and factoring into the rotation throughout the regular season.
Mims has started two games in his college career and played just 492 total snaps, and yet I feel great about putting him in my top 25. Why? Because of what I saw in those snaps and what I’ve heard from college coaches and NFL front office execs. They expect him to be one of the best linemen in college football this season. Both of Mims’ starts came in place of the injured Warren McClendon at right tackle in the College Football Playoff last season, and he showed his talent and upside. He’s raw, of course, but I like his footwork. He blew defenders off the ball in the run game, and I was surprised how solid he was in pass protection with such limited experience. Remember: Broderick Jones was a first-year starter last season, too, and he ended up as the No. 14 overall pick. – Kiper
Bowers is the No. 1 ranked tight end while Mims comes in at No. 4 among offensive tackles. Other Georgia players ranked in the top six of their respective position groups are Sedrick Van Pran (No. 1 center), Smael Mondon (No. 4 off-ball linebacker) and Javon Bullard (No. 6 safety).
Georgia gets its 2023 campaign underway on Saturday by taking on UT-Martin. Kickoff time at Sanford Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+/SECN+). The Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 by both the AP and Coaches in their preseason polls and considered to be the favorite to take home a third straight title according to oddsmakers in Las Vegas.
