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Three Georgia Bulldogs make Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 draft rankings
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- Three Georgia Bulldogs make Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 draft rankings
Recently, NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah listed what he believes to be his top 50 2025 NFL draft prospects. Jeremiah's rankings are after most pro days and 2025 NFL combine. His rankings are close to finalized with the 2025 NFL draft only three weeks away.
Unsurprisingly, three Georgia Bulldogs made the list. However, Georgia's top 50 prospects have declined recently. Georgia has one less player make the top 50 every year since six Bulldogs made the list in 2022. Even then, the three Bulldogs that made this year's list were all within the top 32, showing that Jeremiah believes three Georgia Bulldogs can be selected in the first-round.
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No. 5: Jalon Walker, LB
It's easy to see why Jalon Walker enters the top five. He is a jack-of-all-trades linebacker that is above average in every facet of defense, from coverage to run support to pass rush.
Walker won the Butkus Award in 2024 and tied with Chaz Chambliss for Georgia's most sacks in 2024 (with 6.5). He has the tools to be an All-Pro player . Even if a team like the Carolina Panthers selected him at pick 8, they will be getting a top-5 value player.
Jeremiah had this to say on Walker:
"Walker is a compact, powerful defender with length and explosiveness. He played both on and off the ball in the Georgia defensive scheme, but he's at his best on the edge. As a pass rusher, he can win with pure speed, power and an explosive counter move."
No. 22: Mykel Williams , EDGE
Many draft experts have different ideas about where Williams will be selected, but Williams is a first-round talent, no matter how you slice it. Williams has the athleticism to be a premier edge rusher in the league, but many question his draft value due to his injury concerns. Last season, Williams only played 14 games, and according to him, none of those games were at 100% health . He did get a career high 5.5 sacks last year despite the injury.
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This is what Jeremiah said on Williams
"Williams is a talented edge rusher with rare physical traits. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in the opening game against Clemson and played through pain for the remainder of the season. When healthy, he has a dynamic get-off and can win early from the edge or when he's reduced inside. He has extremely long arms and blockers struggle to get to his chest."
No. 29: Malaki Starks , S
Dec 7, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Malaki Starks (24) practices before the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Georgia safety Malaki Starks is ranked as the second safety on Jeremiah's list behind South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori . Even then, teams like the Dolphins and Falcons (with picks no. 13 and 15, respectively) would be perfect destinations for Malaki Starks. He might've gotten dinged due to his 2024 not being as good as 2023, but Starks is a rangy safety that still has the awareness and fortitude to be a longtime and impactful NFL player.
Here's what Jeremiah said on Starks:
"Starks split his time between nickelback and safety in the Bulldogs' defense. When he was in the slot, he showed quick feet with the ability to flip his hips and mirror underneath. To see him at his best, watch him carry a vertical route, stay in phase and high-point a deep ball against Clemson."
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Three Georgia Bulldogs make top 50 NFL draft rankings
