Cowboys wise to focus on these draft-eligible Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday

Georgia is once again the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, and for good reason. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs have cakewalked the 2022 season thanks to the insane amount of talent they have on roster. Ranging from true freshmen to redshirt seniors, they have dozens of names who will eventually see playtime on Sundays, and more than likely see a lot of snaps early in their careers. The gulf between them and most other programs is both obvious on the football field on Saturdays and draft weekends in April.

Over the past three cycles, 31 Bulldogs have been selected, eight of whom went in the first round, including 2022 first overall selection Travon Walker. This recent run even surpasses stalwarts such as Alabama and Ohio State and is tied with LSU. 2023 will be no different. On Saturday, Georgia will face off against those Tigers in the SEC Championship game. Here are five draft-eligible Bulldogs to keep a keen eye on.

CB Kelee Ringo

Hometown: Tacoma, Washington
High School: Saguaro
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 210 pounds
Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Ringo was born in Washington but played his high school ball in Arizona at Saguaro High School. Here he would showcase enough talent to garner top corner and Arizona recruit honors while also being ranked as high as fourth in the nation overall. He entered Georgia recovering from surgery which saw him earn the redshirt as a freshman. In 2021 he would play in all 15 games, picking off two passes, returning one for a score while batting down 10 more. He also proved consistent as a tackler with 34 total tackles and even a sack to his name. This production followed into this season as in 12 games thus far he has added two more picks, eight passes defensed and 32 more tackles, two for a loss to his resumé.

Although he is only a redshirt sophomore, his physical ability is years ahead of his peers. The natural strength in his stature and athletic profile, which showcases explosive long speed and fantastic short area agility, combine to make the prototype athletic profile from a starting NFL corner. In addition to his physical gifts, he is intelligent and active. He has shown the ability to mirror routes while also coming up and laying the wood in the run game. All these pros do not come without cons however. The nuance of the position, specifically in press coverage leaves some consistency to be desired.

With the inconsistent play of Anthony Brown this season, Dallas is in dire need of someone to take control of that outside corner spot opposite Trevon Diggs. Under the tutelage of DC Dan Quinn Diggs has gone from a one trick pony to an All-Pro and the same could be said for Ringo. With such a special combination of athleticism, size and age, Kelee Ringo is more than worth a first round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Edge Nolan Smith

Hometown: Savannah, Georgia
High School: IMG Academy
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 235 pounds
Class: Senior

Nolan Smith was a consensus top five recruit coming out of one of the most notorious football-factories in the nation in IMG Academy. He played early in his career, seeing time in 14 games as a freshman and 10 as a sophomore collecting a modest five sacks in those games. He would breakout in 2021 as a junior however, stuffing the stat sheet for nine tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, three passes defended, two forced fumbles, an interception and a blocked kick. His 2022 season got halted with injury but put up very good performances in his eight games played.

Smith had to really wait his turn to get significant game time on a team producing NFL quality defensive line talent at an insane rate in recent years. As now a veteran on the Bulldogs defense, he has taken the leadership reigns as he plays a vital role as both a true linebacker and pass rusher and excels in both. Smith has made his name off his versatility as he has shown prowess as a pass rusher as well as in coverage and stopping the run. He is on the smaller side, listed at only 235 pounds and has yet to fully develop his arsenal of pass rush moves but the promise is there.

Projecting as a true three-down defender at the next level, it is hard to not see a little bit of Micah Parsons to Smiths game. He is not nearly as refined technically or as gifted physically as Parsons but have that same “tweener” archetype where they are able to play and excel at multiple positions and roles. Smith on his own would be a fantastic addition to any defense but added to one with the likes of Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence would make Dan Quinns unit that much scarier for opposing offenses.

TE Darnell Washington

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
High School: Desert Pines
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 280 pounds
Class: Junior

Washington was a highly touted recruit as a consensus 5-star. He was ranked as the top TE in the country, the top recruit in Nevada and was ranked as highly as 16th nationally by USA Today. This hype quickly died down as in his time as a Bulldog his production plummeted due to inconsistent QB play and offensive production as a whole. Prior to this season he only had 17 career receptions and although he sits behind one of the greatest TE prospects ever in Brock Bowers he has more than doubled his career production in 2022. He is likely to declare as the aforementioned Bowers has his starting role securely locked down.

At 6-foot-7 and 280 pounds, Washington is an absolute specimen for the TE position. Listed at around the same height and weight as NBA player Zion Williamson, his size is his biggest weapon. Washington is able to utilize his stature in both the ru and pass game as he is a physical blocker and extremely tough to cover. He possesses enough athleticism to create a serious mismatch on linebackers or defensive backs who attempt to cover him but can also be relied upon to make key blocks or be a safety blanket and catch short passes over the middle.

With the emergence of TEs Peyton Hendershot and Jake Ferguson, Dalton Schultz is likely hitting free agency this upcoming offseason. Washington would be a fantastic addition to provide the raw physical that Ferguson and Hendershot lack as they bring a bit more flair to the position.

Safety Christopher Smith

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
High School: Hapeville Charter
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 190 pounds
Class: Redshirt Senior

Although he was not a top recruit like his aforementioned teammates, Smith would cement his spot on the Bulldogs roster for the duration of his career. He would get the redshirt in 2018 and see action in all 14 games in 2019 but not get his chance as a starter until 2020. He showed promise in this season which led to a breakout in 2021 and his best season as a senior this season. In his three year career as a starter, Smith has 108 tackles with four for a loss, a sack, five interceptions and 15 passes defensed.

Smith hasn’t had the most illustrious collegiate career but has 55 games worth of experience. This had led to a developed understanding of the game and refinement in his technique. He lines up primarily and projects best at safety but has the athletic profile and size to play any defensive back spot. Smith possesses great range, solid ball skills and the willingness to tackle which allows him to excel in many phases of the game.

Smith is not a prospect that will pop off tape with splash plays or incredible athleticism. His calling card is his intelligence and versatility which are two things Dan Quinn loves as S Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse have truly bloomed under his deployment. Should Dallas look his way, Smith would likely take over FA Donovan Wilsons position as the third safety while also being a key piece in preparing for Kearses free agency in 2024.

Center Sedrick Van Pran

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
High School: Warren Easton
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 310 pounds
Class: Junior

Named the top center recruit by all but one site, Van Pran was held in high regard coming into Athens. He got the redshirt in 2020 but returned in 2021 to be the Bulldogs starting center for all 15 games. This season he has continued to hold down the starting gig for all 12 games thus far. Van Pran would also earn co-captain honors in 2022 and was given preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy and All-SEC second team honors as well.

Much more of a smooth mover than a mauler, Van Pran does not lack aggressiveness and power. He consistently looks for work and is battle tested in the SEC with some of the best interior defensive line talent in the country. His motor runs white hot and possesses the athleticism to consistently make it to the second level and move on zone runs or screens. Although he is not weak, there is still room to improve his strength to become more consistent in the run game.

Van Pran does have two more years of eligibility but would definitely benefit from declaring as the center position rarely has a prospect this intriguing. As for his spot with Dallas, current starter Tyler Biadasz has certainly improved upon his rough 2021 season but is entering his penultimate season in 2023 and has not been good enough this year to cement his spot long term. If Van Pran can make some improvements in the weight room he has the athleticism and intelligence to be the center of future of Dallas.

Story originally appeared on Cowboys Wire