As a dominant college football powerhouse, the Georgia NFL Draft prospects are likely to be selected regularly during the 2023 event in Kansas City. Below, you will find the Georgia scouting reports for their top 11 prospects declaring this season.
Georgia 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Broderick Jones, OT
Strengths: Developing left tackle with a large upside. Sets with a wide base, bends his knees, and stays square. Keeps his feet moving, is fluid sliding out laterally, and shows outstanding blocking range in pass protection. Keeps his head on a swivel and quickly recognizes blitzes.
Effective with his hands, jolts defenders with terrific punch, and gets a pad on opponents to knock them from their angles of attack. Quick to the second level, agile, and nicely redirects to linebackers. Easily gets 15-20 yards downfield and is effective blocking in motion.
Weaknesses: Ducks his head and bends at the waist on occasion. Really doesn’t finish run blocks.
Overall: Jones was a terrific left tackle for a championship program the past two seasons and is a young prospect who comes with a large upside. He must improve his run-blocking strength but possesses the ability to develop into a starting LT on Sundays.
Want more information on Jones? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Christopher Smith, S
Strengths: Underrated safety with an all-around game. Displays outstanding awareness, a sense of anticipation on pass defenses, and great recognition. Immediately diagnoses plays, is explosive, and sells out to make the tackle.
Fires upfield, wraps up opponents, and brings ball handlers down in space. Tracks the pass in the air and has an excellent move to the throw. Keeps the action in front of him, moves well laterally, and can drive to the ball out of his plant. Gives a lot of effort in all areas.
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Weaknesses: Lacks elite DB speed. Doesn’t display great range in center field.
Overall: Smith has been one of my favorite defensive backs in the nation for the past two years and doesn’t get the credit he’s due. He won’t wow anyone with his testing numbers, but Smith is an instinctive and tough football player who understands what’s happening on the field. He offers starting potential in a variety of schemes, but Smith is a safety prospect who can only play over the slot receiver.
Want more information on Smith? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Christopher Smith, S, Georgia | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Darnell Washington, TE
Strengths: Massive prospect who looks like an offensive lineman playing the tight end position. Strong, built like a blocker, and easily controls opposing defensive linemen at the point of attack. Explosive, effective blocking downfield, and takes out multiple defenders on a single play.
Fluid releasing off the line of scrimmage, uses his hands to separate from defenders, and extends to make the reception away from his frame. Can be impossible to tackle after the catch and carries multiple defenders to pick up yardage. Tracks the pass in the air, extends, and snatches the ball with his strong hands. Uses his large frame as an advantage.
Weaknesses: Lacks a quick release off the line of scrimmage, plays to one speed, and cannot run to the deep throw. More of a plodding tight end.
Overall: While Washington has limitations, he’s a devastating blocker who catches the ball extremely well. Though he’s not what the league wants at the TE position these days, with the skills he brings, Washington will be a very productive tight end on Sunday.
Want more information on Washington? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jalen Carter, DT
Strengths: Explosive, athletic, game-changing DT, who displayed consistent development in his game the past three seasons. Incredibly athletic, flashes tremendous power, and plays with a violent attitude. Bends his knees, keeps his pads low to the ground, and easily changes direction.
Fast getting to the flanks in pursuit, plays with balance, and is rarely off his feet. Holds his ground against powerful offensive linemen, fluid if asked to twist or stunt, and possesses a closing burst of speed. Effectively uses his hands to protect himself or get off blocks.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent getting off the snap. Struggled against top competition last season. Production has not been overwhelming.
Overall: Playing for a program that had three defensive linemen selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Carter is yet another great Bulldogs front-line defender. He possesses next-level size and athleticism and comes with tremendous upside. However, Carter must complete his game and start producing at a high level.
Want more information on Carter? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Kearis Jackson, WR
Strengths: Athletic receiver with next-level testing numbers. Very quick, agile, and plays with outstanding balance and body control. Tracks the pass in the air and displays outstanding focus as well as eye/hand coordination. Gets vertical, effectively times receptions, and comes away with the difficult grab.
Settles into the open spot of the field, extends his hands to offer the quarterback a target, and makes the reception away from his frame. Adjusts to the errant throw, gets down to scoop up low passes, and makes the reception in stride. Displays good route discipline.
Weaknesses: Was never overly involved in Georgia’s passing offense. Totaled 37 receptions, 514 receiving yards, and just one touchdown the past two seasons. Doesn’t have an extensive route tree.
Overall: At face value, Jackson possesses the size, speed, and pass-catching ability to make a roster as a third or fourth receiver. But he’s been a very streaky player with minimal production. Jackson projects as a late-round choice and a developmental prospect with tremendous upside. If he ever puts a complete game together, Jackson has enough ability to contribute on Sundays.
Kelee Ringo, CB
Strengths: Athletic cornerback with next-level size and speed. Quick flipping his hips in transition, loses nothing turning to run with receivers off the line, and battles opponents throughout the route. Works to get his head back around to track the pass in the air, possesses a closing burst, and physically beats down receivers to defend passes.
Plays as fast, if not, faster than his 40 time, possesses the speed necessary to recover, and drives to the ball out of his plant. Aggressive, fights to get off blocks, and makes his way upfield to defend running plays or screen passes. Agile, breaks down well, and displays good hands for the interception.
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Weaknesses: Must be more disciplined with his backpedal and improve his footwork in reverse. Gets twisted and turned and lacks balance. Doesn’t stay on the receiver’s hip out of breaks or time his pass defenses well. Beaten badly in all facets last season by Cedric Tillman of Tennessee. Gives up a lot of underneath receptions. Inconsistent.
Overall: Ringo passes the eyeball test and has some great highlights, yet he lacks a complete game and needs to improve all areas of the CB position. He possesses a tremendous amount of upside, yet Ringo also carries a large bust factor with him.
Want more information on Ringo? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Kenny McIntosh, RB
Strengths: Athletically gifted running back who runs with good lean, has a punishing style, and drives his shoulders through defenders. Rarely brought down by a single defender and picks up yardage off initial contact. Finds the running lane, has a burst through the hole, and runs with authority.
Possesses the speed and agility necessary to turn the corner. Flashes impressive foot quickness with the ability to pick his way through traffic or string multiple moves together during a single run. Terrific pass catcher who adjusts to the errant throw, extends his hands, and snatches the ball out of the air. Displays soft as well as strong hands.
Weaknesses: Not a truly creative ball carrier. Very streaky throughout his Georgia career. Carried the football more than 15 times just twice last season. Marginally productive prior to 2022.
Overall: When in good form and at the top of his game, McIntosh rates with the best running backs in this draft. Yet, all too often, he’s disappeared for long stretches and has never been consistently productive for the Bulldogs.
While McIntosh’s highlights are outstanding, the overall game film on him leaves much to be desired. He’s a well-rounded back with outstanding physical skills and a tremendous amount of upside, but the inconsistency in his game concerns me.
Want more information on McIntosh? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Nolan Smith, EDGE
Strengths: Athletic and explosive three-down LB who breaks down well, effectively uses his hands, and displays outstanding movement skills. Terrific pass rusher who forces his way upfield and slices through double-team blocks to get behind the line of scrimmage.
Displays tremendous speed and athleticism and runs down ball handlers in the open field. Gets depth on pass drops, stays with coverage assignments, and has a closing burst. Instinctive, immediately finds ball handlers, and fires to the action. Wraps up tackling and brings opponents down in the open field. Tough and plays injured. Turned in a sensational Combine workout.
Weaknesses: Benefited from great talent playing around him in 2021. Played in eight games last season before being sidelined with a pectoral injury. Ball production and sack production were minimal throughout his Georgia career.
Overall: Smith looked like a legitimate first-round prospect off the 2021 film, but he was hampered by injury last year. While he may need time to get back to form, Smith comes with tremendous upside and will be a starting three-down linebacker in the NFL.
Want more information on Smith? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Robert Beal Jr., LB
Strengths: Athletic pass-rushing front-seven prospect who can come out of a three-point stance or stand over tackle. Plays with great pad level, keeps his feet moving, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself.
Strong for his size, defeats blocks, and makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. Fast, forces the action upfield as a pass rusher, and moves well laterally. Smooth and fluid dropping off the line into space and stays with assignments in zone coverage.
Weaknesses: Marginally productive at Georgia. May not be able to handle a lot of responsibilities or a complex defensive scheme.
Overall: Beal is an athletic prospect who has shown flashes of ability. He possesses a tremendous amount of upside, but he really must develop a complete game and start to produce on the field more consistently.
Stetson Bennett, QB
Strengths: Former walk-on who turned into a championship quarterback at Georgia. Patient in the pocket, remains poised, and scans the field. Senses pressure, keeps his eyes downfield, and escapes the rush.
Finds the open wideout and flashes the ability to precisely place throws. Looks off the safety, goes to the safe underneath outlet, and displays a sense of timing on throws. Does not have receivers waiting for the ball to arrive. Spreads the ball around and uses all his targets.
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Weaknesses: Not a threat running the ball. Lacks pocket-passer size and a next-level arm. Arrested for public intoxication at the end of January.
Overall: Bennett is a great story as a former walk-on who helped lead Georgia to consecutive national titles. He plays above his head and is an intellectual signal-caller with a great feel for the game, but he lacks the size and arm strength for the NFL. Bennett could be a solid third signal-caller and another set of eyes on the sidelines if he’s committed to playing Sunday football.
Want more information on Bennett? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia | NFL Draft Scouting Report
OT Warren McClendon
Strengths: Fundamentally sound right tackle with an upside. Sets with a wide base, bends his knees, and blocks with leverage. Stays square, keeps defenders in front of him, and is active with his hands. Strong, turns defenders from the action, then seals them from plays. Fires off the snap into blocks, plays with strength, and anchors in pass protection.
Weaknesses: Must be more consistent and properly place his hands into defenders. Struggles adjusting. Lacks footwork in space.
Overall: McClendon was a terrific three-year starting RT for Georgia and is a fundamentally sound blocker who gets the most from his ability. He may ultimately move to guard at the next level, but McClendon comes with scheme versatility and starting potential.