Georgia Bulldogs Top NFL Prospects for 2012 and Beyond

The Georgia Bulldogs are one of the more underrated teams in the nation right now as it pertains to NFL talent. This is a team that always does a great job of recruiting, and they always have a solid crop of prospects and this year is no different. Georgia opens the season with one of the biggest non-conference games of the year, playing against Boise State in the Georgia Dome. The Bulldogs boast one of the best special teams units in all of college football, and it starts with their All American kicker…

57 Blair Walsh (Senior), K, 5’10” 183

Walsh has one of the strongest legs in the country, and despite only playing for Georgia for three seasons, he has been named to Georgia’s All-Decade team. After his junior season, he was named first team All-SEC by virtually every media outlet and was a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza award. He has made 40 of his last 45 field goals, and has only missed one extra point in his entire Georgia career. He also ranks 4th in Georgia history with 303 points, and is also an excellent kickoff specialist. One of the most prolific kickers in the country, and a guy that should be drafted to the NFL and an immediate contributor. Kicking seems to be a lost art nowadays, but this guy has perfected it and is one of the best in the country. He could be drafted abnormally high (not Sebastian Janikowski high, that is an act saved for only Al Davis), and he could be an elite kicker in the NFL for a long, long time.

13 Drew Butler (Senior), P, 6’2″ 210

Second team All-American in 2010, and a first team pre-season All-American in 2011 according to Athlon Sports. One of the best punters in college football today, and was named to the Georgia All-Decade team. Had 56 punts as a sophomore and averaged 48.1 yards per kick, and as a junior had 50 punts, averaging 44.5 yards. ESPN Academic All-American and a 2nd team All-SEC selection by most media outlets, Butler is rated as either the best or second best punter in the entire 2012 draft class. Butler won the Ray Guy Award in 2009 as the best punter in the nation, and was a first team All American that year as well. Butler and Walsh make up the best kicker/punter duo in the nation, and will be huge weapons for the Bulldogs in 2011.

61 Ben Jones (Senior), C, 6’3″ 300

Not a flashy offensive line prospect by any means, but rock solid and one of the best interior line prospects in the senior class of 2012. Very productive in his career at Georgia, opening holes for some of the best runners in the country. Was named 2nd team All SEC in 2009 and 4th team All SEC in 2010. Finalist for the Outland Trophy in 2010, and a second team All SEC selection according to Athlon Sports. Jones is one of the leaders on the offensive line, and has started 35 games in his career.

71 Cordy Glenn (Senior), OL, 6’5″ 330

Massive offensive line prospect who is a pre-season first team All SEC selection by Athlon Sports for the 2011 season. Glenn has started 36 games for the Bulldogs, and was named an All American by Pro Football Weekly. Third team All SEC selection by Phil Steele last year, and one of the top power guard prospects in the country. There was a school of thought that Glenn could be the first guard selected had he come out after his junior season, and he looks like he could be a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Absolutely a mauling lineman who punishes anyone who gets in his way, Glenn and center Ben Jones will combine on the Georgia interior to open up holes for running backs and keep the quarterback off the ground. This is a guy who you project to go in the 2nd round or later because of the position he plays, but with another big season, he could be in the first round mix.

2 Brandon Boykin (Senior), CB, 5’10” 183

Boykin is one of the most electric return men in the country, and while he has some growing to do at the cornerback position, he has really improved his skills over the last couple of years. In the last two seasons, he has 95 tackles, six interceptions, and his first career sack, which came in 2010. Where Boykin has made himself a household name is on special teams, where he has 72 career kick returns, four of which he has taken back for touchdowns. His three kick return touchdowns in 2009 are the best mark in school history, and while he’s slightly undersized, he is one of the fastest players in the country. Boykin elected to stay for his senior season despite considering entering the 2011 NFL Draft. Because of his speed and playmaking ability, he has potential to be a big time NFL player someday.

7 Orson Charles (Junior), TE, 6’3″ 240

Very young, raw tight end prospect with plenty of room for growth, but perhaps some of the best natural ability of any tight end in the next couple of classes. Charles was a hotly sought after recruit in 2009 when he chose Georgia over USC, and he has been named a 1st Team All SEC selection by Athlon Sports for the 2011 season. As a receiver, Charles is one of the best tight ends in the country, and wasted no time making an impact at Georgia. Caught 23 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman two years ago, and had 26 receptions for 422 yards and two scores last year as a sophomore. Third team All-American selection by Athlon Sports for the 2011 pre-season, and will be on the pre-season watch list for the John Mackey award. Charles is basically a big wide receiver out there on the field, so he is still adjusting to the tight end position in terms of blocking. Should be able to create mismatches in the passing game, and with AJ Green gone to the NFL, he could emerge as the top target in the Georgia passing game overall. If he has a big season, look for him to consider putting his name in the 2012 NFL Draft.

81 Aron White (Senior), TE, 6’4″ 240

A little bit more of a question mark at the tight end position is Aron White for the Georgia Bulldogs. He missed a ton of time last year because of injury, but when he was at his best, he was very productive. In 2009 as a sophomore, he had 13 receptions for 198 yards and four touchdowns. Averaging over 15 yards per reception, he is obviously capable of making big plays, and having nearly 1/3 of his receptions go for touchdowns is telling as well. If he can stay healthy, sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray has to be giddy about the opportunity to throw to these big guys. Georgia is a team that loves to run, and that’s not possible without good blocking from the tight end position. Both guys need to work on it, but both are better than their receiving prowess would indicate. Still, that’s always the main area to work on for college tight ends.

4 Caleb King (Senior), RB, 5’11” 224

Big, inside the tackles running back who is slippery and doesn’t go down easily. Not overly fast but his speed is somewhat deceptive, and he can make people miss in the open field. Biggest downside to King is that he will be a 24 year old rookie, but the upside is that he won’t have  too much tread on his tires, even though he is going to have a full year as the Georgia featured back. As a junior, he had 430 yards on 80 carries with two touchdowns. As a sophomore, he carried a much bigger load with 114 carries for 594 yards and seven scores. In terms of his NFL ability, he really needs to improve in the passing game, where he only has 12 receptions over the last two seasons.

12 Tavarres King (RS Junior), WR, 6’1″ 191

Ever since King first took the field for the Georgia Bulldogs, he has been a big play wide receiver. In his freshman year, he had two receptions–one went for 41 yards, the other for 25. As a sophomore, he caught 18 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown, a yard per reception total of 20.9. As a junior, he had his biggest role yet, starting five games and catching 27 passes for 504 yards and scoring a career high three touchdowns. Averaging just under 19 yards per reception as a junior, he enters this season as a deep threat for the Bulldogs and a big play receiver. If he can have a big year, he should get drafted to the NFL, but right now, it’s a little uncertain what his stock might be.

18 Bacarri Rambo (RS Junior), S, 6’0″ 211

Bacarri Rambo is a guy you have to love if for no other reason than he has one of the coolest names in college football. The playmaking safety enters his junior year as a 2nd team All SEC pre-season performer by Athlon Sports, and was a third team All SEC player last year according to Phil Steele. As a junior, he had 82 tackles, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions. Rambo is really a game-changer at the safety position, and he is not afraid to lay his body out there in order to make the play (see hit on Mario Fannin against Auburn). This is a guy who is flying under the radar right now, but if he continues to make plays at this rate (two interceptions as a freshman, also), he could be one of the top safeties available in this year or next year’s class.