Buccaneers: Georgia Bulldogs 2018 draft prospects

Another day, another school for Buccaneers fans to get to know. Today we take a look at the draft prospects on the Georgia Bulldogs, and two running backs that many Bucs fans have very high up on their wish list.

College teams don’t just make it to the championship game without some legit talent, and the Buccaneers scouts are surely looking into this class.

The Georgia Bulldogs have been an NFL superstar factory recently, with seemingly every team in the league touting at least one. Matt Stafford, A.J. Green, Todd Gurley, Justin Houston, Reshad Jones and Thomas Davis are just a few of these elite names, and they all have something in common. None of them are on the Buccaneers!

Fortunately for the Bucs this year is the perfect time to join the party. The Bulldogs are offering several elite prospects this year, most notably at the running back position where Tampa Bay desperately need help.

Let’s take a look at the ‘Dawgs entering this year’s draft.

Seniors:

Running back – Sony Michel

Wide receiver – Javon Wims

Linebacker – Lorenzo Carter

Quarterback – Brice Ramsey

Defensive Back – Malkom Parrish

Linebacker – Davin Bellamy

Safety – Dominik Sanders

Running Back – Nick Chubb

Defensive Back – Tim Hill

Defensive Back – Aaron Davis

Linebacker – Reggie Carter

Linebacker – Daniel Harper

Fullback – Christian Payne

Fullback – Jacob Gross

Guard – Dyshon Sims

Long Snapper – John Courson

Defensive Tackle – Alex Essex

Long Snapper – Trent Frix

Long Snapper – Matthew Herzwurm

Offensive Tackle – Aulden Bynum

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Guard – Thomas Swilley

Offensive Lineman – Carson Hall

Offensive Tackle – Isaiah Wynn

Tight End – Jeb Blazevich

Tight End – Jordan Davis

Tight End – Miles McGinty

Place Kicker – David Marvin

Punter – David Nzialek

Nose Tackle – John Atkins

Underclassmen:

Defensive Tackle – Trenton Thompson

Linebacker – Roquon Smith

Senior to Watch: Running Back – Sony Michel

Few running backs in this class not named Barkley have gotten as much love as Sony Michel has over the last two months. Michel played all four seasons at Georgia as part of a committee and thus flew under the radar until his senior season, but a pair of playoff games put him squarely on the draft map. Seemingly overnight Michel went from a potential second or third round steal, to a likely first round draft pick. Michel exploded for 200 total yards, a receiving touchdown, and three rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. He followed that game up with another impressive showing in the championship, notching 98 yards rushing. Michel’s senior totals were 1227 yards rushing and sixteen touchdowns.

Michel’s ability to fluidly accelerate after sharp cuts and hit an extra gear to pull away from defenders is something every NFL offense would love to have, but especially the Buccaneers. For years the only running back on the Bucs with long speed was Charles Sims, but he lacked so soundly in the other departments of running that his effect was minimized. Neither Doug Martin nor Peyton Barber offer this game breaking ability either.

If Michel lasts until the Bucs pick in the second round (which seems less and less likely by the day), expect Jason Licht to make the pick without hesitation.

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Bonus Senior to Watch: Running Back – Nick Chubb

It felt strange penning a story about the Bulldogs and not mentioning Nick Chubb. Though Michel is the back with more allure for the Bucs who desperately need his brand of athleticism, there’s no question that his running mate Chubb is an equal parts exciting prospect. In fact, if it weren’t for Chubb, Michel would have taken center-stage long ago. Standing at 5’11, 225 lbs Chubb is your textbook definition of a run-between-the-tackles workhorse prospect, and a guy that an NFL team could feed twenty-five times a week.

Coming off of a devastating knee injury in 2016, Chubb’s senior season was much like his first two in which he bulldozed opponents with shocking physicality. As he showed this year against the Oklahoma Sooners on a Marshawn Lynch-esque run, Chubb blends his trademarked power with a surprising amount of burst and breakaway speed. He had 145 yards and two touchdowns in that game, and totaled 1345 yards and fifteen touchdowns on the season, and rushed for 4769 yards and 44 touchdowns total in his four years at Georgia.

Of the two Georgia backs, Chubb seems to be the most likely to be available when the Bucs select in the second round. He has less potential as a passing down player than his teammate Sony, but may have potential for a larger workload thanks to his build and rugged running style. The Bucs will do their fair share of homework on both players, but I suspect Chubb is the guy that may fall into their lap.

Underclassman to Watch: Defensive tackle – Trenton Thompson

Thompson was a top high school recruit when he joined the Georgia Bulldogs, but a string of injuries kept him from reaching his potential. The junior decided that his ceiling would be more attainable in the NFL so he declared early for the draft. Tampa Bay is in a strange position when it comes to their defensive tackles – they have one of the best in the business in Gerald McCoy, but behind him they sorely lack depth and could really use a young project to groom. Thompson could be that guy.

Knee, ankle and shoulder injuries suffered at various points of Thompson’s three year collegiate career hampered Thompson’s production big time, but he showed flashes that will draw interest of teams like the Bucs. One such flash was the 2016 Liberty Bowl, in which Thompson registered three sacks. On his career Thompson totaled five sacks, fifteen tackles for loss, and 127 total tackles. At 6’4, 295 lbs Thompson has a solid frame but will probably need to add a few pounds for the league, depending on what type of defense he’s drafted to. He’ll have a chance to show off his athleticism at the draft and hopefully boost his stock a bit, but for now he’s safely in the realm of a mid-round project player. That is valuable for the Buccaneers, who badly need a youth infusion on their defensive line and at a minimal cost so that they can focus on other positions of need.

Next: 2018 Florida Gators Prospects to Watch

That’s it for our look at the Georgia Bulldogs prospects for this year’s draft. Be sure to sound off in the comments with which Bulldog you like best for the Bucs, and check back tomorrow for our analysis of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

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