NAKOBE DEAN

Why did Mississippi native Nakobe Dean of the Georgia Bulldogs fall in the NFL Draft? This might be why.

The second day of the NFL draft ended appropriately with another wide receiver being selected.

Very little is certain heading into an NFL draft.

Very little is certain heading into an NFL draft. “I know I am the best cornerback in this draft,” Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner said Wednesday, a massive necklace spelling out his nickname “Sauce” wrapped around his neck. Not many players figure to be selected in front of him, though all of the 20 men on hand for a Play 60 event with local youths and Commissioner Roger Goodell believe they have shown the goods to be a high first-rounder.

This year’s NFL draft has the chance to be unlike any other in recent years with a possible long wait before any of the players who throw, catch or run with the ball coming off the board.

One player has been off-limits for Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel when preparing for the NFL draft with general manager Jon Robinson: Tyler Vrabel.

Quarterbacks Malik Willis and Matt Corral are among 21 prospects who will attend the NFL Draft in Las Vegas later this month.

ALLEN PARK -- Nakobe Dean is one of the best linebackers in the NFL draft. And there’s exactly one team that has requested a top-30 visit from him before the festivities get under way later this month. “I got one set up with the Detroit Lions, and I think that’s it for me,” Dean told the Athens Banner-Herald this week. Detroit also reportedly requested visits from first-round prospects like Oregon EDGE Kavon Thibodeaux, Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker, LSU cornerback Derek Stingley and Cincinnati cornerback Sauce Gardner. Two other players, Oklahoma linebacker Brian Asamoah and Missouri State defensive lineman Eric Johnson, are also visiting the team.

The Georgia Bulldogs are well-represented at the NFL scouting combine after winning their first national championship in over four decades.

Devin Lloyd (Utah) and Nakobe Dean (Georgia) are considered the top linebackers on the board. But a tougher situation at the top or bottom of Day 1 action, with Lloyd and Dean projected somewhere between. Dean and Lloyd are all over the board in mock drafts from around the country. In his most recent mock, ESPN’s Mel Kiper had Lloyd at Pick 7 to the New York Giants. In their most recent offering, Pro Football Focus had Lloyd at Pick 16 to Philadelphia and Dean at Pick 28 to Tennessee.

INDIANAPOLIS -- On this episode of The College Football Survivor Show, Doug Lesmerises and Shehan Jeyarajah let you know some of their favorite college players in the 2022 NFL Draft by doing a mock draft. But not a regular mock draft. Here, Doug and Shehan go back and forth drafting two 12-man teams for a passing game they’d like to play in a parking lot. Thanks for listening to The College Football Survivor Show. * Spotify* Apple* Stitcher* Google PlayRecent Free Episodes of The College Football Survivor ShowThe Existential Crisis in College FootballDrafting 20 Head Coaches to Make the Playoff in the Next Five Years

This is the seventh of an eight-part series previewing the Detroit Lions’ interests heading into the 2022 NFL combine, which kicks off next week. Detroit Lions linebackers have combined -- combined! He’s got speed, he’s got power, he’s got it all -- including production. At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, he’s a big, physical linebacker who can get after the quarterback or drop into coverage. Chad Muma (Wyoming): Good instincts, good size, good speed -- just a pretty good player.

“He was learning how to play linebacker last year. So, then he makes the jump to the NFL and he’s still learning how to play linebacker,” Holmes said after the season. Let’s dig into five linebackers in the draft worth knowing:Nakobe Dean, LB, GeorgiaIt’s hard to imagine a world where Nakobe Dean makes it to Detroit’s second of two first-round picks. Chad Muma, LB, WyomingChad Muma was one of the most productive linebackers in the nation while scoring some of PFF’s best grades overall and against the run at his position. Andersen had 147 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and two sacks last season per Montana State.

The NFL announced that 73 underclassmen have been granted special eligibility for the draft, the fewest in the last seven years.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart told a near-capacity crowd at Sanford Stadium the Bulldogs don’t plan to wait another 41 years for their next national championship.

Kirby Smart learned from his former boss that the time for celebrating is short in college football.

Georgia won its long-awaited national championship the way it dominated during an undefeated regular season — by relying on its defense.

The Detroit Lions will pick second in April’s draft, with another first-rounder and early second-rounder on the books, and Monday’s national championship game doubles as quite the prospect showcase. The Georgia linebacker is a game-breaking athlete that plays the game at an impressive speed, never shying away from contact. Dean is a legit linebacker prospect. Alabama WR Jameson WilliamsJameson Williams averaged 20.1 yards per catch this past season. Jordan Battle is one of the best-rated safeties in coverage, allowing a passer rating of 23.9 when targeted, forcing seven incomplete passes this past season.

The Georgia Bulldogs defense has a chance at redemption.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart got an inside look at what it takes to build a college football juggernaut working for Nick Saban at Alabama for eight years.

Stetson Bennett threw three touchdown passes, Nakobe Dean led an angry Georgia defense and the third-ranked Bulldogs returned to their dominant ways, beating No. 2 Michigan 34-11 in the Orange Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff championship.

USA TODAY Sports' Dan Wolken puts into perspective Georgia's win over Michigan and what it means for the program and Kirby Smart.

Georgia's proud defense is seeking to redeem itself after the Bulldogs' ugly loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and Alabama teammates Will Anderson Jr. and Jameson Williams have been selected All-Americans by The Associated Press.

Alabama once again collected a Southeastern Conference title and two big league-wide individual awards.

Stetson Bennett passed for 255 yards and four touchdowns, and No. 1 Georgia finished its undefeated regular season with a 45-0 victory over Georgia Tech. Georgia gained momentum for next week’s Southeastern Conference championship game against No. 3 Alabama in Atlanta.

No_ 1 Georgia and its top-ranked defense dominated Florida in the annual rivalry known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party."

Georgia and Alabama could be heading for another showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Some Southeastern Conference defenses are flexing their muscles after 2020 being a defensive coordinator’s nightmare.

Christopher Smith returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown and No. 5 Georgia turned in a defensive effort for the ages, toppling third-ranked Clemson 10-3 on Saturday in the opener for both teams.