Georgia football: 3 players who must make their decision for next year
Georgia football LB Nolan Smith
Everyone knew Nolan Smith would be on this list as he is the one that has Georgia football fans refreshing message boards to see if he has made his decision.
Smith could go to the NFL Draft and succeed, but he still has so much upside that he isn’t even close to reaching his ceiling.
Georgia needs a junior to make the decision and come back, and while we mentioned his name as someone who must come back, here we are on deadline day, waiting for his announcement.
The silence could be a good sign for the Dawgs, but at the same time, it is unsettling because he could be a big piece to next year’s team if Smith chose to return.
He finished the season with 56 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception, one pass breakup and 27 quarterback hurries. While these are solid stats, they could be so much better, and if he comes back will be next year.
Smith was a force of nature on defense for Georgia this season, but he still has room to improve.
If he came back, he would go from likely getting drafted in the third or fourth round to a first-round NFL Draft pick. Smith has that much talent as he came into Georgia as the No.1 overall pick out of high school, yet he hasn’t just pulled away from the pack.
Who cares if he isn’t quite ready for the draft after three years like some anticipated for him out of high school. Instead, Smith needs to follow his own path and use the next year to clean up some minor things and dominate the SEC.
Next season could be his moment to do that and be the primary defensive leader. Georgia has a much better chance at returning to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game and possibly the playoffs if Smith returns to help run this defense.
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While Georgia football fans are primarily waiting on Smith to announce his decision, all three of these players are ones to keep an eye on on Jan. 17 because each of them brings different qualities to the team that Georgia could use next year.