Georgia football senior linebacker Nolan Smith came back for one more season, and that comes with a lot of hype. However, that hype isn’t ridiculous because he has the ceiling to have a significant season in 2022.
PFF College dropped a graphic that said Smith was the No.1 player on the Senior Bowl watch list. Georgia had a handful of guys attend the Senior Bowl last year, and Smith will likely be the next to do so.
Even though he hasn’t quite lived up to the No.1 overall prospect ranking, yet, Smith continues to get better the longer he is in Athens.
If anyone is on track to have a big year, it’s Smith, and all he has to do is put down his head and work. He is the leader of the defense, and now it’s time for him to assert his dominance and show these younger guys how to play ball.
Georgia football linebacker Nolan Smith is the top guy to watch for the Senior Bowl.
The @seniorbowl watch list is FULL of PFF Big Board studs 🎓🔥 pic.twitter.com/d0CqaVPy7y
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 24, 2022
Last season Smith finished 56 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, three forced fumbles, one recovery, a blocked kick and 27 quarterback hurries. While he would have gotten drafted alongside the 15 other players that did, Smith came back to show he could be even better.
Seeing the Senior Bowl highlight him as the top player to watch is great to see. So many overlook Smith, but he has been a significant playmaker for the Dawgs and is a tremendous asset to this team.
Georgia needed him to return, and Dawg Nation should be excited to see him wear the Red and Black one more year. He could make those stats from 2021 look silly this season because another year of growth always helps players take that next step.
This season could be special for Smith, and after seeing some of the reports on him this Fall Camp, he has improved on his weaknesses and will haunt opponent quarterbacks all year long. Regardless he will be someone that helps lead the inexperienced and helps them grow themselves. Georgia needs leaders like him, and he is a vocal one.