Georgia Bulldogs Football

Jake Fromm is heading to the NFL.

Georgia's junior quarterback announced his intention to declare for April's NFL draft on Wednesday:

Fromm has served as Georgia's starting quarterback the past three seasons, posting solid numbers in each of those campaigns:

• 2017: 2,615 yards, 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 62.2 completion percentage. 
• 2018: 2,761 yards, 30 touchdowns, six interceptions, 67.4 completion percentage.
• 2019: 2,860 yards, 24 touchdowns, five interceptions, 60.8 completion percentage.

So entrenched was Fromm as Georgia's starter that Justin Fields transferred from Georgia to Ohio State. That worked out well for the Buckeyes—Fields had a monster season in Columbus. 

But Fromm gave Georgia little reason to doubt his status as the team's starting quarterback. He led the Bulldogs to the national championship game as a freshman, three straight SEC title games and a Sugar Bowl victory in 2019.

Fromm's resume is strong, but it's fair to question where he'll go in this year's draft. A number of other QBs have first-round pedigree, including LSU's Joe Burrow, Oregon's Justin Herbert and Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa (depending on his recovery from a season-ending hip injury). 

Fromm is likely a second-day option for teams at the draft, and there will be a number of them looking to address the position.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins clearly need to find a franchise quarterback of the future, though they'll likely invest first-round picks to do so. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots, among others, could be in the market for a rookie quarterback, either to compete for the job or as a successor for an aging veteran. 

And Fromm is a plug-and-play option, with three years of starting experience and plenty of polish to his game. He's mechanically sound, is already accustomed to running a pro-style offense and delivers an accurate, catchable ball. 

He doesn't pop off the page with his physical tools, however. He won't win games with his legs and his arm isn't powerful. Those factors limit his ceiling, making him an unsexy option at quarterback, but at the very least should translate in the NFL as a solid game-manager.  

Five-star cornerback Kelee Ringo, whom 247Sports ranks as the eighth-best prospect in the class of 2020, chose to attend Georgia on Saturday at the All-American Bowl.

The rich got richer, as one of the national powerhouses received yet another 5-star prospect. The Bulldogs defense under head coach Kirby Smart has been exceptional, ranking second in the country in points allowed per game (12.6) this season.

Ringo should only extend Georgia's defensive legacy after he lands on campus.

The 6'2", 205-pounder, who played for Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, had 33 offers, per 247Sports. He's ranked as the No. 1 cornerback in his class and the top prospect in Arizona.

A track and field athlete as well, Ringo runs the 100 and 200 meters. Per Athletic.net, his personal-best 100-meter mark is 10.43 seconds.

Ringo's height and size make him one of the more intriguing class of 2020 prospects in the nation. Only three top-100 cornerback prospects are taller, and none weigh more.

That could also help him contribute to the Bulldogs right away as they seek to bounce back in 2020 after barely missing the College Football Playoff for the second straight season.

Georgia running back D'Andre Swift officially announced Friday he will declare for the 2020 NFL draft.

The Athletic's Seth Emerson initially reported Swift was going to declare for the draft prior to the Sugar Bowl, but Swift explained in a since-deleted tweet that he was undecided. The junior will be forgoing his senior season. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller lists Swift as the best running back in the draft class and the No. 16 prospect overall.

At 5'9", Swift is a bit shorter than other top prospects in the class, but he has a strong frame at 215 pounds and is a versatile player who can contribute right away.

The Philadelphia native first turned heads as a freshman while totaling 618 rushing yards on 81 carries (7.6 yards per attempt) despite being behind current NFL players Nick Chubb and Sony Michel on the depth chart. He has become more of a featured player over the past two seasons, totaling 2,267 rushing yards in that stretch.

He also had 73 catches for 666 yards and five touchdowns in his three years, proving he can help an offense in more than one way.

Though Georgia rotates its running backs more than some teams around the country, Swift's limited carries could have kept him fresh for his NFL career.

Perhaps the only question mark is his health. A shoulder injury limited Swift to just three carries over the SEC Championship Game defeat to LSU and the 26-14 Sugar Bowl victory over Baylor on Wednesday. However, he should have plenty of time to get back to full strength before the 2020 season.

The Bulldogs will likely miss his production next season, but Zamir White could be in for a big role going forward.

Tight end Darnell Washington, who also owns experience as a defensive end, announced Thursday at the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game he's decided to play college football at Georgia.

Washington is a 5-star prospect and the No. 10 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The versatile recruit is ranked as the No. 1 athlete in the class and the best prospect from the state of Nevada.

The key questions over the next four years will be how to maximize his impact and whether that could include playing on both sides of the ball.

In June 2018, Washington explained to Von Lozon of Maize n Brew he'd told the Michigan coaching staff tight end was his position of choice but added he'd have "no problem" playing both offense and defense.

Whether that's a realistic long-term goal is unclear. Tight end and defensive line are two physically demanding positions, and trying to develop into an elite pass-rusher in an era where they're a critical element of any defense likely wouldn't leave much time for mastering an offensive playbook.

So it's a lot different than an athlete prospect coming in with the goal of serving as a dime corner, third-down running back and return specialist.

That said, Washington's 6'7 ½", 261-pound frame combined with his athleticism gives him the tools necessary to become a key contributor at either position over time.

While his upside warranted a 5-star rating, it could take a little while before he's ready to truly shine at the collegiate level for the Dawgs, especially given the positional uncertainty. He'll probably be more of a depth asset over his first season or two.

After that, his role will become more clear and he should be a key piece of the puzzle for head coach Kirby Smart and UGA, regardless of position.

Not even a full day after Georgia took care of Baylor in the Sugar Bowl, head coach Kirby Smart is already trying to keep his players' egos in check for next season. 

"To be honest with you, the future is only bright if those guys continue to work because there's a disease that creeps in at Georgia where kids believe they're better than they are and they read their own press clippings," Smart said, per USA Today's Chris Bumbaca.

UGA handled Baylor with relative ease in a 26-14 victory on New Year's Day after flopping in the Sugar Bowl to Texas last season. 

"They'll only be as good as they can be if they stay as hungry as they are," Smart added. "When they're not hungry, you become average. Some of that, I think, has affected us in the past. We've got to find a way in this program to not let that creep in and [to] keep that same hunger you had as a young player. Because we've had it happen to several guys that were really hungry and then they become full." 

That shouldn't be too hard this offseason given how close the Bulldogs were to securing a spot in the College Football Playoff. UGA held down the No. 4 seed in the CFP rankings from Week 11 to Week 14, but a loss to No. 1 LSU in the SEC title game moved Georgia from last team in to first team out. 

It's the same position the program was in last season as well, which may have as much to do with Smart's comments on Thursday as anything. For Georgia to take a step forward, it can't be satisfied with playing on New Year's Day—it needs to return to the playoff. Nothing less, not even a fourth consecutive 10-plus-win season, can substitute for reaching college football's final four. 

With UGA on the cusp of becoming another SEC powerhouse, Smart isn't wasting time getting his message through to his players. Winning the Sugar Bowl isn't enough and there's not much time to celebrate. The 2020 College Football Playoff is all that matters. 

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart issued a warning Wednesday about a "disease" within the Bulldogs football program after its 26-14 victory over Baylor in the 2020 Sugar Bowl.

Smart explained after the game Bulldogs players tend to become overconfident based on media attention after high-profile wins like their New Year's Day triumph.

"To be honest with you, the future is only bright if those guys continue to work because there's a disease that creeps in at Georgia where kids believe they're better than they are and they read their own press clippings," he told reporters.

Smart made the remark in response to a question about how key contributions from two freshmen, running back Zamir White and wide receiver George Pickens, could set the team up for future success.

The victory over Baylor allowed Georgia to finish the 2019 campaign with a 12-2 record and helped the team finish on a high note after losing last year's Sugar Bowl to Texas.

Yet Smart's comments hint toward some frustration after the Dawgs missed out on the College Football Playoff because of a blowout loss to LSU in the SEC Championship Game.

He expanded on his thoughts, which stemmed from a reading by the team chaplain before the bowl game:

"He basically said that when you start reading about yourself and believing your own press clippings is when you start to fall. Those kids that you just mentioned are tremendous players. But they'll only be as good as they can be if they stay as hungry as they are. When they're not hungry, you become average. Some of that, I think, has affected us in the past.

"We've got to find a way in this program to not let that creep in and (to) keep that same hunger you had as a young player. Because we've had it happen to several guys that were really hungry and then they become full."

Smart has guided Georgia to a 44-12 record since taking over in December 2015. The Bulldogs reached the CFP National Championship Game at the end of the 2017 season, but the program's first national title since 1980 has remained elusive.

The Sugar Bowl win should secure a berth in the top five of the final rankings, and Georgia owns the fourth-ranked recruiting class for 2020, per 247Sports. So the signs are overwhelmingly positive.

Smart apparently wanted to send a message to his players before the offseason, however, and it's safe to say it came through loud and clear.

Wide receiver Marcus Rosemy is officially a Georgia Bulldog.

Rosemy signed his letter of intent with the SEC team on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. 

Rosemy, who checks in at 6'2" and 195 pounds, is a 4-star prospect and the No. 41 overall player, No. 7 wide receiver and No. 7 player from the state of Florida in his class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

There weren't many better offensive weapons available across the country, and Georgia landed a significant victory on the trail with this commitment.

He announced his commitment on Twitter in June:

Rosemy's quick-cut ability on slants helps him break free from cornerbacks, and he possesses the speed and agility to find open spaces and turn short routes into game-changing plays. He can also high-point passes, making him a threat in the red zone and on fade routes.

He burst onto the scene as a junior in 2018 at powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas high school and finished the campaign with 764 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches, per MaxPreps. He followed up with nine touchdown catches as a senior.

The Florida native also tallied 20.6 yards per catch in 2018, underscoring his tendency to elude defenders and swing the course of games whenever he gets his hands on the ball.

All that talent naturally attracted some of the best programs in the country, as Florida, Florida State, Ohio State and Michigan, among others, were all included on 247Sports' list of interested schools.

Georgia won the highly contested battle, keeping him in the southeast and beating out local rivals to land someone who can develop into an All-American type of playmaker in the coming seasons.

The Bulldogs are coming off an SEC Championship Game appearance and an 11-2 record in 2019 but haven't quite made the leap to national championship status just yet. They were in the College Football Playoff national title game during the 2017 campaign but lost a heartbreaker and missed their chance at the CFP this past season because of their loss to LSU in the conference championship.

Head coach Kirby Smart need to consistently succeed in the fertile recruiting ground in the southeast if he is going to win the elusive title, and landing players like Rosemy is an excellent way to do just that.  

The Georgia Bulldogs landed a major commitment for their 2020 recruiting class on Wednesday as 5-star linebacker Mekhail Sherman officially signed his letter of intent.

According to 247Sports, Sherman is the No. 18 overall player, No. 2 outside linebacker and No. 1 player from Washington, D.C., in the 2020 class.

Sherman is a standout at St. John's College High School who has garnered interest from a bevy of high-profile college programs. Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Penn State, LSU, Notre Dame and Oklahoma are just a few of the schools that made him a formal scholarship offer.

Sherman was among the players who were invited to take part in The Opening in July 2018, and he turned some heads, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports:

At 6'3" and 234 pounds, Sherman is the perfect size to excel at linebacker in college, and the fact that he is speedy to boot should make him a nightmare for opposing offenses.

It isn't uncommon for highly touted linebackers to be a factor during their freshman seasons, and Sherman may have that opportunity in 2020.

The outside backer likely won't be relied upon to make defensive calls as a freshman, and if he is asked to simply track down ball-carriers, he should be a difference-maker very early on in his collegiate career.

Sherman has clearly separated himself from most other players at his position in this recruiting class, and if he continues on his current upward trajectory, he should be one of the biggest defensive stars in college football before long.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart's reputation as one of the nation's best recruiters continues to grow with the official signing of Sherman, who has the potential to be an elite-level playmaker within an already talented  defense.

Much like how Roquan Smith led Georgia a few years ago before going on to enjoy success in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, Sherman has the ability to possibly follow a similar path.

Georgia running back D'Andre Swift is undecided about whether or not he will return to the Bulldogs or enter the 2020 NFL draft amid a report he was going to turn pro.

The Athletic's Seth Emerson initially reported Swift was going to leave school.

Swift took to Twitter to announce that he would be making an official decision following the Sugar Bowl against Baylor on Jan. 1:

The 20-year-old flashed plenty of potential by averaging 7.6 yards per carry during his freshman season in 2017 while operating behind current NFL running backs Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns) and Sony Michel (New England Patriots).

The 5'9", 215-pound back parlayed that into a breakout sophomore campaign when he recorded 163 carries for 1,049 yards (6.4 yards per carry) with 10 touchdowns in 14 games. He added 32 receptions for 297 yards and three receiving scores in 2018.

The Philadelphia native tallied 1,216 rushing yards, 216 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns during the 2019 season.

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops gave Swift high praise after he rushed for 179 yards and scored two TDs in UGA's 21-0 win over the Wildcats in October.

"D'Andre Swift is an impressive player. I just gave him a 'congratulations' after the game and wished him 'goodbye,'" Stoops told reporters. "Because he needs to go to the NFL. He's an elite player."

In his most recent big board posted on Dec. 10, B/R's Matt Miller ranks Swift as the top running back and No. 14 overall prospect in the 2020 class. 

The dual-threat playmaker has a chance to emerge as the top running back in the 2020 draft with a strong showing during the NFL Scouting Combine and team visits if he declares. A former 247Sports 5-star recruit, Swift is a potential three-down workhorse in an era when they are becoming increasingly rare.

One of the best prospects in the entire country is officially headed to the 2020 NFL draft.

Georgia Bulldogs offensive tackle Andrew Thomas announced on Tuesday that he was forgoing his senior year to turn pro:

Thomas has seemed destined for the next level since he arrived on campus as a 4-star prospect and the No. 45 overall player in the class of 2017, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He immediately worked his way into the starting lineup as a right tackle during his freshman campaign and helped lead the Bulldogs to the College Football Playoff national championship game.

The freshman All-American then moved to the left tackle spot for the 2018 campaign after Isaiah Wynn departed for the NFL, and he found more success as a second-team All-American.

In 2019, Thomas came into his own as one of the best offensive linemen in the country. He was named to the Walter Camp All-America team, made the All-SEC first team for the second consecutive year and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy given to the best blocker in the SEC. 

Thomas brings head-turning size to the next level at 6'5" and 320 pounds, and he uses that and his overall strength to set the tone in the rushing attack by driving the defensive line back and establishing himself in the second level.

His mobility also stands out, and he can use his athleticism and lateral quickness to protect his quarterback from either tackle spot as a versatile piece who fits inside a pro-style offense.

In his most recent 2020 NFL Draft big board, B/R's Matt Miller has Thomas ranked as the top offensive lineman and No. 12 overall prospect. 

He will now look to parlay that potential into a successful NFL career after declaring for the draft.