No. 1 Georgia wouldn’t be where it is today without its defense.
The Bulldogs are giving up 7.6 points per game, which ranks first in the country. And that’s including a UAB pick-six in garbage time of week-two.
Georgia has only given up eight touchdowns all season, which leads the second best unit, Wisconsin, by 10 touchdowns.
Possibly the most impactful players on this UGA defense are at inside linebacker.
NFL draft analyst Todd McShay released his top-10 draft eligible linebackers headed into the 2022 draft and no surprise, the list includes three Georgia Bulldogs.
At No. 1 is junior mike linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Dean’s play this season has been so outstanding that he was recently named on the Senior Bowl’s Heisman ballot.
The former five-star has 49 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two interceptions (one returned for a score), 15 quarterback hurries and two pass breakups on the year.
At No. 5 on McShay’s list is senior Channing Tindall, who just earned Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance versus Tennessee last week (3 sacks).
Tindall is not a starter but leads the Bulldogs with 53 tackles through 10 games, while adding 5.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and seven quarterback hurries.
At No. 8 is money linebacker Quay Walker.
The senior has 45 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery, 15 quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
#Dawgs Todd McShay's rankings of Top 10 draft eligible Inside Linebackers #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/nTh0T8YUO7
— GATA Dawgs (@BassinDawg) November 17, 2021
