Georgia DL Nazir Stackhouse announces decision to return to Bulldogs for 2024 season

Georgia defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse isn’t ready to leave Athens yet. Stackhouse announced on Friday that he is returning to school for the 2024 season.

The Stone Mountain, Georgia native was a second-team All-SEC selection this year after starting every game for the Bulldogs.

The return of Nazir Stackhouse is big news for a Georgia defense that should be loaded in 2024.

Stackhouse finished this past season with 24 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He also intercepted a pass and had a pass breakup.

Stackhouse has been a starter for Georgia each of the past two seasons. In 2022, he recorded 32 tackles and 3 tackles for loss, while helping the Bulldogs win their second straight national championship.

Coming out of high school, Stackhouse was ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 253 overall player in the country, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

He was an immediate contributor for Georgia as a freshman, appearing in 10 games. In 2021 Stackhouse appeared in 10 games and recorded nine tackles, while helping the Bulldogs win the national title.

He then moved into a starting defensive lineman role in 2022 and 2023 and produced monster years for an elite Georgia defense.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.