Georgia ranks No. 1 among College Football's top trios in 2022

On3 imageby:Palmer Thombs07/02/22

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In case you missed it yesterday, On3 released its rankings of the top defensive line-linebacker-defensive back trios in all of College Football on Friday, and Georgia comes in atop the list. While the Bulldogs certainly have to replace a lot on the defensive side of the football, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Kelee Ringo make up what On3 believes to be the best 1-2-3 punch across the country.

Carter (6-3, 310) is the best lineman in the nation – on either side of the ball. He did not get much acclaim last season while lined up next to eventual first-rounders Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, but ask NFL scouts and opposing coaches about him. The old Jake Gaither homily applies: Carter is agile, mobile and hostile. Carter will be a first-rounder; the question is whether he goes in the top five. Smith (6-3, 235) was the On3 Consensus No. 1 recruit in the 2019 class, and while he didn’t make a splash initially, he has become an important cog for the Bulldogs. He had 10 tackles for loss last season from his outside linebacker spot. And Ringo (6-2, 205) is as talented as any corner in the nation. He had the game-sealing pick in the national championship win over Alabama.

Mike Huguenin – On3 National Executive Editor

As Hugenin points out, Carter is considered the top lineman in all of the College Football on either side of the ball. He has been named a Preseason All-American by Phil Steele and Walter Camp so far along with an All-SEC nod from Steele and Athlon Sports. Carter has played in every game since he stepped foot on campus in 2020, starting two each season. Last year he was named to the All-SEC Second-Team according to the coaches after a season that saw him finish with 37 tackles, 33 quarterback pressures, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He also blocked two kicks including an important one in the National Championship win over Alabama. Carter is expected to breakout even more in 2022 without the likes of Jordan Davis, Travon Walker and Devonte Wyatt – all three first round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft – also in the room.

Smith hasn’t earned quite as much preseason attention as Carter, but few have. He still has a spot on the All-SEC teams from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports though and is a projected first rounder by ESPN draft expert Todd McShay. Meanwhile, Mel Kiper has him as the No. 5 outside linebacker in a loaded draft class. Smith started all 14 of the games that he played in last season and has been a major contributor since he got to Georgia in 2019. He finished second on the team in tackles for loss last season with 9.0 and fifth overall with 56 stops. Smith led Georgia in tackles with a career-high eight stops in the Bulldogs’ College Football Playoff Semifinal win over Michigan at the Capital One Orange Bowl, one of two times that he reached that number on the season.

Finally, on the back end of the defense in the secondary, Ringo also returns as a leader for Georgia in his position group despite only having played one season. He was hurt for all of the 2020 campaign before coming back strong in 2021. A Freshman All-SEC Team selection according to the coaches last season, Ringo finished with 34 tackles, eight pass breakups and two interceptions. One of those he returned for a touchdown in the National Championship Game to seal the deal for the Bulldogs bringing home the title. Ringo has also been named a Preseason All-American by both Phil Steele and Walter Camp with All-SEC selections by Steele and Athlon Sports.

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