Robert Beal selected by 49ers in fifth round of 2023 NFL Draft
After six seasons as a Georgia Bulldog, Robert Beal is getting a chance to play for another team. The San Francisco 49ers used the No. 173 overall pick to select Beal in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The former four-star prospect had a slow start to his career, playing in just 15 games in his first three years at Georgia. He was unhappy enough with his playing time after two seasons that he decided to enter the transfer portal in December of 2019.
But the Norcross turned IMG turned Peachtree Ridge product decided that he wanted to stay at Georgia. Beal saw action in seven of 10 games in 2020 before breaking out in 2021.
With Adam Anderson dealing with legal issues, Beal was asked to take on a bigger role. He appeared in all 15 games and led the team in sacks with 6.5. He had one sack each in the Orange Bowl win over Michigan and the National Championship victory over Alabama.
Beal wasn’t as productive as a pass rusher in 2022, registering just 3.5 sacks. Three of those came in UGA’s final five games of the season.
“Robert has done a great job,” Smart said during the 2022 season. “He has one of the best plays in a game the other night on a goal line play where they almost scored. We ended holding them to a field goal. He is playing really physical, playing more snaps.
“He had more opportunities last year. Again, sacks are a number that statistics look at, but we don’t sit there and say — you don’t get a lot of opportunities. We haven’t had a lot of third down and longs. Had more last week than in the past maybe where you get an opportunity to do that.
“That’s just the way it’s gone this year. Very pleased with how Robert is playing, how he is practicing. He is playing more snaps now than he did last year in terms of at this time, because his opportunities came much later.”
Beal as a prospect…
After starting his career at Norcross High School and transferring to IMG Academy for his final season of prep ball, Beal graduated from Peachtree Ridge High School. An academic hurdle delayed his enrollment at Georgia and he was the final prospect in Georgia’s 2017 class to arrive on campus.
When the dust settled on that cycle, Beal was the nation’s No. 88 overall prospect and No. 9 EDGE per the On3 Industry Ranking. He was the No. 10 player in the Peach State.
