Three Georgia players, cornerback Kelee Ringo, offensive tackle Broderick Jones and tight end Darnell Washington, are headed to the NFL draft after helping the Bulldogs win their second straight national title.
The trio made their announcements on their respective Instagram accounts.
Ringo will long be remembered for a pick-six interception that sealed Georgia’s first national title in 41 seasons with a 33-18 victory over Alabama to cap the 2021 season. He had 2 interceptions, 7 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 42 tackles last season.
He is listed as the No. 17 draft prospect by ESPN’s Todd McShay.
“To my Bulldogs who have been between the hedges with me both past and present, we have won in many areas, but on the field we’ve earned the title of national champions — two times,” Ringo wrote on Instagram. “We have helped build something special and I’m grateful to have had you as a teammate.”
Jones, a sophomore listed as the No. 20 draft prospect according to McShay, started 15 times at left tackle for the Bulldogs in 2022, allowing zero sacks and only six pressures while being named to the all-SEC team. Jones, at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, is the No. 3 tackle available for the draft according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., Jordan Reid and McShay.
“These 3 years in Athens have been filled with so many great experiences that I will cherish forever,” Jones wrote on Instagram. “I wanted to thank my family for all their love and support no matter the circumstance. … To my brothers, thank you for all of the memories we made and the relationships that will truly last a lifetime. Two National Championships never felt so good.”
Washington, who is the No. 3 tight end in the draft according to McShay, is a massive tight end (6-foot-7, 270 pounds) who teamed with Brock Bowers to give Georgia a dominant one-two punch at the often-overlooked position.
“My time in Athens has come to an end as I pursue my dreams of playing in the NFL,” said Washington, who was a key blocker and ranked fourth on the Bulldogs with 28 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bulldogs made it two national titles in a row with a 65-7 romp over TCU on Monday night. A celebration is planned for Saturday in Athens with a parade through town and a ceremony at Sanford Stadium.
Another Georgia tight end, sparingly used Ryland Goede, tweeted Thursday that he will enter the transfer portal. Two other backup tight ends, Arik Gilbert and Brett Seither, had already said they intend to transfer.
The Bulldogs are still in good shape at that position with Bowers set to return for his third season and former top recruit Oscar Delp coming off a promising freshman campaign.
Four more Georgia backups entered the transfer portal Friday, sources told ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, including freshman Jaheim Singletary, who was the No. 3 cornerback and No. 21 prospect overall in the 2022 ESPN 300. Singletary, from Jacksonville, Florida, played in three games last season.
Two linebackers, MJ Sherman and Trezmen Marshall, also entered the portal. Marshall, a junior from Homerville, Georgia, was the No. 2 inside linebacker in the Class of 2019, according to ESPN Recruiting. He had 19 tackles, one sack and one interception in 2022. Sherman was the No. 2 inside linebacker in the Class of 2020. The Baltimore native had five tackles and a half-sack last season.
Offensive lineman Jacob Hood entered the portal as well, and defensive lineman Bill Norton transferred to Arizona.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sourced from ESPN
