How Did Former Georgia Players Perform In the 2023 NFL Regular Season

With 50 former Georgia Bulldogs that landed on an NFL roster this season, let's look at how they performed.

Author:
Ethan Offutt
Jan 11, 2024 6:35 PM EST

The Georgia Bulldogs have become one of the more prominent faces not only in college football, but the NFL within recent years. At the start of the year, Georgia had a total of 50 players who were listed on an NFL roster. With that being said, let's take a look at how these former players performed during the 2023 NFL regular season, heading into the playoffs.

AFC East

David Andrews and the New England Patriots had one of their worst seasons in recent memory, finishing their year at 4-13. But, a first-year Pro Bowler in James Cook and the Buffalo Bills capped off another AFC East division title and the AFC's No. 2 seed in the playoofs. Cook led the Bills' rushing attack with 1,122 yards but only two touchdowns, adding 445 receiving yards and four touchdowns through the air. Joined by Leonard Floyd on the defensive side, who had 32 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, and a forced fumble to lead the Bills to an 11-6 season. They defeated the Miami Dolphins Sunday night to capture the AFC East title and put the Dolphins at the No. 6 seed, moving Channing Tindall and the 'Phins to 11-6. Tindall has eight tackles this year and will help try to advance Miami through the playoffs for another meeting with Cook and the Bills.

AFC North

The AFC North was one of the most intriguing divisions not only for this season, but in NFL history, becoming the only division in NFL history to have each team in their division finish with a winning record. Leading the way was the Baltimore Ravens who nabbed the AFC's No. 1 seed in this year's playoffs with a 13-3 record. Roquan Smith led the team in tackles, with 158, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble. He and Ben Cleveland will have another taste of the playoofs, as they get to rest during the Wild Card weekend. They are then followed by Nick Chubb's Cleveland Browns with an 11-6 record, and the No. 5 seed in this year's playoofs. Unfortunately, Chubb suffered a torn ACL early on in the season, but managed to pick up 170 yards in the two games played. His Browns are then followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by George Pickens, Darnell Washington, and Broderick Jones to help land the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. Pickens led the Steeler in recieving stats, with 1,140 yards and five touchdown catches, while Washington had seven catches for 61 yyards. Finally, Trey Hill's Cincinatti Bengals, with a 9-8 record, missed out on the playoffs.

AFC South

The AFC South had an interesting end to their season, as there was a three-way tie going into the final week. Isaiah McKenzie helped the Indianapolis Colts reach a 9-8 mark for the year on hs 11 catches for 82 yards, while adding 152 yards in the reutrn game. They, like the Jacksonville Jaguars, will miss the playoffs. Speaking of Jacksonville, the Jaguars had the division title in their grasps heading into the final week. Travon Walker and Tyson Campbell helped lead them to a final 9-8 record, losing to the Tennessee Titans and letting the Houston Texans into the playoffs. Campbell was sixth on the team in tackles with 61, and an interception, while Walker had 52 tackles, ten sacks, and a fumble recovery.

AFC West

In the West there is a load of Dawgs that helped their teams out this season. Starting with the AFC West champs, Mecole Hardman and Malik Herring helped the Kansas City Chiefs gain another division title. Hardman had 14 catches for 118 yards. They finished their season at 11-6, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers and Jamaree Salyer, to move their record to 5-12 to finish a rough 2023. Tied for second place in the division was the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders. Finishing their year at 8-9 under their interim head coach, the Raiders managed to find success this season. Zamir White was a solid backup to Josh Jacobs, rushing for 451 yards and a touchdown while John Jenkins helped defensviley with 61 total tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. They missed the playoffs as well.

NFC West

The NFC's No. 1 seed resides in the west with the San Fransisco 49ers, CHris Conley, and Charlie Woerner. Conley and Woerner did their parts to help the Niners reach a 12-5 first round bye in the playoofs, bringing in 69 yards and 32 yards respectively. They didn't end their regular season on a high note, losing to the No. 6 seed Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford will go see his gormer team for their Wild Card game after he had yet another impressive season. He passed for 3,965 yards for 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Paired with Warren McLendon, the Rams have a good offense, but their defense has held their own witht the help of Derion Kendrick, who finished the season with 49 tackles and an interception.

NFC South

The NFC South champions reside in Florida with Jake Camarda and the No. 4 seed Tampa Bay Bucanneers. Camarda was the NFL's fifth best punter this year, averaging 50 yards per boot. They beat out the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons for the division title. The Falcons will search for a new head coach after they fired Arthur Smith, and likely won't see Lorenzo Carter on the team anymore, who had 35 tackles for the year.

NFC North

The No. 7 seed for the NFC's bracket comes in the form of the Green Bay Packers. They are led defensively by Quay Walker, who leads the team in tackles with 118, 2.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and a pick six. He is joined by Devonte Wyatt who finished the year with 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery.

NFC East

Home of the most Dawgs on one team, the NFC's No. 5 seed comes from the Philadelphia Eagles. They host Pro Bowl running back D'Andre Swift, who rushed for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Jalen Carter had a stellar rookie year, picking up 33 tackles, six sacks, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for touchdown. Jordan Davis was alongside him, picking up 45 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Nakobe Dean secured the second level with 30 tackles, half a sack, and two tackles for loss, while Kelee Ringo was locking down the secondary with 21 tackles, a sack, and an interception. Azeez Ojulari and Andrew Thomas were out in New York making their impacts felt. Ojulari had 16 tackles, two sacks, and a fumble recovery leading the Giants to a 6-11 record.

Each one of these individuals had great performances throughout this season as they get ready to welcome a new class of Georgia Bulldogs to the NFL through the 2024 NFL Draft.

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