Tracking Georgia Football Players in the 2012 NFL Draft

The Georgia Bulldogs are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2012 NFL draft as three of the Bulldogs' sons are looking for their names to be called. 

As the next three days unfold, this will be your guide to the Bulldogs draft. With each selection that occurs, an update will follow. 

The Bulldogs have landed 26 first-round picks in school history. This year’s draft looks to bring in No. 27. Cordy Glenn is projected as landing in the first round. 

The Bulldogs have other marquee players that will be on the draft board with TE Orson Charles and CB Brandon Boykin also looking to land in the first few rounds of this year’s draft.

Projecting the Bulldogs Draft

Cordy Glenn is the highest rated player that is exiting Georgia this season. He carries the unique blend of size and athleticism that will allow for Glenn to play either guard or tackle once he makes it into the league. 

Glenn is projected as a first-rounder for the Bulldogs, adding to the rich draft history that is carried by the red and black.

Glenn played predominately at guard in college, but will likely land on the outside once he enters the league. 

Orson Charles has been the most dangerous tight end target in college football for the past few seasons. He has the size—6’3”, 251 pounds—that is needed to make it in the NFL, but his speed was a concern at the Georgia Pro Day. Charles ran a 4.75 40. 

Charles' recent DUI arrest will not help his draft status either, but that misstep won’t be enough to keep teams away. According to the B/R mock draft, Charles will land in the third round. 

Brandon Boykin proved to be an elite return man in his time at Georgia. He is a very aggressive defender at the corner position as well. 

Boykin is still recovering from a broken leg that occurred in the Senior Bowl, but that doesn’t appear to be holding back the draft status of the elite cover corner and return man. 

With his aggressive play and elite speed, expect Boykin to land in the first three rounds. 

Cordy Glenn, OL, Drafted by Buffalo Bills 2nd Round (No. 41 Overall)

Being a four-year starter in the SEC is impressive. Starting at three different offensive line positions during that span is the stuff that top draft prospects are made of.

Georgia's Cordy Glenn started 10-of-13 games as a true freshman—including starts at both guard positions. By his senior year, Glenn was lining up at left tackle. He is a massive offensive lineman who can at least provide depth at tackle, if not hang at the coveted left tackle position in the pros. 

Glenn's scouting reports show just how good he can be, but also the disagreement on his ability to play left tackle in the pros:

Pro Football Weekly:

"

Positives:

Extremely long arms with a rare combination of size, length and agility — has exceptional movement skill for a near-350-pounder and carries his weight very well. Can shuffle, slide and make the game look easy. Outstanding stopping power — is nearly immovable and seldom inverts. Has a strong punch and can engulf defenders when he gets his hands on them. Is very light on his feet, can pull and trap and erase linebackers. Has the sheer mass to dominate when he wants to.

Negatives:

Struggles to unlock his hips (even more glaring in Combine drills) and adjust to quicker blockers who can get underneath his pads (see Boise State). Tends to play tall and does not use the power and explosion in his body. Lacks lower-body strength. Will coast on his natural talent and play down to the level of competition. Has a soft temperament and does not play with a lot of urgency or breathe fire. Is a naïve follower and lacks great work habits — not a self-starter. Weight has tended to fluctuate and balloon (though he was asked to bulk up as a senior).

Summary:

Initially struggled adapting to the OLT position during the first half of senior season, but really acclimated late in the year when he returned to better playing shape and showed very well in the Senior Bowl. Can survive on the left side in the pros if he sheds some weight and drops to 330 pounds, but at worst, has proven he can be a Pro Bowl-caliber guard and has the power to play on the right side. Versatility is a big plus that could drive up his value into a top-20 pick. Is both quick and powerful and can mash in the run game and seal the edges. Ability to plug into any type of scheme will enhance his value. 

"

Yahoo! Sports' Mike Tanier:

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Glenn looks like a Cowboys guard from the 1990s glory days: Look closely and you see Nate Newton. Put him in a simple offense and let him drive block and pass protect, and he will open holes and wear out defenders. The Cowboys can still use guards in Glenn's mold, as can the Norv Turner Chargers and vertical passing teams like the Eagles.

Slide Glenn to right tackle, and you have a mauler who will sometimes need help in pass protection. He could develop into a Jon Runyan-type at right tackle, though that may be ambitious because Runyan had better fundamentals and was a step quicker in his prime. Still, you get the general idea: lots of jarring hits, a little unnecessary roughness.

"

NY Times' Jonathan Bales:

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Cordy Glenn (#71) is a mammoth offensive guard at 6-5, 348 pounds.  He actually played left tackle in 2011, but at his size and with his skills, he projects as a guard in the N.F.L. He could possibly fill in at tackle in a pinch, but he’s an interior lineman through and through.

"

With the frequency of injuries in the NFL, Cordy Glenn's ability to play four spots on the offensive line—even if he can only play tackle "in a pinch" or with some help in pass protection—will probably get him on the field early in his career, even if he doesn't have a clear home position as a rookie. With the shortage of good left tackles in the pros, he could even settle there against the better judgment of some draftniks. Glenn has the ability to be an All-Pro guard or a good starting tackle—perhaps with a stint as both at different points in his career.
 
Pick Analysis

There's some disagreement on the the big fella from Georgia, so you can quibble with the pick if you like. But the bottom line is that the Buffalo Bills just grabbed a four-year starter from the SEC who played multiple positions on the offensive line and did so successfully. So while the talented people-mover might not evolve into an All-Pro left tackle, it's safe to say the Bills got a steal by grabbing Glenn in the second round.

Ben Jones, C, Drafted by Houston Texas, 4th Round (No. 100 Overall)

A four-year starter at Georgia, Ben Jones is a leader. At center, that's pretty important. Jones hasn't received a ton of hype, but he still projected as an early-round pick.

Jones' lack of elite physical ability prevented him from going in Round 1, but his intangibles and overall solid play are hard to ignore.

National Football Post writes about Jones:

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Exhibits above average range when asked to pull. Looks comfortable reaching targets off his frame in space, breaks down well, has a feel for the run game. Consistently locates, will finish on his man and is a "plus" run blocker on the move.

"

A solid athlete, Jones can play in space in both the run and pass game. He is on the small side at just 6'2" and 302 pounds, but he's not a bad run-blocker.

The Georgia center makes up for his lack of size by playing with some savvy, frequently utilizing an impressive cut block. Jones is capable of playing on the move or at the point of attack, so he is a decent fit in almost any blocking scheme.

Because he is so smart and experienced, Jones will likely start from Day 1 in the NFL. Don't expect wonders, but Jones should develop into a solid player.

Pick Analysis:

Ranked No. 63 on Matt Miller's Big Board, Jones' talent eclipses his fourth-round selection, and could prove to be a steal. 

Orson Charles, TE, Drafted by Cincinnati Bengals 4th Round (No. 116 Overall)

An excellent athlete, Orson Charles is yet another new age, receiving tight end. The 6'2", 251-pounder was fairly productive at Georgia, and he has the ability to produce at a high level.

Charles produced in all three of his seasons at the college level, but he finally broke out in his junior season, nearly doubling his previous season's catch total.

National Football Post writes about Charles:

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Looks like a yoked up, physically put together wide out with a strong set of arms. Is a natural bender who can sit into his stance when playing from a three-point stance. Fires off the ball well and does a great job with his short area quickness and has the length to side step the bump and cleanly getting into his route. Consistently is able to side step linebackers, get up to speed and get down the field.

"

Though he is an explosive player, Charles isn't necessarily a deep threat, yet is also hindered by his size. In the NFL, Charles' lack of size and blocking ability will limit his role.

Charles has also had some drop issues, but he frequently makes great catches and displays natural hands. The Georgia tight end is a threat working across the middle on underneath and intermediate routes.

As a rookie, Charles will see the playing field. He won't start, and he will only play on passing situations, but he will be used out of the slot similar to an Aaron Hernandez.

Brandon Boykin, CB, Drafted by Philadelphia Eagles 4th Round (No. 123 Overall)

The typical small cornerback, Brandon Boykin is athletic but not overly physical. Boykin weighs in at just 5'9", 182 pounds, but he offers return-man value as well.

Boykin's size may limit him to covering the slot, but in today's NFL, that's not the worst thing ever. 

National Football Post wrote about Boykin,

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Exhibits some savvy to his game. Plays a lot in the slot, loves to read the quarterbacks eyes and use his athleticism to make plays on the football. Is raw with his footwork off the line, consistently jumps backwards and/or shuffle steps into his drop. Is a better athlete than corner at this stage. Has the ability to sit into his stance and keep his base down, however, lets his pad level rise the further down the field he goes, getting sloppy and losing his technique.

"

Boykin is capable of playing in zone or man coverage, which helps his versatility. 

Because his size is his only major limitation, Boykin will probably be able to contribute in his first pro season. He could see the field as a return man, as well.

Joining the Eagles in the wake of Brian Dawkins' retirement, Boykin fills a gaping hole in the Philly secondary, so he'll likely get every opportunity to be an impact player.

Blair Walsh, K, Drafted by Minnesota Vikings 6th Round (No. 175 Overall)

Former Georgia Bulldogs kicker Blair Walsh is an incredible pickup in the 2012 NFL draft.
Walsh has a cannon of a leg, which he uses to knock in long field goals and rocket kickoffs through the back of the end zone. His career long is 56 yards, and he went 10-of-17 from 50 plus yards during his four year collegiate career. He enters the NFL having hit an impressive 76-of-103 for 412 yards at Georgia.

He's going to be an exceptional special teams weapon.

What Blair Walsh Brings To Team

Walsh's range will be a luxury when drives stall out and points are at a premium. He's got a great leg and has experience making some very big kicks.

On kickoffs, you'll see fewer returns on special teams with Walsh kicking the ball deep into the end zone.

Finally, he'll bring a good locker room presence. I interviewed Walsh back at the 2012 NFL combine and it was really a pleasure.

Overall, he's an exceptional addition with a ton of value.


What Experts Are Saying

Here's what Mel Kiper has to say about Walsh, via Edward Aschoff of ESPN's SEC Blog:

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"Going into the year, Walsh to me seemed like a lock to hold down the top spot. But his inconsistency became, well, consistent, and he dropped. He may need to battle through the UFA process if he wants to make a team."

"

I get the concerns here but after speaking with Walsh myself, I don't see his confidence being a problem. He knows he has a big leg and he's knocked down big field goals before.

Rookie Impact

Walsh should come in and be very valuable on special teams. He'll knock down some big field goals from long-range, and he'll get his fair share of touch backs on kickoffs.

Justin Anderson, OT, Drafted by Indianapolis Colts, 7th Round (No. 208 Overall)

Justin Anderson has been selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft, No. 208 overall. More information will be forthcoming.

Deangelo Tyson, DE, Drafted by Baltimore Ravens 7th Round (No. 236 Overall)

There is no question that Georgia defensive tackle DeAngelo Tyson is an under-the-radar prospect in this year's draft, and he could end up being a major steal.

At 6'2" and 306 pounds, Tyson has the size that teams look for in a defensive tackle. He didn't put up mind-boggling numbers while at Georgia, but he was a two-year starter and a regular contributor. His experience in the rough-and-tumble SEC ultimately led to a shot at the NFL.
 
What Tyson Brings to the Team

Tyson is far from the most explosive defensive tackle in the draft, and there isn't any one particular aspect that he excels at, but he is a gamer who is sure to put in an honest effort every game. Tyson was considered to be a great senior leader at Georgia this past season as he set a strong example for the younger players. He figures to bring that same mentality to the NFL as he is truly a lunch-pail player with a high motor.

While Tyson only racked up 20 tackles this past season, he was more of a disruptive force than his numbers would suggest. Tyson picked up 11 quarterback pressures on the season, so there is no question that he has the ability to cause some havoc. His best asset is occupying blockers to free up his teammates, though, and that is a highly underrated skill to have.
 
What Experts Are Saying

Tyson isn't a player that is going to wow you, but he is a solid performer who isn't afraid to do the dirty work. According to Pro Football Weekly's scouting report on Tyson, he has a good NFL body and a future in the league thanks to his non-stop effort.

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Thick-trunked, long-armed, unflashy, short-area block occupier who could compete for a backup job as a 4-3 nose tackle. Competes, plays hard.

"

Tyson probably won't ever be a star in the league, just like he wasn't at Georgia, but there is no reason why he can't be a solid complementary player for a very long time.

At this point it's difficult to see Tyson being anything more than a depth player as a rookie. Because of his size and effort, I expect him to impress enough during training camp and the preseason to make the roster, but that's about it. Pessimistically, Tyson could be a practice-squad player this season, but on the high end, perhaps he can be an active player for the majority of the team's regular-season games.

It will likely be tough for him to be involved in the defensive line rotation regularly, but even if he gets a little playing time, it should be good for his development. Unfortunately, it will be tough for Tyson to make much of an impact on special teams because of his size, so that will limit his usage quite a bit.
 
Pick Analysis

The Baltimore Ravens are nothing if not defensively stacked so the addition of Tyson is a no-brainer in the seventh round. Some of his physical tools are lacking, but this is still a kid who held his own in the rugged SEC and is a hard worker. Given time to develop, he could become a weapon on the defensive line and will provide good depth in the interim.