Georgia Bulldog Nolan Smith: "I Got The Best Opportunity of Anyone"
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ATHENS - After absolutely dominating the NFL Combine back in March, it appeared Georgia Bulldog EDGE defender Nolan Smith was going to fly up draft boards and hear his name called early in the 1st round.
I mean, the guy did run a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash while showing off his 41.5” vertical. Both of those measurements were the best among “defensive lineman” in this year’s combine.
Early last week, it looked like Smith could even hear his name called within the first ten picks.
That didn’t happen, and Smith slide further and further down the 1st round until he finally heard his name called at No. 30 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.
I’m sure it was a stressful situation, and normally, players will use that slide as a chip on their shoulder, holding a silly grudge against every team that passed on selecting him.
But Nolan Smith is different. He’s always been different.
When Smith got to Philadelphia, one reporter asked him about his “slide” down the 1st round and what his experience was watching the 1st round unfold.
Of course, the Bulldog legend gave a 5-star answer.
“I’m blessed just to be here and to have this opportunity. I’d say I got the best opportunity of anyone. I’m playing with two of my teammates and I just won back-to-back national championships with this one (Jalen Carter). I’m not worried about what pick I was, I’m just happy I’m here with my ‘Dawgs.
With Smith on the roster, the Philadelphia Eagles have incredible +105 odds to once again win the NFC East according to FanDuel.
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2022 Georgia Bulldogs DL Nolan Smith
Started at LB in eight games...had 18 total tackles and a team-high 16 QB hurries before going down with an injury in Florida game...three tackles, one for lost yardage, in win over Auburn...had two unassisted tackles and a team-high three QB hurries in season-opening win over No. 11 Oregon...one QB sack that forced an intentional grounding penalty in win over Vanderbilt...tackle for lost yardage and a QB hurry in win over Samford...named to preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defender)...second-team pre-season All-America selection by Athlon Sports.
2021 Georgia Bulldogs DL Nolan Smith
Played in 14 of 15 games, starting in all 14...finished with 56 total tackles, fifth most on the team...also finished with 9.0 tackles for lost yardage (second on team), 3.5 of those coming on QB sacks, along with 27 QB pressures...led the Bulldogs in tackles (8) in Capital One Orange Bowl win over Michigan...also had a career-high seven QB pressures vs. the Wolverines...three tackles, one for loss, two QB hurries and a pivotal play of Georgia’s win over Missouri, when he blocked a second-quarter Tiger punt that resulted in a safety...four total stops in win over Florida...added three career firsts vs. the Gators: forced fumble, fumble recovery and interception, all in a 39-second span of the second quarter...twice named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week: vs. USC and Florida...had four tackles, one QB sack (8-yard loss) and two QB hurries in Georgia’s win over #3 Clemson...team-high eight tackles in win over South Carolina...caused a fumble and also assisted on a sack that resulted in a safety vs. the Gamecocks...named one of three team captains for the Vanderbilt game.
2020 Georgia Bulldogs DL Nolan Smith
Played extensively in all 10 of the Bulldogs' games...first starting assignment of the season in win over Tennessee...finished with 22 total stops and 20 QB pressures...credited with a career-best six tackles at Arkansas, including 1.5 stops for 14 lost yards...also had four QB pressures vs. the Razorbacks...had three stops and a pair of QB hurries in win over Auburn...four tackles and a QB pressure vs. Alabama...had three tackles in win at Missouri, including the Bulldogs' lone QB sack of the game.
2019 Georgia Bulldogs DL Nolan Smith
Co-winner of Defensive Newcomer of the Year, given at team’s post-season awards gala...played in all 14 games and finished with 18 total stops, including 2.5 sacks for 19 lost yards...also had 15 QB pressures, fourth-best on the team...three tackles and a QB pressure vs. Georgia Tech...two stops vs. Missouri included a QB sack for a 9-yard loss...had 1.5 sacks vs. Murray State...enrolled at UGA in January and participated in Spring drills.
IMG Academy (FL) LB Nolan Smith
Coached by Kevin Wright…one of four finalists for the Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, given to the nation’s top senior offensive and defensive linemen…247sports.com five-star prospect, top-ranked prospect nationally…PrepStar Magazine five-star prospect, #2 prospect nationally, #2 WR…ESPN.com five-star prospect, #2 prospect nationally, #2 defensive end prospect nationally, #1 prospect in Florida...Rivals.com five-star prospect, #5 prospect nationally, #2 player in Florida…had 47 tackles, 14.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks in his senior season…USA Today All-USA first team and #2 on the USA TODAY pre-season Chosen 25…as a junior, he had 41 tackles, 10 TFL, four sacks, two fumbles recovered, an interception, a fumble forced and a blocked punt…2017 MaxPreps Junior All-American Team First-Team offense…transferred to IMG Academy in January of 2017, after two years at Calvary Day, where he played DL and RB…2016 All-State Class A-Private First Team defense by both the Georgia Sports Writers Assn. and AJC…2016 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team Second-Team defense…defensively, he amassed 75 tackles – 16 for a loss – to go along with 27 QB hurries, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt as a sophomore…offensively, he led the team with 712 rushing yards and scored 12 total TDs.
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