This week, NFL scouts and hopefuls are descending on Mobile, Alabama, for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. The game will be played on Saturday at the University of South Alabama and shown on the NFL Network. While the game is good for television, it is what happens during the practices this week that will be most important.
For scouts, it allows them to see these athletes up close and personal. How do they move? How do they react when things are going well? As well as how they react to adversity. All of these will be data points that will be collected, analyzed, and scrutinized as their Big Boards start to come together.
For the players, the Reese’s Senior Bowl is an opportunity to make moves. Maybe you are coming from a small school. It’s your opportunity to shine against the more prominent programs. Maybe your stat line wasn’t great, or you are trying to show something, turn a few heads, and sneak up or onto someone’s Draft Boards.
Five Georgia players are in Mobile this week trying to do just that. There were supposed to be seven, but offensive guard Tate Ratledge and center Jared Wilson were both late scratches from the event. This week, we will take the time to look back at the five in Mobile. What they achieved and try to pull any insights from the week.
Between the Hedges: Georiga at the Senior Bowl
Trevor Etienne
Trevor Etienne was the prize of the Transfer Portal last year. The Louisianna native came in from Florida and was expected to reenergize Georgia’s running game. Results were mixed, but we all saw the potential, especially when Georgia played Texas. Etienne had three touchdowns in the game in Austin and added two more touchdowns in the SEC Championship game against the Horns. The rest of the season had Georgia fans wanting more. Etienne started in all nine games he appeared for the Dawgs this year. He led the team in rushing touchdowns (9) but amassed just 609 yards on the season, second to Nate Frazier.
Etienne is dynamic and can help teams in the return, running, and in the passing game. Etienne used the Senior Bowl drills to showcase his athleticism. In a one-on-one linebacker versus running back drill, Etienne came out of the backfield, displayed his shiftiness, and broke the ankles of the linebacker trying to cover him. That was the potential that Georgia fans swooned about last season, and it could be the clip that will help some teams fall in love with Etienne.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Ingram-Dawkins has been a key player on Georgia’s defensive line for the past two seasons. This year, the Gaffney, SC native appeared in all 14 games, starting 10. He tied for third among Bulldog defenders with two sacks and ranked fourth with eight tackles. In Georgia’s SEC opener against Kentucky, he recorded three tackles, including two for a combined loss of eight yards, earning SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors.
Ingram-Dawkins was the No. 1 recruit from South Carolina and has great power and athleticism. He will need to show fast-twitch explosiveness and power to be a likely Day 2 pick in this year’s draft.
Dan Jackson
If you search “Damn Good Dawg” on Wikipedia, you might expect to see a picture of Dan Jackson. That may not be entirely accurate, but the sentiment holds true. Jackson walked on at Georgia in 2019 and eventually earned a scholarship, proving himself a key leader on the Bulldogs’ defense. When Georgia has needed a big play the last few seasons, Jackson was usually right in the middle of it. This season, he started 13 of 14 games, finishing third on the team with 64 total tackles. He also ranked second among Bulldog defenders with two interceptions, one against Alabama and another against Ole Miss.
We have little doubt that Jackson’s work ethic and intangibles will earn him accolades this week. Watch for the Eagles, Ravens, or Steelers coming to pick him up and putting together a great career.
Smael Mondon Jr.
Mondon has been a key leader for Georgia and a crucial contributor since arriving in Athens. As a freshman, he made his mark on special teams before becoming a staple in Georgia’s elite linebacking unit in 2022. Though injuries limited him this season, he still appeared in 10 games and made a strong impact. Despite missing time, he finished seventh on the team with 57 tackles and tied for third among Bulldog defenders with three sacks. Mondon’s speed, athleticism, and ability to find the ball will benefit him in Senior Bowl drills this week. He currently projects as a third-round pick.
Arian Smith
Arian Smith showed an ability to take the top off this season and get open for the potential of big plays. Mike Bobo and Carson Beck targeted Smith on deep routes early in games. Unfortunately, for Smith and the Dawgs, most of the time plays ended in drops or incompletions. Despite the drops, Smith showed perseverance and was still one of the big play targets for the Dawgs this season. Smith will use the Senior Bowl to showcase his speed, route running, and readiness for the next step in the NFL.
Main Image: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
