Jalon Walker’s projection to the NFL is extremely unique. He has the build and athletic tools of an inside linebacker but found success at Georgia by being deployed primarily as a blitzing pass rusher. A prospect as athletic as Walker will likely find a successful role in the NFL, but it begs the question of why he wasn’t a full-time pass rusher or a full-time middle linebacker. Because of the lack of a specified role, Walker didn’t fully develop the instincts to be a great off-ball linebacker, especially in coverage, and didn’t fully develop the hand usage to be a consistently dominant pass rusher. In the right defensive system with a creative, forward-thinking defensive coordinator, Walker will flourish.
Malaki Starks has many of the tools needed to be a high-level starter at the NFL level. He’s a well-built safety with a large catch radius and the versatility to play across the secondary. His intelligence allows him to thrive in various alignments, and he’s battle-tested as a three-year starter for a blue-blood program. In coverage, Starks has the athleticism to cover a considerable amount of space and the processing skills to act quickly upon his reads. He aims to disrupt plays when the ball is thrown in his direction, and he did a good job of doing that during his time at Georgia. As a solid tackler to add onto his abilities in coverage, Starks should project well as a true starting safety. He’ll need to be more precise in pursuit and improve how he stacks and sheds blocks closer to the line of scrimmage in order to reach his full potential, though.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart hands the governor cup to Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) after Georgia won a NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech in overtime in Athens, Ga., on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Georgia won 44-42.
Ratledge is a top interior offensive lineman prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, projected as a Day 2 pick. Known for his strength, powerful blocking, and mobility, Ratledge pairs his starting experience with reliable pass protection and run-blocking skills, making him a ready contributor at the next level.
Dec 7, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) and offensive lineman Jared Wilson (55) react during the second half in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Jared Wilson projects as a high-upside starter in the NFL. While he is still raw as just a one-year starting center, the three-star Bulldogs recruit has the athleticism and natural leverage understanding to be one of the first pure center prospects off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 6’3”, 310-pound starter starting center has a strong base and impressive hand usage while also possessing the fluid mobility to work in space.
