Pro Day brought all the excitement for football back to Athens as the fan-favorite and legendary Damn Good Dawg Dan Jackson, alongside many others, wore the red and black one last time before their journeys to the pros.
After being left out of the 2025 NFL Combine, Jackson performed well with a 40-yard dash time of 4.4, some scouts even recording his time in the 4.3s. Jackson’s worst recorded time among present scouts still would’ve ranked in the top five among safeties invited to the Combine, even higher than his counterpart and sidekick safety in the Georgia defense, former Bulldog Malaki Starks, who ran a 4.50 in Indianapolis. Jackson remarked he felt like he showed off his speed, agility and burst, but the scouts present still didn’t get to see all that he offers on the gridiron.
“Well, no hitting today,” said Jackson. “Still went out there and tried to show my quickness and my range, and, you know, just being me, being myself. It was great being out there with Malaki one last time at the end.”
The fifth-year senior safety was noted as “one of the more ferocious hitters in the SEC” by Kirk Herbstreit in the SEC Championship game against Texas following his big blow on highly-touted Texas receiver Silas Bolden.
All the Bulldogs participating in UGA’s Pro Day at Georgia’s House of Payne indoor facility attracted the attention of multiple NFL scouts. Chaz Chambliss, another household name among the red and black faithful, was also a Combine snub. His performance in Athens earned him some Draft credibility as well, being one of the quickest off the ball on the defensive line drills.
All 32 teams were represented by either scouts, coordinators or head coaches such as Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and most notably among Georgia sports fans Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.
Atlanta has taken just 12 players in the Draft since the franchise was conceived in 1966; however, head coach Morris and his staff came in full force to Athens, bringing the most personnel among all 32 franchises.
Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot and Morris were seen at the Bulldogs’ Pro Day pulling aside both Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker, Georgia’s highest rated prospects according to multiple Draft analysts’ big boards. If the Falcons were to take one of the defensive stars from Georgia’s 2024-25 squad with 15th overall pick, it would be the highest drafted Dawg by Atlanta since 1981 when the Falcons selected Terry Hoage with 80th overall pick. That is the highest the Falcons have ever taken a former Bulldog from the home-state university in the franchise’s 59-year history.
Arian Smith and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins made splashes at the Combine and once again had great showings in Athens. Ingram-Dawkins performed in fewer events at Pro Day as did Smith; however, the two made the most of their last chance in front of NFL teams. With Draft Day nearing, Smith’s performance in the Reese’s Senior Bowl week as well as his flying 40 time made waves among social media as the speedy receiver back flipped to close out the Combine and gained comparisons to former Alabama, now Lions, stud receiver Jameson Williams.
Aforementioned Starks made Pro Day’s play of the day in the defensive backs’ coverage drill, snagging a jump ball, getting two toes down (NFL rule) before his momentum took him out of bounds where he leapt over the media guard barrier, all the while holding onto the ball.
Meanwhile, transfer running back and SEC Champion Trevor Etienne also made his presence known. The younger brother of Travis Etienne, Clemson alum and Jaguars’ standout, attacked the ball in receiving drills. His quick feet and catchability out of the backfield will be a targeted asset for NFL teams as the receiving back has become such a prized possession in the League.
Good luck to all of the former Dawgs as they continue to prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft come April 24. Whether it’s Philadelphia, Atlanta or Los Angeles we’re always rooting for them Dawgs down here in Athens!