The Georgia Bulldogs have been the standard when it comes to college football for the past two seasons, and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan apparently think there’s something to that, as the pair was present at the two-time defending College Football Playoff national champions’ pro day Wednesday.
The visit to Athens is the second on the pro day scouting path for the tandem, which showed up at Clemson’s event Tuesday. There’s a ton of talent in the Bulldogs’ locker room, being that Kirby Smart and his staff have brought in one elite recruiting class after another. Representatives for all 32 NFL franchises were at the pro day. Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles were also spotted at the pro day, as was Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot.
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, tackle Broderick Jones, quarterback Stetson Bennett, running back Kenny McIntosh, cornerback Kelly Ringo, tight end Darnell Washington and linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. were among the players participating in workouts.
Georgia pro day participants: pic.twitter.com/NgPUDlEfHc
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) March 15, 2023
Cornerback Kelee Ringo will be a Georgia Bulldogs player to watch throughout the rest of the pre-draft process, as the Steelers formally met with him at both the scouting combine and have scheduled a top-30 trip to Pittsburgh for him. At the Georgia pro day, Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was locked in on the team’s defensive back workout drills.
Ringo posted a speedy 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine and was compared to newly-acquired Steeler Patrick Peterson by former star corner Richard Sherman.
Ringo notched 42 stops, seven pass breakups, and two picks in his team’s undefeated 2022 campaign. He sealed Georgia’s first national crown in 42 years with a pick-six against Alabama in 2021. Ringo was unofficially clocked at 7.19 in the three-cone drill.
Tackle Broderick Jones is a potential target for the Steelers to watch at No. 17, though the Steelers apparently did not sent coach Pat Meyer to Athens. He was in Chicago for Peter Skoronski’s Pro Day earlier this week.
remember what left tackles looked like a decade ago? this is what it looks like now. broderick jones is such a specimen.pic.twitter.com/II2x0L9uh5
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) March 15, 2023
The Steelers took a special interest in Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny, who they previously met with at the Senior Bowl. Special teams coordinator Danny Smith made the trip to supervise his drills.
The difference between YOU and Coach T?
Coach T has his boots on the ground working out the best Kicker in the class with his ST Coach Danny Smith#GeorgiaProDay pic.twitter.com/8Nj6lzJ0RS
— ᴄᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴀʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪᴇʀ (@CodyCarpentier) March 15, 2023
Ameer Speed, a former Georgia player who transferred out to Michigan State, recorded unofficial times of 4.38 and 4.36 in the 40-yard dash and 6.85 in the three-cone at the pro day.
Defensive lineman Jalen Carter also turned some heads, but not for the right reasons. He weighed in nine pounds more than what he did in Indianapolis, which is another reasons for teams to weigh the risks of taking him.
Freakish tight end Darnell Washington is another intriguing prospect that hard to take your eyes off of. He’s a potential late-first-round choice that stands tall (6-foot-7) and is a capable run-blocker. His athleticism at his size stands out, too, and maybe the Steelers could surprise people by taking him and putting him in the same room with Pat Freiermuth. Who knows? The last time Tomlin took a Georgia pass-catcher — George Pickens, last year — it went pretty well.
Linebacker Robert Beal also had an impressive day, backing up his combine performance.
Robert Beal at #Georgia’s Pro Day today.
Explosive bag work. Beal also ran a 4.42 short shuttle, 7.26 3-cone and jumped a 31.5 vertical.
Awesome workout after wowing at the Combine with a 4.48/1.56 in the 40/10.
Should be one of five Georgia defenders drafted in top-4 rounds. pic.twitter.com/kelusL0PT6
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) March 15, 2023