The NFL Draft Solidified Georgia's 2021 Defense as the Best in College Football History

Five of Georgia's 11 defensive starters were selected during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the first time that has ever happened. You could argue the best player on that defense is still on the board in Nakobe Dean. Jalen Carter and Kelee Ringo will probably be first round picks next year, with Nolan Smith having a chance as well — so there's a possibility the total number of first rounders from UGA's 2021 defense ends up at eight. And all that fails to even mention Jermaine Johnson, the 26th overall pick out of Florida State, who played at UGA in 2019 and 2020 before transferring.

What Kirby Smart has done with the recruiting in Athens is unbelievable.

You didn't have to watch that defense for more than a couple drives last season to know that whoever was trying to move the ball was absolutely fucked. At 10.2 points per game, the Dawgs allowed more than four points fewer than the next-best defense in the country. They held opponents to seven or fewer points eight times, three of which were shutouts. We may not see the kind of numbers Georgia put up on defense last year for decades, if ever again.

And now obviously the NFL has seemingly cemented that defense as the best ever. As much as it pains me, it doesn't seem like Smart will be slowing down in regards to adding freakish athletes to his defense any time soon. But last year's group was something special.