Georgia breaks modern NFL draft record with 15 players selected

The real winner of the 2022 NFL draft was Kirby Smart.

The University of Georgia football coach’s recruiting pitch just got even better after 15 of his players were selected in the draft — the most for a single school in modern history.

No team has seen 15 of its players drafted since the NFL switched to the seven-round format in 1994. The previous seven-round record was a tie between Ohio Stage (2004) and LSU (2020), both of which had 14 players taken. 

The pre-1994 record was Texas’ 17 players in 1984, when the draft was 12 rounds. Notre Dame had 16 players selected in a 32-round draft in 1946. 

Similar to the LSU team in 2020, the high number of Georgia players selected follows a national championship season for the Bulldogs — the program’s first since 1980. 

While the record is impressive, it’s not surprising. The Bulldogs were the top team in the nation for much of last season and boasted arguably one of the best defenses in college football history. A record five Bulldogs defensive players — including No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker — were chosen in the opening round. 

Here are the Georgia players who were selected: 

• Travon Walker, defensive end, Jaguars, No. 1
• Jordan Davis, defensive tackle, Eagles, No. 13
• Quay Walker, linebacker, Packers, No. 22
• Devonte Wyatt, defensive tackle, Packers, No. 28
• Lewis Cine, safety, Vikings, No. 32
• George Pickens, wide receiver, Steelers, No. 52
• James Cook, running back, Bills, No. 63
• Nakobe Dean, linebacker, Eagles, No. 83
• Channing Tindall, linebacker, Dolphins, No. 102
• Zamir White, running back, Raiders, No. 122
• Jake Camarda, punter, Buccaneers, No. 133
• Justin Shaffer, guard, Falcons, No. 190
• Jamaree Salyer, guard, Chargers, No. 195
• Derion Kendrick, cornerback, Rams, No. 212
• John FitzPatrick, tight end, Falcons, No. 213