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Glenn Erby

Georgia vs. TCU: Top NFL draft prospects to watch during National Championship game

The Eagles are 13-3 and looking to wrap up the division and home-field advantage in the NFC with a win this weekend over the Giants.

The game has playoff and NFL draft implications, as Philadelphia owns New Orleans’s 2023 first-round pick after a draft night trade in 2022 that landed the Saints Chris Olave and the Birds Jordan Davis.

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Even with the NFC playoffs here, it’s never too early for a look ahead to April’s draft, and the College Football Playoffs offer the perfect scouting opportunity.

With kickoff a little over 24 hours away, here are the top draft prospects to watch when Georgia and TCU meet.

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 3 TCU CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T

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When: Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

How to watch: ESPN and ESPN App

Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

News Joshua L Jones

Arguably the No. 1 player in the 2023 NFL Draft class, Carter played to mixed reviews against Ohio State and had moments of fatigue after playing extended snaps.

Carter missed time this season with knee/ankle injuries this year but has been unstoppable when in the lineup.

Broderick Jones, LT, Georgia

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

A stud left tackle, the 6-4, 310-pound Jones didn’t allow a sack in 2022 while also being one of the best run-blockers in the nation.

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson put his athleticism on display during his 76-yard catch-and-run vs. Michigan.

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

A massive tight end with wide receiver athleticism, Washington is questionable for Monday night.

Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

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Ringo struggled in coverage against Ohio State.

A massive cornerback at 6-foot-2, Ringo had two interceptions and nine pass breakups this season.

Dylan Horton, Edge, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The top prospect on the Horned Frogs’ defense, Horton had four sacks against Michigan and projects as a starter at the next level.

Christopher Smith, S, Georgia

Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Peach Bowl Ohio State At Georgia

A tough, playmaker, Smith has the range to cover both sidelines as a center-field safety.

Kendre Miller, RB, TCU

Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Kendre Miller (33) runs against M Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

A talented running back, Miller is questionable for the title game after injuring his knee against Michigan.

Steve Avila, LG, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A big, physical player, Avila moved to left guard (zero sacks allowed) after spending the prior two years at the center position.

Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia

News Joshua L Jones

A Senior running back, McIntosh is one of the top receiving backs in this draft class.

In the semi-final, McIntosh had five rush attempts and five catches against the Buckeyes for 126 total yards and a touchdown.

McIntosh is a powerful running back that can run away from the field.

Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

One of the better centers in the country, Van Pran had a tough outing vs. Ohio State, but he’s only a redshirt sophomore, and we’ll likely return to Athen.

Max Duggan, QB, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles don’t need a quarterback, but the quarterback factory is always rolling and the TCU star could be the perfect late-round developmental prospect.

Duggan was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2022 for a reason as a dual-threat quarterback with deep ball abilities after starting the season as the Horned Frogs’ backup.

Duggan has 30 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions and a Total QBR of 80.2 highlighting his efficiency. Duggan finished the regular season with 3,321 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, as well as 404 rushing yards with six more scores on the ground.

Warren McClendon, RT, Georgia

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia’s starting right tackle missed most of the Peach Bowl. Georgia is hoping to get him back for this contest.

McClendon is a solid player with strength and quickness, meaning a switch to guard could be in his future.

Dee Winters, LB, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The TCU defense doesn’t get talked about much coming out of the Big 12, but senior linebacker Mike Winters is a player to watch. A talented linebacker, Winters has 7.5 sacks coming off the edge and 66 tackles this year. He’s a player TCU moves around and relies on to make big plays.

In the semifinal, Winter had the best game of his career, showing off his speed against Michigan with three tackles for loss and a 29-yard pick-six.

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

This year’s Jim Thorpe Award winner, Tre’Vius Hodges is a small cornerback that can be a shutdown player, he’s the nephew of TCU legend LaDainian Tomlinson, and the senior cornerback had three interceptions and 12 pass breakups this season.

Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Playing next to Jalen Carter, Stackhouse sometimes gets overlooked, but he’s a disruptor and solid against the run. A junior, Stackhouse could return to school in 2024.

Derius Davis, WR, TCU

Davis had five offensive touchdowns and three receptions of 50-plus yards over the first half of the season. Down the stretch, Davis has logged 15 catches for 141 yards and one touchdown in TCU’s last six games.

A former track star, Davis has legit speed and could be a developmental player.

Robert Beal Jr., Edge, Georgia

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

A solid role player, Beal is an athlete with long arms (34.5 inches) and strong hands, but his pass-rush abilities are still developing.

Tykee Smith, CB/S, Georgia

(AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)

The Philadelphia native (Imhotep Charter) was a two-time All-American at West Virginia.

Smith transferred to Georgia ahead of the 2021 season but missed almost all of the 2021 season due to a foot sprain and ACL tear. In 2022, Smith has seen most of his snaps in the nickel.

Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia

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Once considered an undrafted free agent prospect, Bennett is accurate, and good against pressure with decent NFL arm strength.

Mark Perry, S, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A solid Big 12 safety, Perry ranks second on TCU in tackles (78), with two passes defended, and five touchdowns allowed.

Johnny Hodges, LB, TCU

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A Navy transfer, Hodges has played well in his first season in Fort Worth and was all over the field against Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl.

Jared Wiley, TE, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

A high school quarterback, Wiley spent three seasons at Texas before transferring to TCU this season. Wiley has 22 catches for 232 yards and four touchdowns in 2022 and he’s a solid blocker.

Xavier Truss, LG, Georgia

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

After three years as a backup, Truss has filled the shoes of Justin Shaffer this season as the Bulldogs’ starting left guard.

Emari Demercado, RB, TCU

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With star TCU running back Kendre Miller missing most of the semifinal game against Michigan, Demercado stepped up, becoming the only player this season to rush for 150 yards against Michigan’s defense.

He could now be an undrafted free agent to watch.

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