Georgia Football: Five Bulldogs Find NFL Homes on Day Three
Round 5: D’Andre Walker
Edge Defender: Tennessee Titans
The second Georgia Bulldog to be drafted on day three of the NFL Draft, was edge rusher D’Andre Walker. Walker was a one man gang, generating a large majority of the Dawgs pass rush as a senior, despite being the only pass rusher that SEC opponents had to game plan for. Playing as a backup and special teams guy during his first two seasons, Walker recorded only one half-sack. D’Andre blew that number out of the water in his final two season in Athens, compiling 13 quarterback sacks during his junior and senior seasons combined, despite only starting as a senior. Walker will now join a Tennessee Titans that can utilize him a 3-4 defense. That defense would best fit his game and physical stature, with him being 6’2 251 pounds.
2018: Tack:45 TFL:11 Sacks:7.5 PD:3 FR:1 FF:4
PFF: Ovr:81.9 PRush:75.8 RDef:79.5 Cov:76.7
Jon Ledyard of The Draft Network gave his overall thoughts on D’Andre Walker in the following quote:
"Walker finally got his opportunity to start for the Bulldogs, but the results were far from exhilarating. He has a decent arsenal of rush moves and counters, but isn’t sudden enough or bendy enough to really threaten the outside edge track against quality pass sets. Walker has some potential to develop as a rusher in the right spot, and is scheme versatile with his ability to play standup or with his hand in the dirt. Any team that selects him will need to be accepting of his inconsistencies as a run defender and the lack of full-time snaps he’s played throughout his career. Round Grade: 4th"
Round 6: Lamont Gailliard – Center
Arizona Cardinals
Lamont Gailliard the 6’3 305 pound center, arrived in Athens as a defensive tackle before switching positions. He was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs, playing both guard and center. Gailliard anchored one of the best offensive lines in the country in route to the Bulldogs appearance in the National Title game as a junior. In 2018 Gailliard again manned the center position and was named All SEC First Team. He was ranked number 11 in the nation in run blocking success and number 21 in pass blocking efficiency.
2018 Stats: Penalties:2 Sacks Allw:1 QB Hurry:7
PFF: Overall:78.2 Pass Blk:77.9 Run Block:77.1
Draft expert Lance Zierlein of NFL.com offered this opinion on Lamont Gailliard:
"Draft Projection:Rounds 4-5 NFL Comparison: Brian de la Puente Three-year starter and team captain whose tenacity and dirt-dog mentality typifies the Georgia offensive line over the last couple of years. Gaillard’s play is not without technique, but when the rep gets sideways on him, he will turn it into a proverbial fist-fight to try and hang on and get his job done. He’s better down the middle than laterally and may be best suited in a power-based run scheme. It’s not going to always look pretty, but his tape against Alabama shows that he’s capable of becoming an eventual starter sometime soon."