Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith reveals his stay-or-go NFL decision on deadline day
Georgia will get back a key player from its vaunted front seven from its national championship team.
Junior outside linebacker Nolan Smith revealed Monday that he’s returning for his senior season. The announcement via Instagram came on the last day for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to return to Georgia for my senior season and continue with what we have been building,” Smith wrote. “Let’s run this thing back! Go Dawgs!”
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The Savannah native joins another Smith — safety Christopher Smith — as a defensive starter announcing a return for next season. Christopher Smith was a senior who took advantage of an extra year of eligibility offered due to the pandemic. He revealed his decision on Friday.
Nickel back William Poole, a fifth-year player, signaled in a Tweet Monday afternoon that he's also returning. He tweeted "Sept. 3, the date of the 2022 opener against Oregon. Poole moved into the starting Star position at the end of the season and started in the national championship game.
Nolan Smith finished fifth on the Bulldogs with 56 tackles last season and had 3 ½ sacks, starting all 14 games he played in. He had 9 tackles for loss, an interception and led the team with three forced fumbles and blocked a punt that turned into a safety.
Five Georgia underclassmen announced on Friday they were declaring for the draft: inside linebacker Nakobe Dean, defensive end Travon Walker, safety Lewis Cine, wide receiver George Pickens and running back Zamir White.
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“Personally, I felt I was ready for it,” Cine, who played three seasons of high school football in Massachusetts, told the Boston Herald. “I talked to my family and friends and they all felt this is the best option. I feel like I am mentally and physically ready to make a difference for a team.”
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football linebacker Nolan Smith returning for 2022 season
