Before coming to Eugene, Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning oversaw a powerhouse, national championship-winning defense for the Georgia Bulldogs.
And now four of Lanning’s defenders from the 2021 season have landed with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.
The Eagles selected Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter with the ninth pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night, then added Bulldogs edge rusher Nolan Smith at pick No. 30.
They will join two other former Georgia teammates, defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean, on the Eagles. Davis went to Philadelphia as a first-round pick last year, while Dean was selected two rounds later.
“We might have a little FaceTime call real quick and just talk about what we’re about to do,” Carter said.
Smith and Carter helped lead Georgia to consecutive national titles, after the Bulldogs repeated in January.
Carter was once projected to be the No. 1 overall selection before the Chicago Bears traded that pick to the quarterback-needy Carolina Panthers. There were questions about how far the standout defensive lineman would slip because of his involvement in a crash that killed a teammate, offensive lineman Devin Willock, and a Georgia recruiting staffer, Chandler LeCroy.
Carter was given one year of probation and fined $1,000 last month after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing related to the crash.
The Eagles might have gotten a steal if Carter has no further off-the-field issues. He could end up like Warren Sapp and Randy Moss, who became stars after they saw their stock fall on draft day because of character concerns.
“I had high hopes with Philly because I had a good visit with them,” Carter said.
Eagles center Jason Kelce celebrated with Carter at the draft in Kansas City, Missouri, and told the incoming rookie he was already pumped for 1-on-1 drills against him.
Meanwhile, Lanning on Thursday night attended the draft to support former Ducks cornerback Christian Gonzalez, whom the New England Patriots selected with the No. 17 pick.
— From staff and wire reports
