Georgia Star on the Rise: ESPN’s Matt Miller Projects Bulldogs Standout as 2026 NFL First-Round Pick
ATHENS, GA — It’s early, but the buzz is undeniable. According to ESPN’s lead NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller, Georgia Bulldogs junior defensive end Tavion Russell is projected to be a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft—a testament to the explosive rise of one of college football’s most electrifying defensive prospects.
Miller’s latest mock draft, released Monday morning, places Russell as the No. 17 overall pick, headed to the Las Vegas Raiders. That projection has already ignited a firestorm of excitement among Georgia fans and scouts alike, who have watched Russell evolve from a raw, three-star recruit out of Stone Mountain, Georgia, into a dominant force on the edge of the Bulldogs’ elite defense.
“He’s everything you want in a modern edge rusher—length, twitch, a relentless motor, and the ability to disrupt in both the pass and run game,” Miller wrote. “His ceiling is sky-high, and NFL teams are taking serious notice.”
At 6’5″, 260 pounds, Russell exploded onto the national scene during the 2024 season, racking up 11.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 4 forced fumbles, all while anchoring a Bulldogs defense that finished top-five nationally. He followed up with a strong spring camp and has drawn comparisons to former Georgia greats like Travon Walker and Nolan Smith.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, known for his NFL pipeline and defensive pedigree, has praised Russell’s work ethic and leadership. “Tavion came in humble and hungry,” Smart said during spring practices. “Now he’s playing like a grown man. He’s earned everything, and he’s only scratching the surface.”
Russell, for his part, remains focused on the present. When asked about the draft buzz, he downplayed the hype.
“That’s a blessing, for sure,” he said in a post-practice interview. “But I’m not thinking about Vegas right now. I’m thinking about winning an SEC title, finishing what we started, and being the best teammate I can be.”
Still, behind the scenes, NFL scouts are already making regular appearances in Athens. One AFC scout who attended Georgia’s spring game told ESPN, “If he keeps this up, he’s a top-15 lock. His burst and bend are special. You don’t see that combination often.”
As the Bulldogs prepare for a 2025 campaign loaded with expectations, Tavion Russell has emerged as the face of Georgia’s next generation of defensive greatness. And while the journey to the draft is still months away, there’s no denying that Russell is already casting a long shadow over NFL war rooms.
For now, though, he remains in red and black, chasing a championship—and preparing for a future that looks increasingly like the first round.
Let me know if you’d like a mock interview with Tavion, a scouting report, or an ESPN-style feature segment.
