Georgia Bulldogs' defense breaks NFL draft record with 5 first-rounders

The nation's best defense from the nation's best team was rewarded for its work in the opening round of the NFL draft.

Five Georgia defensive players were selected in the first round Thursday night, a record from one defense in the common draft era. The total eclipsed the four Florida State defenders selected in the first round of the 2006 draft and the four Miami defenders selected in the first round of the 2004 draft.

The Bulldogs led the nation in scoring defense (10.2 points per game) this past season as they surrendered only 16 touchdowns all season. Georgia sacked Alabama quarterback Bryce Young four times in the national championship game on the way to the team's first national title since 1980.

Defensive end/outside linebacker Travon Walker got it all rolling as he went No. 1 overall as the Jacksonville Jaguars opened the evening with the selection of the first Bulldogs player. Walker kept ascending the draft boards around the league with his play down the stretch as well as through the pre-draft workout season.

At 271 pounds he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine — a time faster than many wide receivers and most running backs who were timed in Indianapolis.

Defensive tackle Jordan Davis, to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 13, was the next Bulldogs player to be selected. He, too, had a double-take-worthy combine performance with a 4.78 40-yard dash at 341 pounds.

Davis won the Outland Trophy this past season as the nation's best interior lineman.

The two also represent, in many ways, the lure of potential in the NFL draft as Walker and Davis combined for eight sacks this past season and 12.5 tackles for loss. By comparison Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson, taken No. 2 overall by the Detroit Lions, had