DYNASTY REDEFINED: Ahead of the 2025 Season, the Georgia Bulldogs Create NFL and NBA Draft History Never Seen Before
In a remarkable and unprecedented feat, the University of Georgia Bulldogs have once again etched their name into the annals of sports history. But this time, it’s not for another national championship or another undefeated season—though those achievements now seem routine in Athens. No, in 2025, the Bulldogs redefined what it means to be a collegiate dynasty by achieving something never seen before in the modern era of American sports: producing multiple first-round picks in both the NFL and NBA Drafts in the same year.
It’s a milestone that transcends mere recruiting dominance or elite coaching; it marks a cultural and athletic shift in how Georgia is viewed—not just as a football powerhouse, but as a multi-sport factory of elite professional talent.
Let’s start with the raw, jaw-dropping data. In the 2025 NFL Draft, Georgia had seven players selected in the first round, leading all programs for the third time in four years. On the hardwood, the Bulldogs stunned the college basketball world with two first-round NBA Draft selections, both of whom had breakout seasons that put Georgia basketball squarely in the national conversation.
Combined, these nine first-round picks are the most ever produced by a single school across the NFL and NBA Drafts in a single calendar year. It’s a feat that no Alabama, Duke, Michigan, or Kentucky has ever achieved.
Georgia’s dominance in the NFL Draft isn’t new—but the scale of their 2025 class was extraordinary, even by Kirby Smart’s high standards. Since taking over in 2016, Smart has built a program that churns out elite defenders and polished offensive stars like clockwork.
- Tyree West, EDGE – Top-5 selection who led the SEC in sacks.
- Malaki Starks, S – A Thorpe Award finalist, often compared to Derwin James for his versatility.
- Amarius Mims, OT – A mountain of a man who dominated the combine and gave up zero sacks in 2024.
- Smael Mondon Jr., LB – Fast, instinctive, and smart; considered a prototype modern linebacker.
- Carson Beck, QB – After leading Georgia to another playoff appearance, his accuracy and poise raised his stock into the top 15.
- Nazir Stackhouse, DT – A run-stuffing nightmare who rose rapidly through pre-draft evaluations.
- Ladd McConkey, WR – A savvy route-runner with blazing 40-time and elite football IQ.
Georgia became the first school since the 2004 Miami Hurricanes to have both an offensive lineman, defensive lineman, and skill position player taken in the top 15.
The real surprise—and perhaps the most defining signal of a new era in Athens—came in the NBA Draft. Under head coach Mike White, Georgia basketball underwent a renaissance. Though the program didn’t reach a Final Four, it did make a deep run into the NCAA Tournament and finished top 10 in the final AP poll. Most of the credit goes to its star tandem.
- Silas Demps, SG – A five-star recruit who lived up to the hype, Demps averaged 21.3 PPG and dazzled scouts with his scoring efficiency and 3-level attack.
- Jahki Brown, PF – A versatile forward who could guard multiple positions and stretch the floor, Brown’s 18.2 PPG and 9.1 RPG turned heads during March Madness.
This marked the first time Georgia has had two NBA first-rounders in the same draft—a testament to how much the basketball program has evolved under White’s leadership.
Much of Georgia’s success comes from its recruiting acumen. In football, the Bulldogs have routinely finished with top-three recruiting classes. But what’s changed is the school’s ability to attract—and retain—dual-sport athletes, as well as elite hoopers who see Georgia as more than a football school.
Players like Silas Demps, who received offers from Kansas, UCLA, and Duke, cited Georgia’s evolving “athlete-first” culture as a major reason for committing. “It wasn’t just about playing basketball,” he said in a pre-draft interview. “It was about being part of something bigger—like what they’ve built in football. That standard.”
The cross-sport synergy is now paying off in draft capital. It helps that both programs invest heavily in athlete development, from strength and conditioning to mental wellness.
What Kirby Smart and Mike White have in common isn’t just talent evaluation—it’s a commitment to culture and accountability. Players and coaches alike often describe the Georgia programs as “professional environments.” Both football and basketball squads adhere to elite performance standards, with shared facilities and resources bolstered by lucrative NIL deals.
Georgia was one of the first programs to launch a fully integrated NIL division, “GxD”—short for Georgia by Design—which offered personalized branding strategies, social media development, and business education. It’s no coincidence that many of Georgia’s 2025 draftees were also NIL standouts, having built strong personal brands while in school.
Kirby Smart has now completed a full transformation of Georgia football from perennial bridesmaid to annual championship contender. In less than a decade, Georgia has:
- Won 3 National Championships
- Produced 41 NFL Draft picks from 2020–2025
- Sent 18 first-rounders to the NFL in that span
But the 2025 class was something special. It symbolized not just dominance, but sustainability—the idea that Georgia’s pipeline isn’t slowing down, it’s expanding.
Smart himself acknowledged the historical moment in his post-draft presser:
When Mike White took the reins in 2022, Georgia basketball was languishing near the bottom of the SEC. Just three years later, the Bulldogs were producing NBA talent and competing nationally. His blueprint was simple: defense, development, and discipline. But it was his openness to adapt—embracing tempo, spacing, and NBA-style play—that unlocked players like Demps and Brown.
White also prioritized player empowerment and freedom on the court, allowing stars to build their resumes in a way that appealed to scouts. With the 2025 NBA Draft success, Georgia’s recruiting ceiling in basketball has been lifted. Top-20 recruits have already started committing, and some are even eyeing Georgia as a potential “non-blue blood” destination.
Georgia’s dual-sport draft success has changed the narrative. The school is now being talked about in the same breath as athletic juggernauts like Alabama, LSU, and Michigan in football—and like Kentucky, Duke, and Kansas in basketball. Except Georgia is now the only school that can truly say it’s at or near the top in both sports.
It’s created a recruiting pitch unlike any other
This isn’t just dynasty; this is dynasty, redefined.
Sustaining this level of success will be a challenge, but Georgia shows no signs of slowing down. The 2025 recruiting classes in both sports are loaded, and facilities upgrades—including a shared athletic innovation center set to open in 2026—will only enhance development.
And with NIL continuing to grow, Georgia is uniquely positioned to dominate both revenue sports. The 2025 draft class may be remembered as the high-water mark—or it could be the new normal.
The story of the 2025 Georgia Bulldogs isn’t just about how many players they sent to the league. It’s about how they did it—with discipline, vision, and relentless ambition. They didn’t just build a great football program or turn around a basketball team. They built an ecosystem of excellence.
A decade ago, Georgia was “almost there.” Today, it’s at the summit. And tomorrow? It may very well be leading a new era of collegiate dominance across multiple sports.
DYNASTY REDEFINED.
Because when you produce first-round picks on the field and the court in the same year, you’re no longer just a college program. You’re a sports empire.
Would you like this article as a formatted PDF or published-style document? Or perhaps want social media versions or excerpts for Twitter/Instagram?
