Former Georgia return man Isaiah McKenzie is turning heads in Denver

Isaiah McKenzie gave Georgia fans thrills on Saturday afternoons. Now, he is providing some excitement in Denver as an NFL rookie.

Curtis Compton/AJC

Posted 3 years ago

Welcome to your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes every Monday through Friday. Today, we look at a Georgia-centric promo from the Nature Boy Ric Flair, Georgia’s prospects for getting to eight wins and Isaiah McKenzie making a name for himself with the Denver Broncos.

Isaiah McKenzie already looks like an NFL draft steal

Only one Georgia football player was selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, but based on early reports, he could have a very bright future.

Isaiah McKenzie was picked by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the draft and is already showing out in practice for his new team. Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post reports that McKenzie is making a name for himself in OTAs by doing what he did better than any player in Georgia history while in Athens: scoring touchdowns in the return game. Wolfe also reports that the former Dawg could see action at three positions during his rookie year.

McKenzie is the early favorite to be the Broncos’ most impressive rookie. The fifth-round pick has shown off his shifty moves, natural hands and unique playmaking ability in nearly every OTA practice so far. Monday, he returned a punt down the right sideline for a touchdown and earned a congrats from cornerback Aqib Talib.

I’ve been a big fan of McKenzie for a while and have long held that he has a bright NFL future ahead of him. This just reaffirms that belief. If these returns (sorry) hold true, he could be one of the steals of 2017 draft.

Betting the under on Georgia named one of the best value plays

We looked at Georgia football’s over/under for 2017 (8) a few weeks back. For my money, the over seems like the right play, based on a relatively straightforward home slate. But Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports named Georgia under 8 as one of his five best win total value plays. And I can’t say I disagree with his logic.

Under 8 (+150): This is very much a value play and not an actual prediction that Georgia is going 7-5 this year. Of course, having said that, Georgia did go 7-5 during the regular season last year! When you remember that, and you look at the schedule this season, it’s not crazy to think it could happen again this year. The Bulldogs get Tennessee, Notre Dame, Auburn and Georgia Tech all on the road. There’s also Florida in Jacksonville. Those all present legitimate loss possibilities, and there’s always an upset possibility elsewhere that exists. With a +150 payoff, it’s a play worth making.

It’s not enough to make me change my pick, but it is food for thought.

Georgia’s front seven among best in the SEC

ESPN’s Alex Scarborough looked at the best front sevens in the SEC, and although he didn’t rank Georgia’s as one of the two best in the conference — those spots went to Alabama and LSU — he did include the Bulldogs’ front as a unit not to sleep on.

The Bulldogs have the most experience returning with all seven starters potentially back, including future pros Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy. The one question mark, however, is defensive tackle Trenton Thompson, who withdrew from classes during the spring after an overnight hospitalization.

As we all know, Thompson is back and he looks as good as ever.

Woooooo! Dawgs

Ric Flair — the stylin’, profilin’, limousine-riding, jet-flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ n’ dealin’ son of a gun! — cut a little promo for the Georgia track and field team, which is competing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Ric Flair says GOoooo Daaaawwwgs!! Wooo!!@RicFlairNatrBoy pic.twitter.com/4gVhfuxMO6

— Petros Kyprianou (@petrosdeca) June 5, 2017

For anyone wondering about the “Nature Boy’s” connection to Georgia, his step-daughter is a signee of the track and field program, and “Naitch” came along for her orientation in Athens on Monday.