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UGA RECRUITING: Five-star Upson Lee DT Travon Walker picks Georgia
Travon_Walker.jpg
Upson-Lee rising senior Travon Walker is considered the No. 2 defensive tackle in the nation. Walker chose Georgia over a Power Five laden top-five during a Tuesday evening press conference at Upson-Lee High School. -Special Photo
Gabriel Stovall
Updated: Jul 24, 2018, 10:56 PM
Published: Jul 24, 2018, 10:54 PM

THOMASTON, Ga. — Travon Walker, the 6-foot-5, 272-pound five-star defensive tackle prospect from Upson-Lee did what many prognosticators, including the 247sports.com crystal ball, predicted and picked the Georgia Bulldogs during a Tuesday evening press conference at Upson-Lee High. 

Rated the No. 2 defensive tackle and the 26th rated overall player in the nation, Walker chose the Dawgs over a top five that included Alabama, Clemson, South Carolina and Auburn. 

The versatile d-lineman figures into Georgia’s defensive scheme as potentially a three-technique lineman and should provide a tremendous boon to the Bulldogs’ immediate depth. 

The recruiting grab was major for Kirby Smart’s continued efforts to lock down the state’s best talent, such, particularly after losing out on a couple of big d-lineman names recently, such as  Lee County’s Aubrey Solomon who chose Michigan over Georgia last season.

Walker becomes the Dawgs' 13th commit for the 2019 class and the fourth five-star prospect for Smart's current bunch.
Georgia becomes 12th back-to-back champ in AP Top 25 history
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) celebrates victory over TCU after the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. Georgia won 65-7. | AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Associated Press
Updated: Jan 10, 2023, 6:46 PM
Published: Jan 10, 2023, 6:45 PM

By Ralph D. Russo

Associated Press

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Georgia was No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll, becoming the 12th back-to-back national champion in the history of the rankings after routing TCU on Monday night.

The Horned Frogs were No. 2, their best final rankings since the 2010 season. Michigan was No. 3, followed by Ohio State and Alabama.

Georgia received all 63 first-place votes in the poll, which is presented by Regions Bank.

The Bulldogs won the College Football Playoff national championship game 65-7 to secure their third AP title overall. Their first came in 1980. Georgia also became the 14th school with as many as three AP national titles.

“Man, we hold ourself to a high standard,” Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo said after the historic blowout of TCU at Sofi Stadium.

The last team to finish consecutive seasons No. 1 in the AP Top 25 was Alabama in 2011 and ’12.

Tennessee was No. 6, giving the Southeastern Conference half of the top six teams.

Penn State was No. 7, the first time the Nittany Lions have finished a season ranked since 2019. No. 8 Washington finished ranked for the first time since 2018.

Tulane was ninth, its first appearance in the final poll since the Green Wave finished seventh in 1998.

Utah rounded out the top 10, giving the Utes a top-10 finish for the first time since they were No. 2 in the final 2008 rankings.


No. 11 Florida State is back in the final Top 25 for the first time since 2016. No. 12 USC was followed by Clemson, Kansas State and Oregon at No. 15.

LSU was No. 16 and No. 17 Oregon State finished ranked for the first time since 2012.

At No. 19, Troy has its best ranking in school history and its first in the final AP Top 25.

Mike Leach’s final team at Mississippi State finished the season at No. 20. Leach died suddenly of a heart condition last month before the the Bulldogs won their bowl game against Illinois to finish 9-4.