The Georgia Bulldogs stand as one of college athletics’ most dominant programs, and their recent achievement in the spring of 2025 underscores that legacy at the crossroads of football and basketball success. For the first time in program history, Georgia produced first‑round selections in both the NFL and NBA drafts in the same year—and both players were chosen by teams based in Atlanta. This remarkable milestone is emblematic of Georgia’s comprehensive athletic excellence and its growing influence on professional sports.
A Landmark in Two Drafts
On April 24, 2025, the NFL Draft saw Georgia bolstered by three first‑round selections. Edge rusher Mykel Williams was chosen 11th overall by the San Francisco 49ers, followed shortly by linebacker Jalon Walker, the Bulldogs’ Butkus Award winner, taken 15th by the Atlanta Falcons. A safety, Malaki Starks, went 27th to the Baltimore Ravens acmepackingcompany.com+6si.com+6si.com+6.
Just two months later, in late June’s NBA Draft, Asa Newell made history by going 23rd overall—initially selected by the New Orleans Pelicans but immediately traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Newell becomes Georgia’s ninth-ever hardwood first‑rounder and the 40th Bulldog to be drafted in NBA history, joining luminaries like Anthony Edwards and Dominique Wilkins georgiadogs.com.
This marks the first time a single collegiate program had first-rounders in both drafts who would play in the same professional city—an extraordinary convergence that binds the Bulldogs to Atlanta’s major-league identity.
Significance of the NFL Selections
The NFL Draft has become fertile ground for Georgia under head coach Kirby Smart. Since 2016, the Bulldogs have consistently sent elite talent into the league, producing 17 first‑round picks before 2025—including edge rusher Travon Walker, the No. 1 pick in 2022 saturdaydownsouth.com. The arrival of Williams, Walker, and Starks in the first round of the 2025 draft elevated Georgia’s total of first‑round selections to 51 all time nypost.com+15saturdaydownsouth.com+15si.com+15.
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Mykel Williams (No. 11, 49ers) brings length and power to a front seven that dominated NCAA defenses in 2024.
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Jalon Walker (No. 15, Falcons) earned the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, and is notably the first Georgia player taken by Atlanta in the first or second round since 1966 en.wikipedia.org+3saturdaydownsouth.com+3si.com+3georgiadogs.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6nypost.com+6.
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Malaki Starks (No. 27, Ravens) was the highest-rated safety in the class, praised for his versatility and run‑defense instincts georgiadogs.com+3si.com+3baltimorebeatdown.com+3.
Furthermore, Georgia led the SEC with 13 total picks in the 2025 NFL Draft—the most of any conference team—showcasing their depth from first to seventh rounds 247sports.com+6si.com+6saturdaydownsouth.com+6. Notably:
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Tate Ratledge (2nd round, Lions)
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Dylan Fairchild (3rd round, Bengals)—a top pass protector praised during Georgia’s pro day si.com+1cincyjungle.com+1
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Additional selections ranged from the fourth to the seventh rounds, affirming the breadth of quality in Georgia’s program .
The Bulldogs are now tied for second in college football programs producing five No. 1 overall picks—Matter of fact: Frank Sinkwich (1943), Charley Trippi (1945), Harry Babcock (1953), Matthew Stafford (2009), and Travon Walker (2022) saturdaydownsouth.com.
Asa Newell’s Trailblazing NBA Path
On June 25, 2025, Asa Newell took center stage in Athens and Atlanta’s basketball narrative. After a stellar freshman season—ranking 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors four times (tying Anthony Edwards’ Georgia record) and helping lead the Bulldogs back to March Madness for the first time in ten years—Newell was projected as a first‑round pick georgiadogs.com.
He was drafted 23rd overall by the New Orleans Pelicans, then immediately swapped to his hometown Hawks, becoming the first Georgia player drafted in the NBA’s first round in over a decade—and the ninth of all time . That milestone implies several layers of achievement:
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Homegrown Hero: Born in Atlanta and raised in Athens until age ten, Newell stayed in-state to pursue his professional dreams nypost.com+15georgiadogs.com+15si.com+15.
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Elite Company: He joins elite alumni like Anthony Edwards (No. 1 pick, 2020), Kentavious Caldwell‑Pope (No. 8, 2013), and Dominique Wilkins (No. 3, 1982) in Georgia’s ledger of first-round legends en.wikipedia.org+3georgiadogs.com+3247sports.com+3.
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Draft Day Drama: His selection by one franchise, trade to another in the same city—historically tied to Georgia basketball—adds to the narrative’s resonance silverandblackpride.com+1si.com+1.
By continuing Georgia’s tradition of NBA representation—eight previous first-rounders—and becoming the 40th Bulldog ever drafted, he adds to the program’s national recognition georgiadogs.com.
The ATL Double-Header
That Walker would be taken by the Falcons and Newell by the Hawks is more than coincidence—it’s symbolic. For one, Jalon Walker’s selection at 15th overall marks the first Georgia player drafted by the Falcons in the first or second round since 1966, representing a seismic shift in hometown representation nypost.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2si.com+2. Then Newell’s immediate trade to Atlanta’s NBA franchise elevates the moment into full circle. For Georgia fans, rooting interest now spans both spring and fall, college and pro, tying their alma mater to both major Atlanta teams.
Moreover, Georgia and “Atlanta sports” now share a unique narrative: they are one of only six schools to have first-round picks in both the 2025 NFL and NBA drafts si.com+1facebook.com+1. But uniquely, Georgia is the only program whose two first-round picks went directly to Atlanta-based franchises in the same year.
What This Means for Georgia Athletics
Recruitment & Development
Under Kirby Smart, Georgia has become blueprint for producing NFL talent. Their eight first‑round selections since 2022 set a conference standard . Now, the basketball program led by Coach Mike White, also shows promise in building NBA-caliber talent. Newell’s arrival is early evidence that UGA basketball can not only develop stars—but also make them stay local.
Program Elevation
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Recognition across sports: Georgia’s image shifts from being a football powerhouse to a multi-sport incubator.
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Boosting recruiting tools: Future athletes may opt for Georgia, knowing they can achieve NFL or NBA readiness.
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Enhanced fan engagement: The “homegrown pros” narrative fosters community pride and long-term fan loyalty across leagues and seasons.
Economic and Media Impact
Bulldogs in both NFL and NBA first rounds give Georgia and Atlanta unique marketing leverage. Media outlets spotlight Georgia as a dual‑sport developer. For sponsors, this means more eyeballs; for broadcast partners, more content opportunities; for the university, greater brand licensing and merchandise potential.
Future Projections
If Georgia sustains this momentum, the implications are monumental:
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In continuous drummer beat, expect future drafts to see more Bulldogs in opening rounds. Already, Georgia has 51 NFL first-round picks—tied for second among schools .
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Prospects pipeline grows: Basketball’s draft success full‑fills a promise that Georgia can produce professional athletes beyond football.
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The Atlanta link intensifies: With both first-rounders going to local pro teams, Georgia cements itself as the city’s collegiate pipeline.
Final Word
The summer of 2025 marks a watershed for University of Georgia athletics. For the first time, the Bulldogs have first-round selections in both major American sports drafts, and both know the Red & Black of Athens will proudly represent on Atlanta’s Falcons and Hawks.
Georgia’s success is built on program strength, player development, and the chemistry between collegiate and pro circles—with hometown synergy amplifying impact. Looking forward, the Bulldogs are no longer just occasional talent contributors—they’re strategic feeders shaping Atlanta’s pro sports narrative.
From Athens to Atlanta, 2025 reflects an era when Georgia Bulldogs aren’t just champions—they’re architects of a sports legacy that spans multiple leagues, seasons, and fan bases.
