Brian Gutekunst attended the Clemson vs. Georgia game at Mercedez-Benz Stadium on Saturday, according to Jordan Reid of ESPNAfter the game, the Green Bay general manager headed to College Station for a nightcap between Notre Dame and Texas A&M, by Jim Nagy from Senior Bowl.
In addition to Gutekunst being in SEC country, Green Bay director of football operations Milt Hendrickson was in attendance at the Iowa vs. Illinois State game, while Green Bay director of college scouting Matt Malaspina was in attendance at the Penn State vs. West Virginia game, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
The Bulldogs’ next defender
Since 2021, the Georgia Bulldogs have had 23 defensive players selected in the NFL Draft. In the 2025 NFL Draft, Malaki Starks and Mykel Williams will join that group and are expected to be selected in the first round.
Another potential first-round pick for the Bulldogs is Jalon Walker. The former five-star recruit was demanding to miss Saturday as he led the team in tackles (six), added 1.5 sacks and two pressures.
The clip below shows Walker’s strength at the point of attack. It’s a training tape for setting the edge. In the previous play (next clip) Walker was a backside defender and showed his speed in pursuit to catch the ball carrier for no gain. It was an impressive two-play sequence that showcased his skills.
The Bulldogs are starting Walker in the starting seven. Whether he lines up off the ball or on the edge, he makes a difference. That potential hybrid skill set, combined with his athleticism, could make him a potential target for the Packers as they look to bolster their developing starting seven.
DL Talents Showcased in College Station
With the pieces the Packers have on the defensive line, they don’t have a pressing need to add more talent to that group. If Gutekunst does decide to add another piece to that group, he’s had a good look at potential targets during his time in College Station.
Texas A&M’s Shemar Turner was lively Saturday against Notre Dame. The 6-3, 289-pound defensive lineman showed the strength to bench-press offensive linemen and was robust at the point of attack. He finished the game with .5 tackles for loss and two stops.
In addition to Turner, Gutekunst got a good look at Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton, who has a great frame and plays with a ton of power. The Purdue commit finished his first game as an Aggie with a sack and a pair of pressures, showing off the inside spin he often used during his time at Purdue.
Other defensive lineman prospects that Gutekunst has gotten to know personally and could be potential targets in the upcoming draft include Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), Rylie Mills (Notre Dame), Jordan Botelho (Notre Dame) and RJ Oben (Notre Dame).
Dynamic RB
With AJ Dillon’s career in Green Bay likely coming to an end, the Packers could be looking at a running back in the 2025 draft.
Malaspina had a chance to watch Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton, who finished with 114 yards rushing and one touchdown against West Virginia.
The Penn State running back is an explosive runner who runs with patience and vision. He showed off his home run skills Saturday with a 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Another DE from Iowa
The Hawkeyes have a ton of talent on defense, including several defensive line players who could be called up in April.
Max Llewellyn is one of those linemen. The 6-foot-5, 258-pound offensive tackle finished with 1.5 tackles for loss in 26 plays. When he was on the field, it was demanding not to notice. He plays with a tenacious drive and shows incredible explosiveness.
