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Mel Kiper gets called out by Georgia fans during 2022 NFL Draft
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Mel Kiper Jr. is feeling the heat from Georgia football fans after comments he made during the 1st round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday.
The longtime ESPN draft analyst discussed Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, who was selected 12th overall in the draft after a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to move up in the order. Williams, of course, tore his ACL during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Georgia.
"They (Alabama) beat Georgia if he doesn't get hurt and plays in the National Championship game."
Mel Kiper with a hot take about Jameson Williams!
— Wes Blankenship (@Wes_nship) April 29, 2022
Georgia would go on to win the game 33-18. Williams had recorded 4 catches for 65 yards before his injury, as his college career came to a sudden halt.
Whether the Tide would have won or not with Williams on the field is a major “what-if”, but needless to say, and rather expectedly, Bulldogs fans (and media) didn’t take Kiper’s comments lying down:
So far tonight Mel Kiper has panned the pick of Travon Walker, said Georgia would have lost the national title game if Jameson Williams hadn't gotten hurt, and sources say he's planning to criticize Jordan Davis' band conducting skills.
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) April 29, 2022
Me when Mel Kiper said Georgia wouldn’t have won the Natty if Bama didn’t have injury excuses. #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/zVodV0Tc0X
— The Dawgzilla (@TheDawgzilla) April 29, 2022
Did Georgia cost @MelKiperESPN a lot of money in the playoff? He has such a hard time being complimentary of Georgia guys. And don’t say it’s his job. He has raved about much worse in his 25+ years on draft night.
— Chañce (@ChanceDawg19) April 29, 2022
@MelKiperESPN from all UGA fans: you suck. #NFLDraft
— JB (@jbrooksga) April 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/JKirklandFL/status/1519855088461824000
What does Mel Kiper have against UGA???
— Brandon Cummings (@BrandonC15) April 29, 2022
Mel Kiper hates dawgs it’s a fact ????
— Duke of Earl ?? (@__EarlG517) April 29, 2022
Mel Kiper hates all the Georgia defensive players. He doesn’t understand how Georgia’s defense played.
— Garrett King (@gking018) April 29, 2022
Needless to say, Kiper hasn’t gained any friends among the Georgia faithful thus far during ESPN’s draft coverage. With several other Bulldogs players projected to have their names called during the event, we’ll see if his tune changes.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
