Morgan, Thomas react to the draft
Derrick Morgan seemed slightly aggravated and Demaryius Thomas slightly relieved after being selected in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday in New York.
Morgan, projected to be a top-10 pick, slide to No. 16 where the Tennessee Titans snagged him. Thomas, who was surprised to be invited to New York for the shindig, was picked by the Denver Broncos at No. 22.
“I did think I was the best defensive end in the class, but Tennessee is a great situation for me,” Morgan told the Tennessean newspaper. “… It’s a huge chip on my shoulder. The teams that didn’t pick me are going to see that.”
ESPN analysts said Morgan was the complete defensive end in the draft, but two more ends were selected ahead of him. Morgan had 12 1/2 sacks last year as a junior to earn ACC defensive player of the year honors. It’s not clear why he slid, but Morgan said he wasn’t going to let that slow him down.
“I want to make an immediate impact,” he said.
Because of his size (6-3, 224 pounds) and speed (4.38 in the 40), Thomas steadily moved up the mock draft boards, even after he broke a bone in his foot in February while training. He caught 46 passes for 1,154 yards last season to become the first receiver taken on Thursday.
“I’m looking to come in and learn stuff from the guys that are already there so I can be successful like Brandon Marshall was in that offense,” Thomas told the Denver Post. Marshall was a Pro Bowl-receiver for the Broncos who was traded to Miami in the offseason.
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92 comments Add your comment
@ Atlanta Gator
April 23rd, 2010
2:15 pm
While you can’t blame the hype on the team…it is much more about their obnoxious, typically ignorant fans than anything with the actual university
secfactcheck.com
April 23rd, 2010
2:19 pm
Correction… None you listed went from no ranking to NC.
Derrick Favors
April 23rd, 2010
2:22 pm
Congrats to these two gooduns. I think Thomas will make the better pro but we will see. Two fine reps of state of Georgia that will certainly make plenty of bread.
Delbert D.
April 23rd, 2010
2:28 pm
POAD – I went to Nashville for a trade show about 10 years ago. The hotel was nice. The city was a definite upgrade over my 3 separate times living in Knoxville in the ’80s.
Delbert D.
April 23rd, 2010
2:31 pm
POAD – l must add that I was born in Athens because the small hick town I grew up in didn’t have a hospital then.
Atlanta Gator
April 23rd, 2010
2:32 pm
I wasn’t trying to name a team that climbed all the way to a national title. I thought you were talking about teams that started unranked or at the bottom and climbed all the way towards the top. As you said “climb in the polls to get what they get”. I didn’t realize you were talking about NC’s or making it to the NC game.
In terms of “hype”, yeah UGA didn’t live up to the “hype” in 2008. My point was that each and every year teams across are “hyped” up and fail to live up to their expectations. UGA isn’t the only team to not live up to those expectations, and while you can blame them for not living up to them you can’t blame them for generating the “hype” because it’s mostly media driven. They’re not the ones putting themselves on magazine covers. I’m sure there are years GT was “hyped” and didn’t live up to it. Certainly not #1 but up there pretty high. I’m sure they’ll be near the top this year and we’ll see if they live up to the expectations.
gotta love the joke @ coke
April 23rd, 2010
2:42 pm
hmmmnnn….. national champions in 1990?
The 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split championship and the ensuing controversy led to the creation of the Bowl Coalition, a precursor to the Bowl Championship Series. The title was split between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Buffaloes took the AP poll while the Yellow Jackets took the UPI poll by one vote over Colorado, 847 to 846.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_NCAA_Division_I-A_football_season
sounds debateable to me…. 8 out of 9 ain’t debatable though…
And to GTgal01 : ESPN’s comments are totally warranted. Dez Bryant has waaaayyy more potentional than BayBay, conversly he also has waaaayyy more potential to put him into situations that may innevitably put him out of the leage quickly. But ESPN judges and makes conversation based on their rankings of a players ability, coaches/GM’s/owners take character into consideration, sports commnetators don’t have to. Bryant is more talented, BayBay couldn’t participage in the draft to show his measurables AND a wide receiver comming from CPJ’s offense is suspect, just the way it is, FOR SURE they can block and help with the run, but, can they flourish in pro-style offenses. Which is what the NFL runs, thus its what they look for.
BayBay will be fine, he is a special talent. Now that you have entered the CPJ era though, your Calvin Johnson’ss and BayBay Thomas’s will ultimately be fewer and further between.
Congrats to both the tech kids, and good luck to Dwyer.
But to heck with all you GT Chumps.
secfactcheck.com
April 23rd, 2010
2:58 pm
Tech did split with a one loss one tie Colorado Team. One of their wins was the infamous 5 down Colorado win over MO. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Down_Game_(1990). Can’t defend the logic of why folks would vote for a one loss one tie team with one of the victories clearly gifted by the forever suspended referee crew, but, Tech was the only undefeated team that year.
JoeFann
April 23rd, 2010
3:04 pm
Don’t normally troll the Tech blogs, but the headline drew me. Congrats to both Morgan and Thomas. They’ve earned their place. I’m glad they’re gone.
As Atlanta Gator rightly pontificates, while we all love our teams dearly, and revile all opponents, it doesn’t mean there aren’t rational, sane fans of all schools that can appreciate the accomplishements of other teams’ players. But, unlike media spinsters believe, hyperbole can’t trump facts. And the fact is, football is the ultimate team sport–11 players working in harmony for a goal. Any one fails in his responsibilites, the play can fail, unless bailed out by the opponent’s failure or a tremendous effort of other teammates. A preseason #1 can’t play offense every play. It’s got to play defense, too. So too, a collection of lesser “hyped” players can rise to an occasion and “out-team” a small number of studs. As the saying goes, “that’s why they play the games.”
Here’s wishing much success to Morgan and Thomas!
Go Dawgs!
Paddy
April 23rd, 2010
3:05 pm
GT..houweio;j….hope you are not a Dawg fan, your post was of a simpleton and a lack any knowledge of football. That was embarrasing! Find a new team if you are, we don’t need you!
gotta love the joke @ coke
April 23rd, 2010
3:05 pm
Apparently it had something to do with strength of schedule, you know that old arguement.
Seems Colorado played more ranked teams that year and they were claimed #1 by two polls, the AP and the Football Writers Association of America.
Either way, GT doesn’t fully own that title. Granted you got it, but there will always be that funny like astrick mark next to it…
PMC
April 23rd, 2010
3:07 pm
Morgan lost a little money because his teammates weren’t as good this year and Bulaga had a great bowl game against him. He just didn’t look as dominant last year.
Thomas…. why can’t he be every bit as good as Brandon Marshall?
I’m interested to see where Morgan Burnett goes and Johnathan Dwyer. Dwyer may have run a slow ish 40 but he breaks tackles like it’s his job… oh wait.
Bob
April 23rd, 2010
3:19 pm
I think all of these Georgia Tech draftees are a little overrated. There will be no Duke’s, UNC’s, Wake Forest’s, Virginia’s, or Clemson’s in the NFL. It will be more along the lines of LSU, Iowa, and Georgia. Just sayin’. These guys were in the worst BCS league in the country. Thomas’ recieving stat probably was the most misleading stat in all of college football last year. Nobody respects Nesbitt’s arm. Defenses basically give Georgia Tech those passes. Sure, he had to make some people miss to break those long ones, but you just wouldn’t see that happening in a more traditional offense (or against a better defense). Morgan never did jacksquat against anyone of note. He got pushed around like a blocking sled against LSU and Georgia and was a total non-factor against Iowa. I’m sure he’s got a great highlight reel lighting up tobacco road quarterbacks, but this is big boy football. I just think they’re all overrated. Time will tell…
Gator Girl
April 23rd, 2010
3:23 pm
“Tim Tebow’s Tears”
You will be crying working your boring 9-5er and fighting rush hour traffic while Tim gets paid well to play a game for a living. Have fun the rest of the day at work!
@ Bob
April 23rd, 2010
3:30 pm
you are a stupid SEC homer….:worst BCS league”…comments like that make you seem very ignorant…but typical
@ Bob
April 23rd, 2010
3:31 pm
what did Bey Bey do against UGA again??? a lot
@ Bob
April 23rd, 2010
3:31 pm
How many UGA players went in 1st round????? NONE…seems to me the tide is turning…
Bob
April 23rd, 2010
3:34 pm
to @ Bob – Im gay
Eddy
April 23rd, 2010
3:55 pm
GT…Huow: You are a moron and really make UGA fans look bad. As for Thomas and Morgan, two very good players that will do very well in the NFL after doing a lot for the Tech Program and will be missed. Really thought we were gonna get Morgan but I wish him well in Tenn!
JEM
April 23rd, 2010
4:10 pm
Morgan, projected to be a top-10 pick, slide to No. 16 where the Tennessee Titans snagged him…… slide to no. 16. Nice editing!
The Urange result and UGA have cost him
April 23rd, 2010
4:42 pm
Had Dwyer been drafted yet? I am afraid that his horrible outings vs UGA twice and Iowa and LSU have shown the world that Dwyer is small but he is slow.
Middle School football is not what the NFL looks for in big boy land.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAH
Dwyer got 33 vs Iowa and 0 in first half vs Iowa and 33 vs UGA entire game. Baybay? He has Board hands> aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahah
PD sirens every where ………….must be that #37 is on a date OR another car jacking.
We_Run_This_Country
April 23rd, 2010
4:48 pm
I see Bebe fitting into a Randy Moss mold…he’s a big kid with a knack for going up and out-leaping the small corners. What sets him apart is his ability to block and be a team player. That’s why he was the #1 WR taken in the draft. He blocks like a fullback and plays WR like Randy Moss. The kid will have an excellent HOF career.
D. Morgan will be a solid rusher. Even double and triple teamed, he found ways to get sacks. He will be along the lines of a John Abraham. Hope he doesn’t beef up too much in the pros, otherwise he will lose a step or two of quickness.
Congrats GT guys! Only the beginning though! We have a few more 1st rounders coming up in the system! All is well at GT!
supersize that order, mutt
April 23rd, 2010
5:05 pm
“gotta love”, you need to check the records. 1990 was not the only year there was a shared national championship. Do you see asterisks next to the names of Bama, USC, LSU, OSU, etc on the years that they shared the championship? No, I think not, and there is no need for one next to Tech’s name for 1990 either. We OWN a share of the national championship for 1990, just like each of those other schools OWN a share of the national championship in the year in which they shared it.
Darrah
April 23rd, 2010
6:39 pm
I like Derrick Morgan, but he’s about to become a millionaire, and he’s whining like a crybaby.
Grow up!
dawgfan
April 23rd, 2010
6:41 pm
What did “Be Be” (the absolute gayest nickname in sports) do against UGA? He had one big play against a reserve DB playing man coverage. Whoopdeefreakingdoo. Other than that he did jacksquat except choke with the game on the line in the 4th quarter.
What did any of your overrated players do against UGA? Absolutely nothing.
All those NFL first rounders and still couldn’t beat Georgia or win a bowl game. What an absolutely laughable football program.
supersize that order, mutt
April 23rd, 2010
6:54 pm
It’s BAY BAY, you dumb f**k
mtraininjax
April 23rd, 2010
6:57 pm
Gators on the Tech Blog, will wonders never cease?
Perhaps we should pull out who has more national championships, or who holds the record for the most points scored by a team in the history of college football, but why bother, they are ancient, as ancient as anything that happened from 2000-2008. Move on.
4 ncs are better than 1
April 23rd, 2010
7:21 pm
Ugay fans don’t need to be talking about national championships on a TECH blog! GT has 4 legitimate national titles and 2 other ones (and we will probably need to bring them up in a few minutes). Ugay has 1! Thats ONE dawgs. And our FOUR is ONE MORE THAN THE GAYtors have!!!!!!! Ugay, go compare titles with Clemson, you are out of your league here!!!!!!!
4 ncs are better than 1
April 23rd, 2010
7:26 pm
dawgfan, all those top ten signing classes and first round picks and YOU can’t win a national title??????????? What a pitiful excuse for a football program!
SILLY UGA FANS
April 23rd, 2010
7:44 pm
To the UGA fans that simply wanted to wish these two players good luck, my hat is off to you for being able to put rivalry aside and commending a good football player regardless of where he played. I laugh about “fans” saying Morgan is overrated. Do you really think pro teams and scouts don’t take where these kids played into consideration? Did you notice that Iowa and UGA just like several other teams double and triple teamed him during the season? That says a lot about him and his playing ability. Unfortanately it also says a lot about the rest of our former d-line.
Thomas will have some work to do to improve route skills, but obviuously Denver thinks he can do this and they don’t have to spend time teaching him to put a DB on his arse so a RB can get that extra yardage. True measure for any of these players is time and not where they played college ball.
Bob
April 23rd, 2010
7:52 pm
It seems to you that the tide is turning because you’re a delusional Tech moron. One victory over UGA in 9 tries and the tide is turning? A couple of NFL 1st round draft picks and the tide is turning? Do you Tech people have any clue how freaking stupid you sound? UGA owns you. That is not an opinion. It is a fact. Never in my life have I seen such widespread delusion in my life. Maybe UGA didn’t have any 1st rounders this year. They still beat you. Your 1st rounders were 1-3 vs. UGA and 0-4 in bowl games. They helped you beat an 8-4 team with a freshmen QB for the ACC title. Big harry freaking deal Tech fans. Get over yourselves. UGA owns you. Nothing you can say could possibly change this. You have nothing to say to them. One win in 9 years. That’s it. My god you people are thick headed.
Good grief.
Vern
April 23rd, 2010
8:00 pm
See what can happen if you stay out of bars until after college, Dawgs. woof
Stumpknocker
April 23rd, 2010
8:14 pm
Come out of the closet Atlanta Gator. Your nothing but a ghonad licking, flea scratching dawg.
SILLY UGA FANS
April 23rd, 2010
8:19 pm
Bob if your claim to fame is beating what you and what some other UGA fans claim is a subpar, nerd infested, high school, untalented, unnoteworthy team then so be it. I just can’t understand why you fell the need to brag about beating a team that is soooooooo far below your standards.
Dacula Jacket
April 23rd, 2010
8:44 pm
UGA is a joke of an institution. How may points for a three pointer?
POAD
April 23rd, 2010
8:52 pm
Knew Burnett made a bad choice to leave, but is is looking like Dwyer did too. He should have stayed in school played 1 more year to do even better things at TECH. I think his speed has become an issue. He will battle his weight too IMHO.
POAD
April 23rd, 2010
8:55 pm
Burnett at 71 to Green Bay still no Dwyer? WOW what did he do so bad in the combines and interviews?
Score Check
April 24th, 2010
8:51 am
Is there any “substance” to the rumor that Dyer’s drug test was not clean?
I’m just “sniffing” around…
ames
April 24th, 2010
11:42 am
Aren’t Morgan and Thomas the same ones that have permanent cleat marks in their chests from King and Ealey? LOL!!!!
rex
April 24th, 2010
11:43 am
So glad the Falcons were smart enough not to draft BeBe “stone hands” Thomas. What a bust
andrew
April 26th, 2010
9:32 am
No matter what way you slice it, Thomas needed to come out when he did. He’s in a system that runs first and he’s really underutilized. Another year at GT wouldn’t have done him any good. Morgan, Dwyer, and Burnett though could have all used another year to develop. Morgan’s talented, but not as good as Kiper and Co. projected him to be. He’s one dimensional as a pass rusher and doesn’t get up the field quick enough for the NFL. Dwyer’s speed was an obvious concern for scouts, and his being in a option, three back system doesn’t help either. Burnett came off an All-American sophomore year for a mediocre junior year. Teams like his speed but he gets beat deep too often and doesn’t tackle as aggressively as needed. All in all, 3 out of the 4 big names from GT should have stayed and GT is faced becoming the Duke of college football…great system players that never amount to more than bench warmers on the professional level.
Atlanta Gator is an idiot!
April 27th, 2010
12:49 am
Atlanta Gator… I think your jean shorts are on cutting off the blood to your ignorant brain!! You spout off these stats like you have any clue what you’re talking about!! If you had any idea what you were talking about, you’d know that it was at least THREE first-rounds, not two. Obviously Bay Bay and D. Mo this year… BUT… uhh, does some guy named Calvin Johnson ring a bell?? Damn dude, that’s three in four years! I mean if you’re gonna try and spout facts, at least make sure they’re right!! And that crappy site you referenced had Tech’s last ‘1st-rounder’ as Vance Walker. He was a 7th round pick last year. So head back to Wal-Mart, get some new jean shorts and tanks-tops and go blow Tebow, cause let’s be honest… You know you want too!