Curran says he’ll leave UGA for NFL draft
(Updated 6 p.m.)
As Bulldog Nation awaited word Sunday on whether Kirby Smart will be Georgia’s next defensive coordinator, the team’s best defensive player announced he is leaving school early for pro football.
In what he called the “toughest decision I’ve had to make in my life,” junior linebacker Rennie Curran said he will forgo his final season of college eligibility and enter the 2010 NFL draft.
His decision came as Georgia appeared on the verge of hiring a defensive coordinator to replace Willie Martinez, fired on Dec. 2.
Smart, Alabama’s defensive coordinator and a former Georgia player, has been considering a lucrative multi-year offer to take over the UGA defense but has not made his decision known.
“I’ll tell you what I’ve been saying all along: that I’m not going to make any comments on the search until I get my guy,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said late Sunday afternoon.
And is he about to get his guy?
“I’ll let you know when it happens, I promise,” Richt said.
Smart could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The new coordinator will have to rebuild the Bulldogs’ defense without the linebacker who led the SEC in tackles this past season.
Curran, from Brookwood High School, played in 37 games in his three seasons at Georgia, making 30 starts and 298 tackles. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player this past season.
His decision to enter the draft was not a surprise, but he said it was agonizing.
“There were so many variables, so many unknowns in making a big decision like this, because you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,” Curran said. “It’s a total leap of faith.
“It’s one thing to say that you’re going to go -– that you’re mentally and physically ready. But it’s another thing to actually take the stand and have the courage to do it and not look back. . . . It was something I really battled with.”
In the end, Curran said an accumulation of factors convinced him the time was right to end his UGA career: the need to financially support his 1-year-old daughter, the loss of other key defensive players, the likely change of defensive scheme with a new coordinator, and the recognition that the biggest knock against his NFL potential (his height, generously listed at 5-11) wouldn’t change with another year of college.
“Those were some of the things I wrote down on my list of pros and cons,” Curran said, “and my reasons to go outweighed my reasons to stay, even though I love Georgia.”
He is the second starter on Georgia’s 2009 defense to announce he is entering the NFL draft early, following junior safety Reshad Jones. Georgia also is losing two other starters in the secondary and the top three defensive tackles off the ‘09 team to graduation.
Curran said he considered delaying his decision until a new defensive coordinator is hired, which could be as soon as Monday, but concluded he’d make the same choice no matter who the hire.
He wouldn’t disclose the round in which the NFL advisory board projects him to be drafted, but said it is “good enough” to justify the decision. He is counting on a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine late next month to boost his stock.
“I’m going to have to really knock out the Combine,” he said, “but I feel like the sky is the limit. I just have to get one team to like me.”
Said Richt: “I think Rennie will do well. He’s a tackling machine. He always has been. I don’t care what level of ball he plays at, he’s going to be that torpedo that can hit. I just want to tell him thanks for everything he did for us.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
178 comments Add your comment
Ropedawg
January 10th, 2010
4:08 pm
Good Luck in the NFL Rennie. DGD
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
4:10 pm
If Smart were really smart, he would let Richt have another disastrous season, with chaos galore and come riding in on a white horse to save the Georgia football program.
Even without getting Smart, you would be wise to send Richt packing.
Taylor
January 10th, 2010
4:11 pm
So long Rennie! Best of luck!
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
January 10th, 2010
4:11 pm
who fills rennie spot?
Taylor
January 10th, 2010
4:12 pm
THWG
January 10th, 2010
4:06 pm
Rennie time to feed those kids you fathered on campus. One less t.h.u.g. for athens police to worry about.
richt is an idiot. kirby will make sure he has egg all over his face. why would that guy leave that defense and team to coach lousy pups who are perenial losers.
alabama has been ranked top 5 for two straight years, most of their players are coming back and he has a chance to win back to back sec and nc and you think he is going to leave bama for a 300k rasie.
Wow dude how classless are you? Calling Rennie a thug? unbelievable
Rennie Girl #7
January 10th, 2010
4:13 pm
THWG u beat us at home once an act like bamas all that, whatever..Athens Police love to arrest them dawgs and everbody else it’s a status thing. Oh and u didn’t play us this year, “If” the 1st string had showed up it may have been Florida again…
Business Man
January 10th, 2010
4:14 pm
Slick and TheDawgPound – StPetedawg is right – UGA can easily outbid UA, if it chooses. All publicly available information suggests that years of good financial management has resulted in UGA being comparatively richer than UA. However, that same fiscal conservatism that resulted in the budgetary advantage will likely result in a limit on how much Damon Evans is willing to pay for a coordinator. That said, I think he’ll outbid the Tide rather significantly.
As to why Kirby might be willing to leave an arguably better position, remember how much we all love our own alma maters. The Smarts are no different. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Krogunner
January 10th, 2010
4:14 pm
jack bull, I guess you like spending the holidays in shreavport. We are the most undisciplined team in the country and that is coaching. We recruit too well to be unranked. I hate to say it, but with richt we continue to fall further and further behind florida and bama.
collegeballfan
January 10th, 2010
4:15 pm
ATHENS, Ga. — University of Georgia All-Southeastern Conference junior linebacker Rennie Curran announced Sunday plans to forego his final collegiate season and enter the NFL draft.
A 5-11, 225-pound native of Snellville, Curran has appeared in 37 games for the Bulldogs including 30 starts. In his three seasons at Georgia, Curran amassed 298 tackles. This past season, Curran led the SEC in tackles with 130, collected All-SEC honors for the second straight year and was named one of Georgia’s permanent team captains. He was a finalist for the Rotary Lombardi and Chuck Bednarik awards.
“This has been a really difficult decision,” said Curran. “I love the Bulldogs and my time at Georgia has been great. But weighing all the factors over the last couple of weeks, I finally reached the decision Saturday that entering the NFL draft this year is the right decision for me at this time
01HAWK
January 10th, 2010
4:15 pm
BAMA can match any school in dollars. Paul Bryant Jr. is on the Board of Regents for state colleges.
Dylan
January 10th, 2010
4:16 pm
I think Curran and other members of the team and coaching staff know some things that we don’t. Curran said earlier that he would wait for the DC to be announced and there’s yet to be one named publicly and Curran has declared. I expect the DC announcement by Wednesday. I’m tired of waiting.
Good luck to Curran. Wish you nothing but the best in the NFL.
GO DAWGS!!!
rrich
January 10th, 2010
4:16 pm
good luck rennie you will be missed
Vince Dooley
January 10th, 2010
4:17 pm
BIG MISTAKE!
Kirby is not calling the shots…
Saban is…
just like I kept calling the shots for years after I left UGA.
Bremen Dawg
January 10th, 2010
4:17 pm
It all about the money these days and I don’t blame him for leaving early. I wish that the NFL, NBA, and MLB would require 4 year degrees before you can play.
FL Dawg
January 10th, 2010
4:18 pm
The only way Curran would stay is if the new DC came from the NFL. He out of here, so one of two things, KS is coming or UGA still doesn’t have a DC.
Big Dawg 97
January 10th, 2010
4:18 pm
PLEASE NOT KIRBY!
Everyone knows Satan is calling the shots … not little Kirby!
Bremen Dawg
January 10th, 2010
4:19 pm
One reason all of the recruits come to Georgia is to play early and to go to the NFL. That is there #1 goal.
BullDawg Rick
January 10th, 2010
4:19 pm
Rennie….
I have enjoyed watching you play in the Gwinnett Football League, at Brookwood & in the Classic City….
You are a class person & a DGD!!
All the Best to you!!!
Ropedawg
January 10th, 2010
4:19 pm
We may be better off. He lacked heart and took too many plays off.
Reggie Ball
January 10th, 2010
4:20 pm
I could be the DC…Give me a shot.
benadawg
January 10th, 2010
4:21 pm
My football world has been shot to hell, So one more bullett ain’t gonna hurt, there is one thing for certain Rennie can be replaced, But we will miss him.
Bremen Dawg
January 10th, 2010
4:22 pm
When Saban was calling the shots at LSU his D got tourched several times by UGA. Bama’s defensive has not got tourched any under Kirby. Kirby is making adjustments on the side, just watch the games.
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
4:22 pm
This what Saban thinks about the Georgia offer—septic tank, did he say septic tank?????????
“I’m not pleased when guys make lateral moves because it’s a little bit human nature to think – like my dad used to say, the grass is always greener on top of the septic tank. You always think it’s better someplace else. You kind of let your ego get involved and you make moves that you shouldn’t make that really aren’t in your best interest from a career standpoint. So I’m not happy when guys do that. But anybody on our staff who can move up, we would like to help them do that.”
ATLiens
January 10th, 2010
4:22 pm
Fans from other schools that advise UGA to fire richt are hilarious. Richt is one of the top coaches in college football and his record at UGA speaks to that. No he hasnt won a national championship but in reality it takes as much luck to get to the BCS title games as it does anything. For instance in 2006 Fla was very, very fortunate that they were able to sneak into the title game, however, in 2007 uga was not so lucky (twice actually because if ky hadnt choked multiple times in ot against the vols ga, not tenn would have played lsu for the sec title). Richt has built a great program that currently has hit a speed bump after last season, however, to fire him would be absurd. When your winning percentage is higher than Dooley’s and you’ve won mulitple sec championships you arnt going anywhere. The only way Richt is gone after next season is if the dawgs go 5-7
ropedawg what is your deal
January 10th, 2010
4:22 pm
lacked heart?? well hell i would love to see how many tackels he had if he had heart you are a dips**t
Paul Johnson has Moobies....
January 10th, 2010
4:23 pm
Good luck at the next level Rennie and thank you for leaving it all on the field.
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
4:24 pm
Krogunner
January 10th, 2010
4:14 pm
jack bull, I guess you like spending the holidays in shreavport. We are the most undisciplined team in the country and that is coaching. We recruit too well to be unranked. I hate to say it, but with richt we continue to fall further and further behind florida and bama.
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD–FIRE MARK RICHT.
jack bull
January 10th, 2010
4:24 pm
no way we’re falling..we’ve had one bad year.. we’re actually on the rise, some are just not smart enough to see it..that’s okay, those of us that are true fans see it. Mark Richt is the best thing thats happened to UGA in a very long time.. i’m tellin ya, time for some to find another team to pull for.
Frank
January 10th, 2010
4:24 pm
Best of luck Rennie, the DawgNation will miss you. Once a Dawg, always a Dawg.
THWGT!!!!!
BullDawg Rick
January 10th, 2010
4:25 pm
Rope… R U Stupid??? Rennie “Lacked Heart & took 2 many plays off”???
He lead the SEC in tackles you moron!!
U R A fool!!!
UGA FAN
January 10th, 2010
4:25 pm
Rennie Curran should stay in school for the education. He could go pro after graduating. With his size he will be on the bench in the NFL. Rennie is no thug, THWG, you don’t much about Rennie. He played in the band in High School and was a excellent student. He is probably going pro to support his family which includes his parent…
Mdawg10
January 10th, 2010
4:25 pm
Ropedawg, he lacked heart? Wow, have you even been watching this team the past 3 years? Rennie was the one and only player who has played with consistency throughout his career. This guy gave 100% every play and finished his career with more tackles than both Brandon Spikes and Rolando McClain. He’ll be hard to replace, but we are still deep at linebacker (Dowtin, Gamble, Dent, Robinson, Williams, Gilliard, etc.).
Good luck in the NFL, Rennie. It was awesome watching you play for the Dawgs.
dogfan
January 10th, 2010
4:26 pm
Keep on looking, Richt. Kirby’s not coming. The search for a DC at Georgia is getting mighty old. Do you have a plan B or C or D,E,F.
jack bull
January 10th, 2010
4:26 pm
undisciplined? its not two hand touch..gimme CMR over anybody in college football.
jack bull
January 10th, 2010
4:28 pm
who’s better?
ajc is slow
January 10th, 2010
4:29 pm
Richt’s words today at Rennie Curran’s press conference via teleconference:
“I’ll let you know when it happens, I promise,” Mark Richt said of DC hire.
Maybe since Richt is out of town recruiting they are waiting to announce it until he gets back to Athens & Richt/Smart will make the announcement together. Tomorrow maybe?
David
January 10th, 2010
4:29 pm
THWG-Somewhere a village is missing their idiot.
Krogunner
January 10th, 2010
4:30 pm
Jack bull, keep drinking the kool aide. Better get ready for another bowl trip to shreavport, nashville, or birmingham. just reality.
fire lane kiffin
January 10th, 2010
4:32 pm
lane kiffin is going to have tenn on probation soon. please fire him!
Josh
January 10th, 2010
4:32 pm
Well, if Smart DOES decide to come to Georgia, is it that much of a stretch for his wife to become an assistant for the bball team? Maybe even the coach in waiting? Seeing that Landers is ready to retire I think that’s a possibility. Feel free to correct me if we already have a CIW for women’s hoops because I have no idea.
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
4:32 pm
I DOUBT RICHT IS EVEN IN THE TOP 10 FOOOTBALL COACHES-START WITH CHOICES AT-USC,BOISE STATE, TCU CINN, LSU, ALA. FLA, SC, ND MISS. STATE AND THE LIST GOES ON
TheDawgPound
January 10th, 2010
4:33 pm
I still don’t see why Smart would make the jump to rebuild a UGA defense. He just did that with Bama and won a NC. Now is when he reaps the rewards with a possible head coaching position, not take the same position at a school in the same conference that is not in good shape. Why take a raise up to $700k in a position that you will not look good for 3 years when you could get a head coaching gig withing 1 year paying you close to $2mm???
jack bull
January 10th, 2010
4:33 pm
patience folks, be patient…i guess some that are in the “entitlement generation” don’t know the meaning to that word..
Rope Dawg
January 10th, 2010
4:34 pm
jack bull=moron!
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
4:36 pm
Smart has been on Richt staff twice(check his bio) and Richt has let him go twice.
I really don’t think Richt is a very go judge of talent.
jack bull
January 10th, 2010
4:37 pm
not reality, i know we will be in a BCS bowl next year..and no, i don’t drink kool-aid, thx.. i just know that some folks don’t think things thru.. i’m sure you’ll change you tune next year when we have a great season..not that i expect you to eat your words or anything
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
4:38 pm
TheDawgPound
There you go again, making too much sense for these folks.
Rope dawg
January 10th, 2010
4:38 pm
Tennessee has 6 scholarship players in hoops. The rest are in jail. You can’t spell THUG without a U and a T. just fitting in with the football program i guess.
EW
January 10th, 2010
4:38 pm
Rennie’s only drawback in the draft is his height, and well that’s not going to change in another year. Go and prosper young man. You deserve it after the hard work you put in for the Dawgs.
jack bull
January 10th, 2010
4:38 pm
intelligent, very intelligent..moron, huh? tell me who is better,,thats all