Dogs in the draft: Five players picked, including three defensive tackles
Five former Georgia players were selected in the NFL draft the past two days, including the top three defensive tackles on last season’s team.
The tackle trio was picked on Saturday: Geno Atkins in the fourth round by Cincinnati and Jeff Owens and Kade Weston in the seventh round by Philadelphia and New England, respectively.
They joined former teammates Rennie Curran, the linebacker chosen by Tennessee late in the third round Friday night, and Reshad Jones, the safety selected by Miami in the fifth round Saturday, as Georgia’s draft class.
The Bulldogs wound up with the 97th (Curran), 120th (Atkins), 163rd (Jones), 243rd (Owens) and 248th (Weston) picks of the draft. Jones was selected a bit lower than expected and Owens much lower than some projections.
Entering the seven-round draft, there was no consensus on who would be the first player picked from Georgia. That turned out to be Curran, who was watching the draft with family and friends at his Snellville home when he got a phone call from Titans coach Jeff Fisher late Friday night.
“That was the best call of my life, the best sound,” Curran said. “Just picking up the phone call, my heart skipped a beat.”
Curran bypassed his senior season at UGA to enter the draft, and after hearing questions about his height (5-10 ½) for months, he considered his decision validated by the Titans choosing him in Round 3.
“They have a very aggressive defense, and I feel like I am going to fit perfectly with their defensive scheme,” Curran said on a conference call. “I’m just glad a team took a chance on me, and they will not regret [it]. I am looking to make an impact.”
After Curran, the next selection from Georgia was Atkins, who said he went in the round he expected (fourth). He did not expect, however, to be selected by the Bengals.
“They didn’t work me out or anything,” Atkins said. “It was kind of a surprise, really.”
Jones, on the other hand, was less surprised by the team that picked him (Miami) than by the round (fifth). The Atlanta native, who left school early for the draft, had expected to go in the second or third round.
In need of immediate help at safety, the Dolphins brought Jones to Miami for a workout and interview last month. When he was still available late in the fifth round, they traded sixth- and seventh-round picks to Washington in order to grab him.
“It’s been kind of crazy over the last couple of days,” Jones said on the Dolphins’ website. “But I think it worked out for the best.”
For Owens, the draft was agonizing. Analysts had fluctuated wildly in their projections, forecasting him to go anywhere from the second round to the seventh. By early Saturday afternoon, Owens posted on Twitter: “Now in the fifth round still waiting on a phone call. Going into camp with a chip on my shoulder.”
Several hours later, he was selected 12 spots from the end of the draft by Philadelphia.
“I finally found my home,” Owens then tweeted. “Motown Philly here I come!!!!”
Five picks later, New England’s selection of Weston completed Georgia’s draft delegation.
“Congratulations to everyone that was drafted,” Atkins typed on Twitter. “We did it. We’re in the NFL!!!”
Postscript: Former Georgia wide receiver Mike Moore announced on Twitter Saturday night that he will sign with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent. Two other undrafted players from Georgia also agreed to sign with NFL teams as free agents: safety Bryan Evans with Cincinnati and cornerback Prince Miller with Baltimore.
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152 comments Add your comment
Spokesman for the SEC East
April 25th, 2010
1:30 pm
Hey Mark May, the SEC East doesn’t hate UGA or their coach!
Porshe
April 25th, 2010
2:00 pm
Congrats to Georgia on anotehr 5 to the NFL.
Wow, 62 to the NFL in the last decade, 2nd highest in the Nation, and more than Florida or Alabama.
Keep up the good work guys, it’s always good to be #1 in the SEC in getting guys to the NFL.
Junkyard-Dawg
April 25th, 2010
2:05 pm
Waiting for The Dawgvent to be renamed The Dwyer-Thomas-GT Vent.
Spokesman for the SEC East
April 25th, 2010
2:06 pm
Porshe Patrick great work, same number in draft as USF. Take away Donnan’s recruits and how many would be in there? Keep it up CMR!!
Techsucks deeznutts
April 25th, 2010
2:11 pm
Jonathan Dwyer than his Draft status should’ve stayed in school, Morgan Burnett will have a hard time in “THE FROZEN TUNDRA”, and truthfully the DE out of Tech was the only legit baller. How is it that people like De-Low-is is on a web sight talking shizell, go bake some biscuits or whine in your she/he’s ear. This is a “real sports fans sight, and we don’t want half way I don’t know Shizell type women on here.Georgia is and will “always be the “biggest” thing in this state. When we win again know that you will bow down!Sisssssy’s
Mark "Crimson Crier" Ingram
April 25th, 2010
2:27 pm
Any bets on whether Tebow will make it in the NFL more years than the fantastic curdawg duo of David Green and David Pollack?
Jan Kemp
April 25th, 2010
2:52 pm
Dawg Rule,
Bama cheats? What about me? What about Jim Harrick Jr. and how many points do you get for a 3 pt shot? What about Herschel and his new Trans am? What about the 6 major infractions cases that the NCAA have brought against Georgia which is tied with Auburn for 3rd most major violations cases? What about all that punk?
Steve
April 25th, 2010
3:03 pm
Delores, if you think Georgia is number one in arrests, you are sadly mistaken. Go look at some numbers and come back instead of spewing incorrect statements like they were facts. Your argument lost all weight with the false statements you made.
I would agree with yoru argument that as a Dawg fan I am sick of seeing our players in trouble, but riding a scooter without insurance, playing music too loud, and underage drinking are issues a very decent population of college students could easily get ticketed for doing. If you have ever done any of these things or been around people doing them, consider yourself a very lucky hypocrit, as you could have been on the blotter.
Typical Gator Fan
April 25th, 2010
3:33 pm
Thank you GaGator. You’ve shown the class and dignity of a true Gator fan. You set your alarm clock for 8:00 am on Sunday. So you could log on to the internet and read an article on the AJC about the University of Georgia and the former players drafted in the NFL draft to write comments about the University of Florida. And you wonder why everyone hates Gator fan? Act like you’ve been there before, not like all the Gator fans from 1988 and before. Work ‘em, Silly Gators!!!
Spokesman for the SEC East
April 25th, 2010
4:12 pm
Typical, I think they do this as payback for all of the years you owned them. There used to be some pretty nasty jawja fans. Now their kids dont understand how their parents seem so high and mighty.
yentyl
April 25th, 2010
4:20 pm
Good post Porsche, right on, Georgia #1 in SEC in players to the NFL.
Ricky
April 25th, 2010
4:21 pm
62 players to the NFL? Wow, that is impressive.
Thanks Porsche, best post of the month again, you rock it.
Edward
April 25th, 2010
4:26 pm
Georgia has sent more to NFL than Alabama or Florida?
I agree with Porshe, pretty impressive stuff, thanks for sharing Porsche, another home run post from you.
UGA DAWGZ
April 25th, 2010
4:45 pm
Delores- You must be completely ignorant to say Mark Richt has no coaching skill and that UGA is an embarrassment. Mark Richt is the third most winning coach in college football. UGA is one of the many highlights for Georgians, college kids drink get over it
King Gator
April 25th, 2010
5:00 pm
Congrats to the UGA draftees.. 62 (2nd) in the past decade and very little to show for it. We’ll take our 59(4th) and 2 National Championships and our 8-2 record v. the Pups. (and that included 3 years of the Zooker) Go Gators!
get a clue
April 25th, 2010
5:16 pm
ATL XMAN-
You dont have a clue what you’re talking about. Florida returns 9 of 10 players on the 2 deep OL.
Lake Oconee Dawg
April 25th, 2010
5:22 pm
Delores:
You come on here disguised as an interested fan, but you have Tech written all over you…..underhanded way to try to come after the Dawgs….You just go live in your own little world and let us work out any problems the dawgs may have…riding scooters without licenses, and on a sidewalk…such terrible behavior causes me to really worry….And someone posting under a woman’s name in order to cut at the dawgs, like a woman would know anything about Coach Richts coaching ability…You having a hard time getting over that November 28 affair at the Joke by Coke, get you a couple luke warm enemas for about 2 weeks and see if you can get that bitterness worked out of your system, and do us a favor, don’t worry about the dawgs….
Fabian
April 25th, 2010
5:23 pm
Bama has 11 of 13 starters drafted or free agents with kicker Leigh Tiffin to follow.
Jeff
April 25th, 2010
5:25 pm
How can Richt have so many NFL players with so little success nationally? In two years Saban coached up some has beens and overlooked players that played as a team and won a NC. Coincidence-no.
John
April 25th, 2010
5:33 pm
Mike Moore will make the team, he graded out better than most receivers that were invited to the combine. Under utilized at Georgia by Bobo, with a quarterback that couldn’t get him the ball if he handed to him, but caught everything that came his way.
Rashad Jones should’ve stayed another year, would have been maybe one of the top 2 safetys coming out next year….and a difference of approx. 10 to 15 million dollars from 5th round to 1st or 2nd.
As far as the theory that Georgia coaches don’t do a good job of coaching up talent, I believe that sometimes Georgia makes the mistake of going after 4 & 5 stars that talent has been maxed out in high school or played under “system coaches” designed to put up great stats. Georgia should change their recruiting idealogy of taking only the best players only by statistics. Players with speed & raw talent,if added 10lbs with a redshirt year would be a 5 star player, with a year of experience in your system. 5th year seniors with experience and muturity is how you win championships, not premadonnas only there for 2 years and they’re off to the NFL. If picking the best player each year guarentee a championship, Detroit Lions would win every Super Bowl.
Stinger
April 25th, 2010
6:45 pm
They will all be cut by the end of summer. LMFAO
billdawg
April 25th, 2010
6:47 pm
Then cometh BIG AL taking a shot at Joe Cox who has more class and more loyalty to UGA thab his critics ever will have. Joe may be the perfect answer to Delores whoever that is. Takes a BIG MAN to belittle a true student athlete. And for all you followers of Big A(ssho)L(e)you are in his class too.
76-Dawg
April 25th, 2010
6:48 pm
I believe the young immature recruits from the state of GA. will start this year staying in state because UGA favors a Pro style offense and have gone to a 3-4 defense which is also preferred in the pro’s. The SEC schools that are already on both have had a recruiting advantage but that should change in 2010. Maybe they will also realize that if one school has too many 4 and 5 star player somebody isn’t going to play and may not see action until their jr. year, when they could have played for 4 years at other schools. It will always be hard to beat out southwest GA. from going to Florida State because it is less than an hour drive to their games and the recriuts have been going to those games since they were young kid’s. Also, Auburn will always have an advantage in the recruits from Columbus because it is so close. That’s why I feel UGA are fools having the GA.,FLA. game in Jacksonville every year. Being 60 mile from Gainesville makes the recruiting advantage a no brainier for FLA. If UGA had won 17 of 20 games FLA, would have changed the site of that game years ago. UGA has to be a 7 to 14 point favorite to have a chance, most years, in that game. When UGA use to dominate the game in Jacksonville there was totally different variables involved.
trey
April 25th, 2010
7:02 pm
(( Dwyer = 6th round ))
hahahahahahahaahahahahahahaha
Dawggirl
April 25th, 2010
7:08 pm
Congrats to Mike Moore. Too bad he will be a free agent. But i think he has the skills, just didnt have the QB last year to showcase what he has to offer.
bILLY bOB
April 25th, 2010
7:12 pm
Delores get a job.
If UGA has the highest arrest rate, how come UT has has twice as many players arrested?
UGA has had a couple of players arrested numerous times, because they keep doing the same thing over and over. UT players carry GUNS, UGA players drink and drive( Oh my Goodness )
If you look around the country other schools have had players that were shooting and being shot by others, but not at UGA!
So Delores go F-#$ yourself!
athdog
April 25th, 2010
7:18 pm
Boss Bailey, Patrick Pass, Mack Strong, Jonas Jennings, John Kasay, more than I can name, but don’t forget the most decorated of all…Charley Trippi, member of five (5) Hall of Fame.
athdog
April 25th, 2010
7:18 pm
or 5 Halls of Fame
BG
April 25th, 2010
7:22 pm
UGA always puts a ton of guys in the NFL.
Dunno
April 25th, 2010
8:13 pm
Porsche–
Great post, best of the week. I agree with what you’re saying, the NFL sure thinks Georgia can coach players up, 62 players going NFL, a lot to be proud of. No wonder so many great recruits keep coming Georgia’s way. Nice to be at the top of the SEC there, and #2 in NCAA. Impressive.
Thanks for sharing.
Bird Guy
April 25th, 2010
8:23 pm
Porshe,
I knew Georgia had sent a lot of players to go on to play on Sundays, over the last 10 years, but I didn’t realize it was more than Florida or Alabama. No doubt, sending up 60+ players is something any college coach shoud be awful proud of for his school. Only 1 other school has sent more. That’s flat out awesome.
WoodstockDawg03
April 25th, 2010
8:55 pm
Reshad Jones in the 5th round and Dwyer in the 6th? Wow, who’s advising these guys to come out early? Way to leave millions of $$ on the table guys….
sherman crockett
April 25th, 2010
9:48 pm
Lord A.J. Green deserves a better QB than he’s gonna get this year . . .he should’ve gone Pro and saved himself what will probably be a mediocre year . . . some say that the best QB just got kicked off the team . . .
Tick Tock
April 25th, 2010
10:03 pm
How many days, hours, or mere minutes before the next bulldog gets arrested??? What is it? 21 players arrested or cited by police in the last year and a half?
Meanwhile the other notorious countdown continues. How many years till the dogs win another national title? Will they ever win another with their daddy the gators in the same division. Tick Tock. Tickety Tock.
The clock is running on Mark Richt’s career. 2-7 and 1-5 against the Urban legend. Tick tock. The clock is ticking.
Mike
April 25th, 2010
10:30 pm
Why in the world would anyone sign Bryan Evans?
Paddy
April 26th, 2010
1:40 am
I asume there is a hugh following that got satisfied on the 5th round tweet??????????????? What world do these kids live in? Do something at Georgia and then let others talk about you. Don’t talk about yourself EVER!!! Do any of these kids have parents. This is so disgusting! Humility guys, humility! No one has a clue anymore.
Tone LoC
April 26th, 2010
6:34 am
sherman crockett – Really? ’some say that the best QB just got kicked off the team’…just WHO is saying that? Who are your soruces?
dan
April 26th, 2010
9:04 am
To all you Gator fans on this blog:
Most of the UGA players that go on to the NFL do very well: Hines Ward, Richard Seymor, Terrell Davis, Jon Stincomb, Charles Grant, ALL have Super Bowl rings! Say what you want about the current condition of our program, but you can’t deny that the Dawg have done well in the NFL.
I’m scanning my brain for Gaytors that have performed well in the NFL last 20 years . Emmit Smith? Jevon Kearse?Lito Sheppard? Jabar Gaffney? Maybe Percy Harvin( who currently has Brett Favre throwing to him). And yeah that’s about it. As for your current crop:
Joe Haden will get exposed, Tim Tebow is a HUGE risk by Denver and will only excel because the AFC West is so weak right now, Pouncey is a good center but Pittsburgh will struggle this season, Brandon Spikes is a SLOW LB but will excel because of the Patriots system. Dunlap is a lazy bum, even Meyer will tell everyone that. I actually think Cunningham and Hernandez have the greatest upside. Hernandez in particular has yet to hit his peak athletically and I look for the Patriots to use him in some creative ways.
Vandy Watt
April 26th, 2010
9:09 am
Anyone else find it interesting that Bryan Evans is going to be given a shot? Every clip of Dez Bryant and Demariyus Thomas burning someone deep it was Bryan Evans right in the shot.
kerryb
April 26th, 2010
9:11 am
Earlier I saw a post where GaGator said that Bellichek loves Gators. Well, he likes UGA players more. Ben Watson, Richard Seymour, Jermaine Wiggins, Patrick Pass, Robert Edwards, and now Kade Weston. I guess he knows where to get the solid NFL players,
Stinger
April 26th, 2010
9:25 am
Are you ready for your 3rd spanking of the baseball season? (25-6 LOL.)
I-DOG
April 26th, 2010
9:37 am
Delores,
Have any players graduated with a degree? Yes…some examples: Jon and Matt Stinchomb were both starting football players on the offensive line, both were microbioligy majors with near or 4.0’s and accepted to medical school. After their nfl careers they both plan to practice medicine. Same with the Keslers (spelling) in basketball, though they didn’t have much of an NBA career.
UGA’s starting QB three years ago was accepted to Harvard. There are too many academic all americans to list here. Just do a tiny bit of research and let go of your jaded image of UGA and you will be surprised.
Facts
April 26th, 2010
10:23 am
Yechs best team in 20 years, with all their studs leaving, and only 4 draft picks? UGA’s worst team in nearly 15 years, with all their studs returning, with 5 picks. Recruits are taking notice. Dark days ahead on the flats.
Stinger
April 26th, 2010
10:24 am
notice how I have to latch onto to an obscure college sport that only fans from pathetic football and basketball programs are forced to pull for.
Dwyer the BUST!!!!
April 26th, 2010
10:26 am
How many yards did he get against that “stellar” UGA defense again last year? 20? LOL!!!!!
Souljaboy
April 26th, 2010
10:37 am
Danell Ellerbee: six felonies, $20,000 bond=two game suspension. Montez: two arrests for girlfriend beating=two game suspension, presently in jail and unable to attend class or play football. Richt has had two or three players charged with assault each season. These crimes are not college boys having fun. You can look it up.
James T. Kirk
April 26th, 2010
10:39 am
Poor poochies. Still upset that Tech had 14 players drafted or signed while you had a measly 2. Pathetic. I suspect you saw how Tech Nation was out in full force Saturday to watch our starters win 27-7 while only playing one half. You all know what that means for this Thanksgiving weekend. Yet another beat down between your hedges. We have our thrower of the ball returning while you are trying to play a 5′5 midget at your thrower of the ball position. Nezbit will win the Heisman contest. We have the greatest catching receiver in all the land in Stephen Hill. Most say he is the best prospect to come along since Randy Moss. We have the greatest coach and recruiter in the nation while you have fake ‘n back Coach Rick. I can sympathize with you poodles. I know how much it must hurt to be annually owned by your masters from Atlanta in everything.
becks
April 26th, 2010
10:43 am
Souljaboy,
The Robinson situations really irked me. I think Richt is loyal and forgiving to a fault. Thinking he can help every kid that has problems. Something has clearly happened in the past month or two to change his approach apparently. Now I just wonder that he may be too quick to boot a kid for something that most schools would deal with in a different manner. We will see.
TechStinger
April 26th, 2010
11:04 am
The Athens police are now using a UGA Football Program as the main weapon in their forensic crime analysis—they’ve found a 96% correlation between the UGA football roster and downtown crimes in the last 28.5 months.
kell
April 26th, 2010
12:42 pm
TechStinger,
Had anymore students set any bombs off on campus or anyone killing other students with a sword???