Houston’s final season at UGA? His NFL draft stock is soaring
ATHENS – On Georgia coach Mark Richt’s radio call-in show this week, voice-of-the-Dogs Scott Howard asked: “Is there a better pass rusher than Justin Houston in the SEC right now?”
“Well, he’s pretty good,” replied Richt, who added with a laugh: “But I think he would probably need another year after this to really get great.”
“Sure he would, yes,” Howard said.
Houston is a junior, but – all kidding aside – his rising NFL draft stock suggests this might be his final season at UGA.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., the dean of NFL draft analysts, this week ranks Houston as the 17th best prospect for the 2011 draft. Kiper writes on ESPN.com’s Insider section that he tends “to avoid adding juniors and draft-eligible sophomores to the Big Board too early . . . as you don’t want to over-influence guys regarding their status.” But Kiper makes an exception in Houston’s case. “I love his size, skills and the kind of development he’s shown,” Kiper writes about the Georgia outside linebacker.
Houston was asked after practice Wednesday night if he’s thinking about leaving early for the NFL.
“I try my hardest not to think about that at all,” he said. “I just want to take it a game at a time and focus on this season. When the time gets here, I’ll think about it then. But right now I just want to focus on the season.”
(An issue that will loom over the draft decisions of Houston and other eligible underclassmen: the widespread sentiment that the NFL is headed toward a labor war that could result in a lockout next season.)
For now, Houston wants to continue building on the superb season he’s having. The SEC’s sack leader with 8.5, he was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Kentucky last Saturday. He was credited with two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and seven “quarterback hurries” in the game.
“He’s doing great,” Richt said. “He’s really focused. He’s in tremendous condition. He stays after practice to work on his fundamentals. He’s had a couple of things he’s had to get some treatment for – nothing big – but he’s very diligent in making sure his body is as fine-tuned as it can be for Saturdays.”
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By the way, Kiper has another Georgia junior, wide receiver A.J. Green, ranked No. 2 on his draft board this week.
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79 comments Add your comment
Halsey
October 28th, 2010
1:42 pm
lol D, get a clue. Stafford got a contract that included $40 million guarenteed. Worked pretty well.
JB
October 28th, 2010
2:11 pm
Gators all over these blogs few…..but worried…….. Meyer losing 4 in a row…..and to Dawgs is more than those people can stand…..They don’t get that much better in two weeks, and they are pretty bad…….Dawgs are scoring with style and ease….We win in a nice little game, say 31-17
Mtn Dawg
October 28th, 2010
2:31 pm
Halsey – DUH!
nerds! nerds! nerds!
October 28th, 2010
2:33 pm
The game against UT was over six minutes into the game.
I asked Stafford how leaving early has worked out for him and he said, “I have $50 million in my account.” I would say that is pretty good.
dawgfan
October 28th, 2010
2:51 pm
Halsey, Stafford should not be making money off of the game of football. Its un-American. Football isn’t about money. Its about the love of the game, teamwork, and ,most importantly, the fans. Stafford owed it to us to stick it out another year and not take the lifetime of financial security for him and his family that comes with being a #1 pick. Stafford is all about Stafford. One day he’ll be sitting on his yacht in the carribean full of shame and regret pondering what could have been if he had stayed at Georgia another year. I’d hate to have that on my conscience.
dawg from a distance
October 28th, 2010
3:06 pm
with the start to our year no junior is allowed to consider turning pro yet. Finish the Drill.
Go DAWGS!
Halsey
October 28th, 2010
3:26 pm
You had me thinking you were serious for a few seconds there dawgfan lol!
what of it?
October 28th, 2010
3:27 pm
Which one of you is turning down a minimum $400k salary per year, plus the best medical, pension, 401k to stay another year in college for nothing and risk missing out on being paid to play football for a living.
None of the athletes should care about college football. it benefits everyone but them.
Hunker Down
October 28th, 2010
3:38 pm
Hope JH gets to eat up Brantly on a few plays
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
October 28th, 2010
4:29 pm
hope they both stay. i know aj would make millions but i think he’s owes his loyaltly to the fans at UGA for “me-first” suspensions. plus i dont think he’s actually played a full year due to injuries and what not.
UGA We rob this State
October 28th, 2010
4:34 pm
How can you lock a Georgia player out of anything? I thought they were good at breaking and entering?
Matt
October 28th, 2010
4:34 pm
They need to back off and stop recruiting so young. Let these guys develope and most importantly get a college education.
Matt
October 28th, 2010
4:36 pm
I think Houston will stay but A.J, can’t get any higher on the draft charts (would love to see him again though) I have been wrong before though Moreno left as a Softmore.
coloradobulldog
October 28th, 2010
5:02 pm
Yeah Matt, Bronco fans will agree with you that Moreno left as a ’softmore’ even though he was a ’sophomore’.
Dumb Ga FAN
October 28th, 2010
5:18 pm
If it was me I would stay just for the free food.
DawgNation
October 28th, 2010
5:22 pm
My two pennies is if you sign an agreement for a four year scholarship you should honor that agreement. If you don’t want to then walk on for three years on your own dime and leave for the millions. I know you don’t get paid as a college player but you don’t as a high school player as well. They play four years to get a four year ride to college. That is the payout for high school players that are good enough. They play for that four year scholarship term for the millions which is the pay out if you are good enough in college. Now I don’t blame them for taking the money and running I blame the NFL and the NCAA that opened that door years ago (Thanks HW).
Halsey
October 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
Fans who argue against players leaving early are just selfish and myopic. They want to be entertained by the players and don’t give a hoot about the players point of view..
GaTruth
October 28th, 2010
5:51 pm
Heck, it’s AJ that needs another year to make up for hosing his teammates in the first four games of this year.
c ya
October 28th, 2010
6:47 pm
the kid will never stay. Thanks Kiper
bob
October 28th, 2010
7:35 pm
Hasn’t anyone noticed how bad Florida is this year on both sides of the ball? Hopefully they will not start clicking until the South Carolina game.
dagnabit
October 28th, 2010
7:59 pm
Take the money and run, Justin. It’s your wallet.
NashDawg
October 28th, 2010
8:33 pm
Really Al E. Gator. Do you really think your offensive line can stop Justin. Get a freakin clue lizard boy.
AceDawg
October 28th, 2010
9:28 pm
I definitely love Justin Houston as a pass rusher more than any Dawg since David Pollack. Here’s to a legendary game against the Gators, Justin! And the rest of the Dawgs D of course.
BIG EASY
October 28th, 2010
9:42 pm
Justin will stay one more year due to Green staying one more year for him missing 4 games this season and the losses on his back… One thing is UGA wins this game. Florida has a very shaky offense and a ok defense.. UGA has a good running game along with a great receiving game. And TN beats South Carolina. South Carolina barely holds a sorry Vandy team with South Carolina having two wide receivers having over 100yds…
Billy C.
October 29th, 2010
8:47 am
The Dawgs are the real deal! Green has oppened it up for everyone on the offense and Houston is dominating every offensive line He plays. Florida has struggled against some of the same teams Georgia did at the begnning of the season. Georgia is getting better-Florida still struggling. GO DAWGS!!
BirdDog
October 29th, 2010
8:56 am
I’m afraid they are both gone but would love to see them back. I think Houston can only benefit from another year in a 3-4 system but if he’s a projected first-rounder this year, then he’s gone.
bigdawg88
October 29th, 2010
9:45 am
DawgNation, scholarships are ONE year commitments. Normally they are renewed every year, but some coaches have no trouble telling guys to get the fug outta here if they didn’t pan out. If the man can make money at the next level, why not? I’d hate to see him go, but that’s a lot of money. If someone offered you a job making 100 times more than you do now, but you had to take it tomorrow, would you stay out of loyalty or would you be leaving tread marks in the carpet on your way out the door?
emgee
October 31st, 2010
10:23 pm
tebow stayed on his senior because money is not a factor to a man with faith. what do you think a guy that sold his jersey for a g is gonna do when more money comes along????? bail the f**k out, thats what. stop redshirting blue chip freshman cmr, plz!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dawgs4ever
November 3rd, 2010
11:26 am
@emgee: Tebow didn’t stay because he doesn’t care about the money, he stayed because he wouldn’t have been a high pick anyway. He got lucky that Denver was stupid enough to waste a first-round pick on him.