A.J. Green leaves UGA for NFL draft
A.J. Green delivered the long-expected news Sunday: He will forgo his senior season at Georgia and enter the NFL draft.
For months, if not years, the star wide receiver had been expected to leave UGA after his junior season for the riches of pro football. And while he didn’t veer from the predicted course, he insisted that finalizing the decision came harder than many thought it would.
“Throughout the last couple of weeks, it was pretty hectic, just making a sound decision for my family and [me],” Green said from his home in Summerville, S.C.
He said he told Georgia coach Mark Richt of his intention on Friday but added that he wasn’t certain of the decision until Saturday.
Green is generally projected as a top-five NFL pick, with some draft analysts suggesting that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck’s decision last week to stay in school could put Green in contention to be the No. 1 overall selection.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for me,” Green said. “This is a longtime dream since I was a little boy. I feel like my skills are up to par to make this jump. I feel like I proved myself in one of the best conferences in college football from day one.”
A three-year starter at Georgia, Green ranks third in school history in receptions (166) and receiving yards (2,619) and second in touchdown catches (23). His numbers would be larger if not for injuries that sidelined him for three-plus games in 2009 and an NCAA suspension that cost him the first four games of the 2010 season.
Green was suspended for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000 to a person the NCAA considered a sports agent.
Now, Green is in position to make tens of millions of dollars from his first NFL contract.
Even so, he said, “it was one of the toughest decisions I’ve made, just leaving the brotherhood I have made at Georgia. . . . I’m going to really miss the guys and the coaches.”
The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Green captivated Georgia fans with his leaping ability and knack for making improbable catches. But the Bulldogs had generally disappointing seasons during his three years, posting records of 10-3, 8-5 and 6-7, respectively, and he expressed regret that the team did not win an SEC championship during his time in Athens.
“It hurts. That’s what I came there for,” he said. “But things happen for a reason. I’ll keep working, and I’ll be a Bulldog for life.”
The Carolina Panthers have the No. 1 pick in the draft, and Green acknowledged it’d be nice to play so close to home. Charlotte is about 200 miles from Summerville.
“I’m pretty sure a bunch of my family and friends could make that trip easily,” he said.
But he isn’t assuming anything. “You never know with that draft,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun process. I’m going to work [to be drafted] as high as I can.”
Richt wished Green well, saying in a statement: “A.J. has made an immeasurable impact on our team over the past three seasons. . . . I’ve enjoyed the blessing of working with him and getting to know his family, and we wish him all the success in professional football. Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.”
Georgia awaits word from several other juniors who are weighing whether to enter the draft: outside linebacker Justin Houston, cornerback Brandon Boykin and offensive guard Cordy Glenn. Offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant said Friday that he will stay in school for his senior season.
– Tim Tucker
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325 comments Add your comment
UGA WR AJ Green entering NFL Draft | ChuckOliver.Net
January 9th, 2011
3:04 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/01/09/a-j-green-makes-it-official-enters-nfl-draft/ [...]
Mark's Rectum
January 9th, 2011
3:05 pm
My favorite turn, gone!
Mark's Rectum
January 9th, 2011
3:05 pm
turd that is turd
Sun Devil Dave
January 9th, 2011
3:08 pm
Now now Mark’s R – that just isn’t nice – you must be a Florida fan.
Ron
January 9th, 2011
3:08 pm
OK Moma..I’ll pick up the trash around the trailer in a few more minutes!
Mama
January 9th, 2011
3:11 pm
Oh, just leave it my baby ron, how else will the recruiters know which trailer is ours. Those high faluting Georgia Fans have bought all the lake homes, By the way ronnie, you got your retirement check? Mama needs to run to the publix for a 6 pack and smokes.
Honest and Frank Discussion
January 9th, 2011
3:12 pm
As a GT fan, I wish him the best of luck next year. I never wanted to play against him, he’s not the fastest or the biggest but he looks like a dang spider monkey hauling in balls that aren’t anywhere near him. Some of the best hands in college football I’ve seen (outside of Calvin, of course).
GO JACKETS!!
MDAWG24
January 9th, 2011
3:16 pm
Knew it would be the case but wish these kids would finish school and complete the commitment they made to the football program and to their education. Hopefully, he will get his degree in the near future. Good luck A.J…. We enjoyed watching you play at UGA.
Delbert D.
January 9th, 2011
3:16 pm
“Thug” is approved for use in Chicago, New York/North Jersey for mob/union enforcers.
Uga VIII
January 9th, 2011
3:25 pm
This doggone tummy ache already had me feeling puny but now I’m doggone sick. AJ is doggone! What a shock for me and Russ – we both thought he would be back. But we’re just dogs so what do we know? Doggone!!!!
Jiggy Smaha
January 9th, 2011
3:25 pm
Good riddance…..His selfishness last winter cost the whole program this fall…the season would have been completely different if he had been eligible the first four games. I just wish he could take Caleb King with him. The fact that he is still in the prgram should answer any questions anybody has as to why the Georgia players have zero respect for CMR.
red panties
January 9th, 2011
3:25 pm
Green is good no doubt, but he won’t even be the 1st WR selected. Julio
Jones will go ahead of Green and the SC WR would also go ahead of Green.
The 1st pick now is likely the Clemson DE.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
January 9th, 2011
3:25 pm
best of luck, just hope the panthers don’t draft him…would hate to see him play against the Falcons twice a year.
James
January 9th, 2011
3:26 pm
I keep hearing about this AJ never played up to his potential crap. You are right he never did but than again nether did Stafford or Moreno. Why…… cause of poor coaching. Why should AJ come back and play for a team this bad with coaching this bad. AJ was a great player in a bad system. I mean Florida goes out and gets Charlie Wiess and the best we do is Mike Bobo. Give me a break i would not come back to this garbage either. If Georgia wanted AJ to stay they should have made a better effort to show him they want him. Why the hell would anyone want to come back to a Mike Bobo ran offense.
reebok
January 9th, 2011
3:29 pm
as a tech fan, i sympathize…we have gone thru this with 2 great wide receivers recently who are now making big bucks playing on sundays. back break, doggies.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
January 9th, 2011
3:29 pm
AJ would be a good fit w/ the Vikings, Redskins, Cardinals. Hopefully he won’t land in Buffalo, Carolina or Jacksonville.
Paul From Milton
January 9th, 2011
3:31 pm
No surprise here. This has been the plan ever since he committed to Georgia.
boots
January 9th, 2011
3:33 pm
We are a better school for having him, although the whole jersey thing sucked. I do believe it cost us at least 2 to 3 games, but we will never know, and there is no point in speculating. Good luck to him, and I am proud to have had him wearing the red & black. God’s speed, AJ.
crusher dawg
January 9th, 2011
3:33 pm
Want to wish you the best A.J. !!! You have helped the Dawgs and we want to Thank You,
Now Coach Richt and staff get to work developing a complete team offense. Utilizing the skills
of every player.
Seriously
January 9th, 2011
3:34 pm
What a piece of crap…he did nothing at UGA. DIdnt break a record…didnt go to BCS game…he did nothing. Sad and yet he will make millions…thanks for nothing Green.
red panties
January 9th, 2011
3:37 pm
Seriously——–you’ve got it right
Dawgaholic30286
January 9th, 2011
3:37 pm
The Dawgs will be better for it……When one door closes, another opens
puppydawg
January 9th, 2011
3:40 pm
AJ, could you please take Caleb with you?
red panties
January 9th, 2011
3:42 pm
I recall Richt saying earlier that he wouldn’t make any staff changes. Then here comes McGarity and says there will be some staff changes.
Richt just can’t make the tough calls—Mr Niceguy. McGarity won’t put up with that very long.
Richt will be fired mid-season this year.
5IML
January 9th, 2011
3:44 pm
Typical delusional blog post: “The Dawgs will be better for it.”
Same thing posted numerous times after Stafford and Noshawn left early. How did that work out?
Show some class. Thank AJ for his contributions and/or apologize for wasting his talent for the last two years.
Deepdiver
January 9th, 2011
3:44 pm
Now Green can sell his c_rappy Liberty Bowl and not get penalized for it. He can make money off his own name, instead of just the NCAA and UGA running the plantation system. It must be hard for Richt to tell these adult players of his not to make money or even sell their own property (jersies) that were given to them. I mean he’s only making $3 million or so. That wouldn’t make him or the NCAA hypocrites, now would it. No, they are the only ones who get to profit off the players names and jersies.
5IML
January 9th, 2011
3:45 pm
Who has a better chance of returning for another season: Paul Hewitt or Richt?
mit
January 9th, 2011
3:50 pm
UGA is raciest and all dare fans is raciest! dat why Richt can get no players to come to UGA all the top recruits had said no to playing football for UGA. Good decision Green get the hell away from dem hypocrites.
CDawg42
January 9th, 2011
3:54 pm
Oh just stop it with the compare/contrasting of AJ’s decision with Andrew Luck’s decision. It’s a lot easier for your college team to be more imporant to you than a pro career when your dad’s a former pro athlete and an athletic director at a major D1 university. Finances have never been an Andrew Luck issue! I’ll betcha if Luck had the economic history of AJ Green he’d have opted for the draft on the 1st day possible. Can’t blame AJ for taking the opportunity…
still@the bar
January 9th, 2011
4:02 pm
AJ just think what your life would be like if you went to So. Carolina instead.
UGA was 24-15 no SEC titles or trips to The DOME.
USC was 23-17 1 SEC east title and 1 trip to The DOME.
You turned out your home state you Pi.p. HAHAHHAHA If you were at USC just think how much better they could have been.
eBay pro-motions
January 9th, 2011
4:03 pm
Frank Lane is a genius, well, just stating the obvious, which makes him fair ti middling…
me
January 9th, 2011
4:05 pm
a j lied
eBay pro-motions
January 9th, 2011
4:05 pm
How much for the Liberty Bowl jersey and when is the dream team showing up? Still a nightmare in Jacksonville, might as well play the Gators on Elm Street!
Capn ED
January 9th, 2011
4:05 pm
even though you did not score a touchdown on the sweat bees or central Florida
i am glad to see you go.
Old_dawg
January 9th, 2011
4:06 pm
Hey, Dave! What is an “alterior” motive? Man, you must have gone to Tech.
North Georgia Dawg
January 9th, 2011
4:06 pm
I’m tired of you idiot fans saying take the money, take the money. Do any of you dumb arses know what william “the fridge” perry is doing? He’s doing construction work in South Carolina last time I heard. He’s one example of hundreds who have washed out of the NFL with nothing to their names! No body can take a college degree away from you. These kids are better off staying in college a getting a degree. Everybody! needs a back up plan period! Secondly, these knuckle heads end up blowing everything they own on bling, rims and their damn enoutrages. The NFL chews these guys up and spits them out with our a dime to their name. It’s not about the money and if you ever had any you would know.
tdawg in Stockbridge
January 9th, 2011
4:06 pm
Good luck AJ! Thanks for being a Dawg. Keep God first in everything you do, work hard and hopefully we’ll see you in the Hall of Fame some day.
eBay pro-motions
January 9th, 2011
4:09 pm
The Fridge ate all his money up, and Deion Sanders is doing okay for someone who never graduated…. Whatever happened to Pulpwood Smith and Andre Hastings?
Looking To The Future
January 9th, 2011
4:11 pm
what we need to be concerned about is Justin Houston and Brandon Boykin. Its alot easier to manufacture offense than defense
collegeballfan
January 9th, 2011
4:13 pm
Smart decision. Good for him.
Dawg Daddy
January 9th, 2011
4:14 pm
I still think that a scholarship given by a University to an athlete should be a binding contract and if the athlete wants to back out of it after 3 years they should have to repay the university for the missed 4th year. I also wonder what the athlete would say if the university came to them after 3 years and said, “well we have found a better athlete and we cannot continue your scholarship for the 4th year. Tough luck, but remember, it’s all about business, and nothing personal. Certainly you will be able to find another univesity to pick up your 4th year” As they say, what goes around comes around.
Jon
January 9th, 2011
4:16 pm
yay dawgs are a minor league team
blake
January 9th, 2011
4:17 pm
Andrew luck’s father is the AD at west virginia. I think its safe to say that his family is already rich. Good choice A.J. Good luck in the NFL and rep UGA to the fullest. The sky is the limit for you. randy moss without the diva drama.
TampaGator
January 9th, 2011
4:19 pm
A.J…..
Forget investing in that coffee shop….I know someone who wants to buy all your Georgia jerseys and…he gives good tatoo! Try your sideline trash talk crap in the NFL…..and….make many visits to the injured reserve list.
mike bobo garbage play calling
January 9th, 2011
4:21 pm
Saw AJ plat in high school an he was a beast thanks AJ for the great catches know we need to focus on recruiting a big time rec.
TampaGator
January 9th, 2011
4:21 pm
Marlon Brown step up????…….saw the dude in the Under Armour game years back….overblown talent then….and still is. Not quick. Does not run crisp routes. About the only thing he does well is run down the sideline for fade patterns. No guts over the middle. Better hope they move Orson Charles to WR.
TampaGator
January 9th, 2011
4:23 pm
But…..the Gators don’t have any big time receivers….yet…..either.
mike bobo garbage play calling
January 9th, 2011
4:29 pm
I would like to see T.King step up we also got some verbals from some receivers
gwadgib
January 9th, 2011
4:30 pm
I think A.J. is an exceptional talent and will do great in the pros, but can we please reserve the Damn Good Dog title for players that make a positive impact on the field, bring some level of championship to the university, or put the school and the team above themselves? I am a Dawg through and through and have loved watching A.J. play these last three years but DGD isn’t something I would call him. Just like Stafford or Moreno. Great talents but not on the level with D.J. Shockley, David Green, David Pollack and so forth……
Hector
January 9th, 2011
4:37 pm
good riddance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!