Deadline nears for Justin Houston decision

The deadline for underclassmen to enter the NFL draft is Saturday, which means the clock is ticking for Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston’s decision.

Of the Georgia juniors who said they would seriously consider the draft, Houston is the only one who hasn’t publicly declared his intentions.

Wide receiver A.J. Green announced he is forgoing his final season at UGA to enter the draft, in which he is widely expected to be a top-five pick. But cornerback Brandon Boykin and offensive linemen Cordy Glenn and Trinton Sturdivant decided to bypass the draft and return for their senior seasons.

Houston, who led the SEC in sacks this past season,  is ranked as the draft’s No. 25 prospect by Scout.com.

It would be a surprise if Houston passes up the draft, although Georgia coach Mark Richt has made the point that Houston — like the other Georgia juniors aside from Green — could improve his draft stock (and thus his eventual NFL payday) by returning for his senior season.

Ten SEC underclassmen had declared for the draft through Thursday night, according to a list posted on the conference’s official website: Marcell Dareus, DL, Alabama; Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama; Julio Jones, WR, Alabama; Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas; Cam Newton, QB, Auburn; Will Hill, DB, Florida; A.J. Green, WR, Georgia; Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky; Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU; and Tori Gurley, WR, South Carolina. UPDATE: Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley added his name to the list today.

249 comments Add your comment

gabuldawg

January 14th, 2011
6:54 pm

As much as I like the Dawgs, we have the dumbest people in this country on this site. Just read this blog for confirmation. Some of you should follow your kids to school.

AltamahaDawg

January 14th, 2011
7:22 pm

bwkdawg, We really haven’t lined up a FB very regularly in a couple of years, so I wouldnt be surprised. Do need one on occations. Figgins absolutely flattened his assigned guy the couple of times i saw him in the bowl game.

nash

January 14th, 2011
7:25 pm

Justin Huston was a man child in the 4-3 and the 3-4 defense so if he wants to go and get money I am happy for the guy. HA JUSTIN THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES. YOU MY FRIEND ARE A DAMN GOOD DAWG

Terry

January 14th, 2011
7:39 pm

Get out and get paid while you can! No guarantees you won’t get injured if you stay.

Billy Jack

January 14th, 2011
7:57 pm

Terry is correct…..it aint rocket science

harold

January 14th, 2011
7:57 pm

HE HAS GOT TO GO TO THE NFL FOR THE MONEY GUYS. IT’S A NO BRAINER! WHAT IF HE GOT INJURED HIS SENIOR SEASON. HE NEEDS TO GO FOR THE MONEY MAN$$$

rx-dawg

January 14th, 2011
8:06 pm

Actually, Bowers led the nation in sacks (at least heading into the bowls).

Make some noise

January 14th, 2011
8:07 pm

How about this UGA fans:

1 get your butts in the stands 10 minutes before kickoff
2 coordinated cheers in the north and south stands
3 don’t tell me to sit down when game is on the line
4 make so noise Sanford stadium is a morgue
5 show some pride in being a UGA alumnus
6 leave your tailgate early
7 tithe during halftime to a local charity
8 love thy neighbor in the seats
9 hate thy neighbor on the plains and on north avenue
10 remember get after their axx (GATA)

Done.

Carlton

January 14th, 2011
9:02 pm

Houston will stay-mark it down!!

doug

January 14th, 2011
9:24 pm

Bringing Houston back will help very little. Tyson,Jones and Houston are not huge talents. Sorry. These are not the kind of guys you built championships with. We have no DL and no Linebackers. I have never seen a UGA team so lacking in talent as this bunch.

Dawg in Kentucky

January 14th, 2011
9:30 pm

Justin Houston is a talent and ceratinly one fine player. Another year of college ball will help his cause for the 2012 draft

dodgecountydawg

January 14th, 2011
9:43 pm

Hey Justin ,, stay another year !! we love ya at UGA and hang in there !!

needums

January 14th, 2011
9:55 pm

Conditioning is also acheived in practice and when you stop doing two-a-days and don’t keep the intensity in practice then that also shows during the game. I remember listening to Kirk Herbstreit on the radio back when UGA was ranked pre-season #1 and he said at the beginning of the season that UF had much more intensity in their practices than UGA did and we all know how that turned out.

It is called insurance people

January 14th, 2011
9:56 pm

There is something called insurance you ignorant people – that is why people like Luck can afford to stay and risk injury – I am sure LOL has a policy on Luck and Houston can get one too.
It is true what they say about bloggers – a bunch of dummies.

Hunker Down

January 14th, 2011
10:17 pm

Justin

You are one dang good Dawg. Pray and search inside and you will know what is right for you. We could sure use you next year to shore up the D. However, you have contributed mightily already and done all we could ask of you. I for one support you no matter what your decision. Best wishes and stay healthy. Go Dawgs!!

Stephanie

January 14th, 2011
10:25 pm

WTG Peterson from LSU we got faith in you in the Bayou State good luck!!!

Gotta Go

January 14th, 2011
10:41 pm

Guys
We have never seen Samuel make a single tackle. 5 wins next year!

uga76

January 14th, 2011
11:12 pm

he may make a liar out of me but Justin Houston is not close to being ready for NFL – good offensive tackles this year totally neutralized him because he rushes the same way every play – he just uses speed rush and often tackles could just run him right by the quarterback – never once saw him use a spin or other technique to get off a block – certainly a good athlete but he needs to work on technique – we need some more players like David Pollack and the kid from Calhoun that wanted to play for UGA but wound up at UCF playing defensive end – relentless – maybe not 4 star or 5 star but football players with heart

col fot

January 14th, 2011
11:31 pm

$cam the cam can get money legally now, with thug fairley in tow

Coach M. Richt

January 15th, 2011
12:40 am

I hope that stays . Have yall saw this

Coach M. Richt

January 15th, 2011
12:45 am

I hope not. Why would he come back for [url=http://www.sportsargumentwiki.com/]this[/url

Coach M. Richt

January 15th, 2011
1:24 am

Have yall seen this

Coach M. Richt

January 15th, 2011
1:28 am

What the hell….I mean heck is going on here ? I’m going to have to stop studying football so much and figure out what’s wrong with my laptop.

Claude Humphrey

January 15th, 2011
7:34 am

To answer the previous question re original running backs for YOUR Atlanta Falacons: Ernie Wheelright and Junior Coffee. Before a game in the locker room, I would always say to the water boy:
“Hey, Junior, coffee!” Never failed to bring to bring down the house. We’ve come a long way, Falcon Fans! GO BIRDS! BEAT THE PACK!

w s

January 15th, 2011
8:33 am

Well Papadawg they care about what the Kickers are going to do because thats the strength of the team.. good to have sumthing to hold on to,,,and they had an bad season,,, I guess when your bad it spreads thru the team…

WBDAWG

January 15th, 2011
8:38 am

Come on guys, let’s not post personal comments on kids like Longo etc. How would you feel if you were these kids and were in the program 4-5 years and read comments like these on a friendly Blawg! There are quite a few things more important that UGA football in this world! Is this all you have? WBDAWG!

Coastal Dog

January 15th, 2011
8:59 am

Allright, Justin, get back to where you belong for another year. I watched you closely all season, and I’m proud you’re a bulldog with no fear. But you know deep in your heart that you aren’t quite ready. How bout another year of learning more about the type of defense you’ll be playing after next year in the pros. I want you to have a long and successful career up there and another year at your school will help you tremendously. Stick around and turn it around in Athens. I’m originally from Waynesboro — just up the road from Statesboro — and everyone in our part of the world is extremely proud of you and our home boys from Burke County, too.

Coastal Dog

January 15th, 2011
9:03 am

And I wonder, AJC, who’s minding the store on this comment board? There are some real idiots impersonating Coach and others. Wonder if these guys ever went to college or had a Mama to teach them manners?

Bobby Petrino

January 15th, 2011
9:10 am

Atlanta is the world’s largest outhouse

how2fish

January 15th, 2011
9:10 am

needums really the gators we in such better shape than the dogs that we came back on their slimy butts to tie them in the second half we were driving for the winning score and threw a pick….where to you see that showing we were gassed ??

how2fish

January 15th, 2011
9:12 am

Bobby Petrino and when we use it we all say “be back in a minute I have to take a Petrino”

JDawg

January 15th, 2011
9:22 am

any word on Houston?

how2fish

January 15th, 2011
9:22 am

JDawg if there is I can’t find it yet…

Dr. Longfinger

January 15th, 2011
9:25 am

I wish CMR and the rest of his coaching staff would turn pro. That would be something to party about.

excessive celebration

January 15th, 2011
9:35 am

If I hear another best ___________ in the country i think i will puke! We have the best doodely squat in the country thats about it.

Dingleberry Haze

January 15th, 2011
9:52 am

Soooooooooooooooooo…………

He has *not* declared before the deadline, so he’s still in school??

how2fish

January 15th, 2011
9:59 am

Dingleberry Haze I think the deadline is some time tonight.

buck strickland

January 15th, 2011
10:00 am

Haze, he has until EOD today to decide. You dingleberry.

Dill Doe

January 15th, 2011
10:03 am

Dingleberry, The deadline isn’t until later tonight. Get with the program.

Bobby Petrino

January 15th, 2011
10:04 am

Georgia makes Arkansas seem like a well educated state.

how2fish

January 15th, 2011
10:08 am

Bobby Petrino you make Benedict Arnold look honorable…

GoGators!

January 15th, 2011
10:44 am

Georgia fans are so funny. “Please stay Houston….please” hahaha what difference does it make. Can he coach? Didnt think so and I love how everyone wants Richt back and wants him to stay. Trust me so do all of the rest of the SEC teams. He is garbage but his wife sure can make a nice glass of water. High quality H2O

how2fish

January 15th, 2011
10:49 am

GoGators! thank you for posting it serves as a classic reminder as why the rest of the SEC and the nation think yours is the most classless of all fan bases, thanks again and have a great weekend.

GoGators!

January 15th, 2011
10:59 am

UGA is garbage. quit telling people that the SEC is the best and we always dominate the National Championship. Stop riding the other tems coat tails and step up and win something urself sometime.

GoGators!

January 15th, 2011
11:01 am

Please Keep Mark Richt. Oh and BoBo also. He is awesome….hehe

WarEagle!

January 15th, 2011
11:07 am

Next year blows

January 15th, 2011
11:09 am

I’m sure Richt is only concerned about Houston’s eventual paycheck. He’s only trying to save his own rear end. It will not happen with or without Houston and we will have another year of futility before pulling the trigger.

GoGators!

January 15th, 2011
11:09 am

Someone pull the plug on that old lady. She is a waste of breath.

how2fish

January 15th, 2011
11:15 am

GoGators! she is just stating what everyone in the College Football loving nation knows..hey but you have some good news..Brantley is staying..and well the bad news also is that Brantley is staying..enjoy.

Trojan

January 15th, 2011
11:21 am

Posters on a college recuiting discussion are horrible posters. Most bloggers have agendas that prevent them from ever discussing the topic on hand. They digress to their only motive, which is to rip on their opposing team and build up their own.