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.
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249 comments Add your comment
how2fish
January 15th, 2011
11:22 am
Trojan nice observation…but what is your point?
SnellvilleDawg
January 15th, 2011
11:23 am
Being a true sports fan for life I wish the primadonna players would think of something besides “ME” all the time. “I think I’ll keep the spotlight on me till the very last second!” is so typical of players today. Come on and just do it, Houston! Go to the NFL and let your teammates and coaches (and fan base) know where your loyalty is. This sucks…
Snellville, Where everyone thinks they are so smart
January 15th, 2011
11:56 am
Get over yourselves Snellvillians. This kid is making a decision for his life and not for you snot nosed idiots that get entertainment from him on game day.
Howard the DAWG
January 15th, 2011
11:57 am
IF YOU CAN GET THE MONEY, GOOOOO!!!!! These dog fans care NOTHING about YOU or your FAMILY! If you came back and got hurt they would forget about you so fast it would make your head spin!!! They would be on to the next 5 star recruit in a New York minute! And yopu can bank on THAT!!!!
Buh Bye
January 15th, 2011
11:59 am
Go. One less thug in Athens.
Howard the DAWG
January 15th, 2011
11:59 am
Don’t listen to idiots like snellville. Your LOYALTY should be to your FAMILY!!!!! Not a bunch of fans who are not risking THEIR futures!!!!
Snellville, Where everyone thinks they are so smart
January 15th, 2011
12:00 pm
I’m a dawg fan and I agree with you Howard but it is that way with every schools fans. All programs have idiot fans.
GoGators!
January 15th, 2011
12:01 pm
Trivia questions UGA fans. Who is the All-time best running back in SEC history…..
George Rogers
January 15th, 2011
12:02 pm
.
TJ
January 15th, 2011
12:03 pm
You best go to the NFL. You will be set for life. Come back and you are rolling the dice.
GoGators!
January 15th, 2011
12:06 pm
Answer right here…..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3AG8sBTeHQ.
run lindsey run
January 15th, 2011
12:08 pm
All you fans should be happy for Justin instead you try to confuse him with no regard for his future. Have a great career in the nfl and make a lot of money, Justin!
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
12:11 pm
IF YOU COME BACK TO UGA AND GET HURT I’M SURE SOME OF THESE UGA FANS CAN GET YOU ON AT MCDONALDS!
sec...uga
January 15th, 2011
12:13 pm
thats easy…emmitt smith
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
12:16 pm
WONDER IF COACH MARK RICHT ALSO POINTED OUT THE FACT……….THAT HE COULD COME BACK AND TEAR UP A KNEE??????????
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
12:18 pm
AND HIS DRAFT STOCK COULD ALSO DROP IF HE DOESN’T HAVE AS GOOD A SEASON AS THIS ONE.
GoGators!
January 15th, 2011
12:19 pm
Fri, Dec 31 vs#25 UCF* L10-6. hahahahahahahhaha
how2fish
January 15th, 2011
12:20 pm
FOOTBALL FAN what are you 12? There was a chance he could tear his knee up this year too..and the year before etc..hope the young man makes whatever decision HE thinks is best for himself and wish him the best of luck with that decision. He is and has been a DGD !
The NC game with AU and O
January 15th, 2011
12:21 pm
Apparently the Tv viewership ratings were down by over 10%. That is because most of Scam’s immediate family were at the game and did not view it on TV.
For 2011 and beyond, I worry about Victoryland dog track going out of business, be cause when Scam signs his NFL deal, all of the track’s patrons ( family members of Scam ) will be living wherever he lives; thusly guaranteeing that facility of going away.
AU will be hard pressed to win 8 in 2011. That otherwise fine school will forever be tainted by the Scam Newton ordeal of corruption and payola.
In the end, the grads wherever they go, will be faced with that rep. or they will hear the snickers and such. SMU was over 25+ years ago but folks still recall that scandal.
how2fish
January 15th, 2011
12:23 pm
GoGators Oct 4, 2010 … Alabama vs Florida 2010: Alabama Dominates and Defeats Florida by 31-6 -hahahahahaha…
Were it my son
January 15th, 2011
12:30 pm
I have a college grad for a son. He is now 25. He was small but he was slow and therefore studied while in college. He “came out” three years ago as a BBA with honors, and is in corporate finance with a high tech N. Fulton firm and does well with $100,000+ deal, counting bonus, salary and insurance, stock,etc. He is a bean counter.
Now, had he been of JH’s stature and played big boy ball, I would have urged him to take the NFL money in order to secure his future. . He would have invested most of it and lived like a monk. He would have purchased a nice ride ( his 2 are paid for now ) and a modest new pad. He would not have 35 family members $$ draining him either.
For fans to bad mouth Houston is unfair. That has to be jealousy driven.
Good luck young man. YOU HAVE to do what is right for you and maybe your mom.
Go Dogs.
bwell
January 15th, 2011
12:31 pm
Come back JH, and improve your stock, if you are not a top 5 pick come back and work hard and make the top 5.
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
1:07 pm
HOW2FISH, HE DIDN’T HAVE THIS DECISION TO MAKE LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE, BUT NOW HE DOES. YOU MUST BE ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD TO HAVE MISSED THAT POINT.
Trojan
January 15th, 2011
1:08 pm
howtofish: The point is that most do not contribute to any conversation or topic, they simply restate their worn out insults or putdowns.
Trojan
January 15th, 2011
1:09 pm
howtofish: You are guilty of simply bringing up unrelated crap over and over and over.
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
1:11 pm
TOP 5 PICK? WHAT IS HE NOW, A LATE FIRST ROUND TO EARLY SECOND ROUND PICK? TAKE A CHANCE ON LOSING MILLIONS TO TRY FOR A FEW MORE? ONE THING IS VERY CLEAR, ALL YOU DAWG FANS DON”T GIVE A RAT’S A$$ ABOUT THE PERSON.
Tech Sucks
January 15th, 2011
1:17 pm
It doesn’t make sense for him to leave. Why leave early if you are going to be a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Come back, progress as a 3-4 OLB and become a top 20 pick next year. He’s still too raw for the NFL.
CantonDawg
January 15th, 2011
1:17 pm
Doesn’t JH have to make a decision today?
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
1:20 pm
DAWG FANS NEED YOU JH! YOU CAN HELP FUEL THEIR NEXT DELUSION!
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
1:23 pm
DOES THIS MAKE SENSE???? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$>BLOWN KNEE, POOR PERFORMANCE, BAD LUCK, 6-7, SINKING SHIP, ECT.
UGA life long fan
January 15th, 2011
1:29 pm
Don’t Let the door hit you in the BUTT hot shot! You and your teammates disgraced our great football program and I am ready for some new players who will fight and win. Six wins don’t cut it around here!!!!!
Bobby Petrino
January 15th, 2011
1:41 pm
82% of Georgia natives are introduced to their future spouses at family reunions
Quitman Dog
January 15th, 2011
2:28 pm
Why is his name on the list of 46 people that have declared already?Google underclassmen that have declared for 2011 nfl draft.and you will see J H right under A J’ name……..WOW………………
Big Dawg Cobb
January 15th, 2011
2:31 pm
Any word on Justin? Maybe he’s staying?
excessive celebration
January 15th, 2011
2:46 pm
He is leaving…All his cohorts are gone…no need to stay around and get blamed for everything next year.
how2fish
January 15th, 2011
2:56 pm
Trojan an you come to a football blog and expect what exactly journalism ?? I haven’t see much of a contribution from you way up in your ivory tower. And FOOTBALL fan its still Justin’s decision to make no matter how hard you beat the caps lock key.
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
3:44 pm
how2fish, is this better? Maybe you should change your name to how2spell. Try “and” and “see”. Oh yeah, you still missed my point, but after reading your posts, it’s easy to see why.
FOOTBALL FAN
January 15th, 2011
3:47 pm
“seen”
how2fish
January 15th, 2011
3:58 pm
FOOTBALL FAN that is a great improvement !! Now all you need is a thought..but hey your already showing some progress.And to to not getting your point. What part of “hope the young man makes whatever decision HE thinks is best for himself and wish him the best of luck with that decision. He is and has been a DGD” did you not understand?
Barf
January 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
Popa “fig” Newton is going to continue to be his son’s, Cam the scam, agent. Wow will he be surprised when those NFL types want photo I.D.’s and he has to sign contracts and everything. This is nothing like the way Autistic Auburn did it
Barf
January 15th, 2011
4:38 pm
O and by the way, Justin Houston, you do what is best for yourself and your family and best wishes.
Dawg Tired
January 15th, 2011
4:45 pm
Nothing like waiting until the last minute.
decide for crying out loud!
January 15th, 2011
5:11 pm
Must be full of himself to wait this long to decide. Thank you ajc for not making this headline news.
82Dawg
January 15th, 2011
5:20 pm
Whats the rush, wait until the last minute if he wants to…
decide for crying out loud!
January 15th, 2011
5:34 pm
why are you here? evidently you’re anxious as well 82
Flabirddog
January 15th, 2011
5:37 pm
I love a good rumor. This came to me this morning. Who knows. With all that is going on in college football anything is possible:
In a surprise move that will no doubt catch the world of college football by surprise, sources have revealed that the Southeast Conference is preparing for a major expansion. These sources have indicated that the SEC will make a bold move to expand by adding no less than four teams to the lineup of what is unquestionably America’s best football conference. Moreover the very nature of the teams to be added will leave many observers in a cloud of shock and awe. Indications are that the grand old conference will seek to modernize its membership by adding four urban institutions to compliment its lineup of primarily traditional state supported members. Early indications are that the four schools under consideration are the University of Miami, the University of Louisville and the University of Houston. There still seems to be some ongoing consideration of whether to add the University of Memphis or the University of Central Florida.
Adding the University of Miami is a no-brainer and will bring to the conference one of the most storied programs in college football. Long known for its prowess in football, Miami, “the U” as it is often referred to, has a rich tradition in college baseball and has made vast improvements in its basketball program over the past decade while a member of first the Big East and now the ACC.
By the same token, the University of Louisville has a long and storied history as one of America’s premier basketball programs. The school has been traditionally strong in baseball and its football teams have been respectable over the period of the past two decades. No doubt with the exposure and the resources available from the SEC Louisville fans and supporters can anticipate continued development from its football program. The sometimes bitter rivalry between the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky will take on even greater significance as the schools compete in conference play.
The University of Houston is a bit of an enigma. The school, perhaps more than any other of the candidates, has a long and rich tradition in both men’s football and men’s basketball. Its football team can boast both a Heisman Trophy winner as well as a Lombardi Award winner, placing the program in the elite of a dozen schools with similar accomplishments. The school’s basketball program has a history of success dating back into the early sixties when it was a member of the old Missouri Valley Conference, before setting out to compete as an independent during much of the sixties and early seventies, when the school joined the Southwest Conference. In 1968 the now historical basketball match up between UH and UCLA in the Astrodome changed the face of college basketball in America. During the 80’s the basketball program became known as Phi Slamma Jamma, Texas’ Tallest Fraternity, and was a dominant force in the world of college basketball. UH thrived in the SWC winning championships in football and basketball. Moreover its track and field team became a national powerhouse, led by athletes such as Carl Lewis, Olympic champion and arguably the greatest athlete of the 80’s.
However, the Fates were not kind to the University of Houston. Four members of the Southwest Conference left the conference to merge with the Big 8, forming the modern Big 12 athletic conference. UH fans were shocked and dismayed at what most considered an outright betrayal. The school was a founding member of Conference USA but fan support for the school fell precipitously as former supporters abandoned the program, disillusioned and disgusted at the turn of events. UH languished in C-USA for a decade before a savior arrived on the scene in the person of former UH athlete Art Briles. Coach Briles brought the football program back to respectability and began the slow process of rebuilding fan support. When he moved to Baylor Briles was replaced by Kevin Sumlin who has continued the process of leading the program back to respectability.
In basketball former University of Texas coach Tom Penders similarly began the process of leading the team back to respectability and to its once accustomed position as a perennial NCAA playoff team. That baton has now been handed off to former Texas Tech coach and Eddie Sutton protégé James Dickey. Overall UH shows every evidence that it has moved on from the sordid experience of being abandoned by the schools of the Big 12 and has charted a course back to mainstream respectability. UH athletic programs are today once more nationally relevant and respectable. Moving to the SEC with its vast resources and media exposure will no doubt allow the school to continue to move to regain its once proud position as a perennial Top 25 program in both football and basketball.
But this is a win-win scenario. The SEC will similarly benefit from having a stronger presence in the state of Texas. Traditionally SEC schools have recruited well in the Lone Star State. Look for that trend to grow stronger. For its part Houston (the city) is the number 10 media market in the country, adding to the already vast exposure the SEC enjoys. Moreover it is reported that a stipulation for SEC membership will be that all conference games will be played in Houston’s Reliant stadium, located less than 5 miles from the UH campus and further adding to the prestige of SEC competition. It will be interesting to watch now as the schools of the Big 12 go head to head and toe to toe competing with the SEC for both athletes and for media coverage. There can be little doubt that this pending announcement from SEC headquarters will lead to many sleepless nights among the coaches and fans of the Big 12.
The decision over the admission of the final candidate appears to be a heated conversation with supporters of both programs pulling out all available resources to make their bid for membership. Both schools are also considered to be candidates for membership in the Big East, so all is not lost for the school not invited to join the SEC. Indeed it could be argued that joining the Big East might be a blessing in disguise since the programs of the Big East are not as competitive as those in the SEC, giving the new member a greater chance of rising to the top of the conference and perhaps to a BCS bowl game.
This is a major decision that will rock the world of college football and probably trigger another round of mergers and realignments among leagues and teams. It is interesting that the SEC decided that it would no longer be merely a spectator in this continuing evolution of NCAA football. Indeed with this move the SEC will once again assert its role as the leader among NCAA programs as well as among the BCS conferences. Stay tuned.
Fairness
January 15th, 2011
5:46 pm
Houston declared for NFL draft.
GoGators!
January 15th, 2011
6:16 pm
Justin Houston to enter NFL draft. hahahahhahahahahah
NeNe
January 17th, 2011
9:12 pm
This just off the wire – entire Georgia team declares for NFL draft. Team expected to improve