Once again, Georgia expected to be well represented in NFL draft
Seven Georgia football players have received invitations participate in the 2012 NFL Combine. That number is expected to rise to eight if tight end Orson Charles sticks with his plan to enter the draft early. Underclassmen have until Wednesday to pull out (and Charles is not expected to).
From everything I can tell, that’s a pretty high number. Alabama had five last year and I would suspect it will have a lot more than that this year, though I couldn’t find an official list. I’m sure LSU will send a bunch to the NFL’s testing grounds as well.
Georgia, meanwhile, did release an official list on Monday and it included pretty much all the names one might expect. Listed alphabetically, they were: offensive lineman Justin Anderson, defensive back/kick returner Brandon Boykin, punter Drew Butler, offensive lineman Cordy Glenn, center Ben Jones, defensive lineman DeAngelo Tyson and place-kicker Blair Walsh. Really the only seniors of note left off the invite list would be fullback/tight end Bruce Figgins and tight end Aron White. Otherwise every front-line senior was represented.
Most projections I’ve seen have Glenn, the 6-foot-5, 348-pound tackle from Riverdale, being the first Bulldog off the board. I’ve seen him listed anywhere between 23 and 31, which is first round, of course. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Glenn rated No. 12 on his Big Board.The most comprehensive prospect ranking iI found was this one from CBSSports.com. According to those ratings, Charles is the next highest ranked at 54, followed by Jones (64) and Boykin (72). So those guys all have second-round potential, according to the experts.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Boykin creeps up there a little higher and might even be the second Bulldog gone. The senior from Fayetteville, who was recently named the winner of the Paul Hornung Award, could be extremely valuable as both a corner and a kick returner. And everything I know about that guy makes me believe he’ll train and prepare in such a way that he could really wow some folks in Indianapolis.
Of course, Georgia has always sent a ton of players on to the NFL. According to UGA, 77 players have been drafted in the last 15 years, including No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford in 2009 and first rounders Knowshon Moreno (2009) and A.J. Green (2011). Overall, the Bulldogs have been among the top 10 college teams annually for placing players on NFL rosters over the last 10 years.
Meanwhile, we’ll be able to see a bunch of these guys in action one more time in the next couple of weeks. Walsh, Tyson and Figgins will participate in the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla. (4 p.m., NFL Network). Boykin, Butler, Jones and Glenn of Riverdale will play in the prestigious Senior Bowl game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 28.
The 2012 NFL Combine will be held Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis.
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160 comments Add your comment
Toad Grantham
January 16th, 2012
8:16 pm
I’ve seen Boykin play “speed bump”. Against LSU and MI State. Just whiffed at the runner.
joe taxpayer
January 16th, 2012
8:32 pm
All that talent and not 1 quality win in the last 3 years.
SLAWDAWG
January 16th, 2012
8:39 pm
Big Ol Stinger….Left Coast Dawg….Chris…Rambo Dog….UGAgrad71…….Jefff———I’m with you guys about GTBob but remember…….HIS name is BOB…get the picture?…..The one where the head is actually BOBing!!!!
About GTBob
January 16th, 2012
8:47 pm
Some of your comments are not suitable for a venue where juveniles might freguent. It seems you are trolling for something – shock value or what – I don’t care. If you keep such tasteless comments up, I beleive you should be banned. Also, your analysis on anything football is atrocious. Do everyone a favor and walk away from the computer, for they are like guns. If you don’t know how to use one properly, you (the user) are dangerous, if only to yourself.
SLAWDAWG
January 16th, 2012
8:47 pm
Congrats to all the fine young men for their invite to the 2012 NFL Combine! Most of all, thanks for the contributions each of you made to the UGA program…. A “SPECIAL” thanks to GOD, your parents, teachers, and coaches who made sure you had enough SENSE to choose a program like UGA and not GA TECHnical difficulty… May God Continue to BLESS each one of you in everything you set out to accomplish in your life.
SLAWDAWG
January 16th, 2012
8:52 pm
joe taxpayer…..actually, 3 quality wins—-beat TECHS A**, beat TECHS A**, & (AND) beat TECHS A**……..Thanks for reminding me, that felt GOOD!
GTBob,Jr.
January 16th, 2012
9:24 pm
Dad- Your incredibly embarrassing to me and my pals! Stop it already…You know the only “flood” we see is an occasional one coming south over the bridge from the Varsity….now be a man and go downstairs in NaNas basement and call Paul and ask him how we can steal one of the Dawgs TB’s !
Love you Pops.
GTBob,Jr.
January 16th, 2012
9:28 pm
About GTBob: Leave pops alone-this is a freaking blog!!!!!!!!! There’s far worse a click away that will screw up the minds of your chiildren!!!
cuzsignedUGA
January 16th, 2012
9:34 pm
Little cuz only in tenth grade signed to play baseball for dawgs…. This weekend
WTF, Nerds!
January 16th, 2012
9:35 pm
How many from the north avenue trade school were invited?
RHall55
January 16th, 2012
9:35 pm
Players keep going to the NFL and our Co-Ordinators keep coaching them down: ie: Willie Martinez (took too long to let him go) and Mike Bobo (why is he still around??); See what happened when the DC was changed, now the OC needs to be changed!! Need to be making changes to have a chance to win the SEC one day!! Don’t think NC until you win the entire SEC!!! CMR quit being an Ostrich!! You were w/ Martinez and Van Hallenger!!!
SLAWDAWG
January 16th, 2012
9:36 pm
DAWG FANS, don’t you just love the title of this article—-Once again, Georgia expected to be WELL represented in the NFL Draft—–Kinda reminds you of the AJC headline the day after we play Tech——ONCE AGAIN, DAWGS kick TECHS A** !!—— LOL
bgdawg
January 16th, 2012
9:41 pm
hmmm….
NFL Scouts who are paid to make sure a guy can play football, or one guy’s “gut feeling”
hard choice.
No Way
January 16th, 2012
9:44 pm
Justin Anderson was terrible. It is just because his size because not only is he slow he is dumb as they come. He had at least 2 false starts a game and got beat bad tons this year. I wish him the best in the rest of his life but it will not be in football.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 16th, 2012
9:44 pm
@Snoop Dawg:
Can’t you just STFU until you can say something positive or at least change your handle?
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
January 16th, 2012
9:46 pm
Here we go again, all these DAWGS will make it to the pros,but look at their record…can barely win the SEC East!!
slydog
January 16th, 2012
9:50 pm
Honestly, the list above represents the Falcons entire draft wish list, since they don’t have any first round picks. Isee some turbolence coming in the second round. The Falcons “may” have to choose between Lamichael James, Orson Charles, and Ben Jones (all needs). Hopefully some team doesn’t snatch Boykin up too early, but he is way too talented, his scouting combine numbers are going to be sick, and he will be gone early in the second round. If not, I don’t see the Falcons picking Boykin ahead of Charles or Jones. Justin Anderson can be had in the 4th or 5th round, a huge upgrade over Joe Hawley.
SI
January 16th, 2012
9:53 pm
Quick turn to CSS…you can watch UGA’s future! What a great game….
dawgs01
January 16th, 2012
10:00 pm
Gtbob is not very smart and just trying to get a rise out of us. Worked with boykin when he was in high school this young man will go to the combine and put up very impressive numbers that scout put way to much weight in. He will have a 42″ plus vertical cause I have seen him do that in high school. I expect him to have one of the best verticals of all players you can put money on it that he will be in the top 3. His forty yard dash will be 4.4 and under which will be one of the best too same with his broad jump it will be a top five score too. This kid is a fitness freak with a tremendous work ethic. I don’t understand why scouts fall in love with these combine numbers I understand the purpose of it but so many great plyers get hurt by poor forties and other things at the combine. Brandon spikes comes to mind had a great four yrs and florida and only ran a 5.1 forty and everyone was criticizing that but he has been a two time probowler in his first two seasons. If you can read and react fast it makes up for physical limitations and you never measure the biggest thing which is the size of the heart. Body height and weight is so overrated and every yr players prove scouts wrong yet they still talk about players ht. 5′10″ is about average for a corner so I don’t understand why they are hating on his ht. Tall corners do not have the hip mobility and the cutting ability of shorter corners that is why most corners are five ten and five eleven
dawgs01
January 16th, 2012
10:05 pm
Boykin is a great fit for new england cause bill will use him on offense and defense he will get the most out of him and I could really see him falling in love with his abilities and bruce figgins would be a good fit for the patriots bill loves guys who are team players and .an play multiple positions bruce should make a great fullback with his pass catching abilities he could have the longest career of all these guys. Remember strong he played about 13 yrs in the nfl he was a great fullback blocked for saun alexander when he broke that record and got the rushing title.
dawgs01
January 16th, 2012
10:14 pm
Every yr we have about 5-8 players get drafted and about 5-8 guys sign as free agents so about a total of 5-12 guys on NFL teams each yr and we still under achieve. It is coaching and I love coach mark r. But these numbers are very alarming if uga ever gets a great coach it will be dynasty and it will happen sooner or later and we will lock the state down in recruiting and it will be very hard to knock us from the top. I hope I get to see it. Maybe coach will get it going I likethe recruiting he did last yr and this yr might be even better I love the attittude of these two north carolina running backs they could be very special I just hope crowell does not hang out with them and rub off on them bc he could be a bust if he does not get his head on straight. If he does not he better enjoy this time at uga bc he will have a tough road ahead without football. This kid needs to realize these next couple of yrs are going to have a huge impact on his life he could be set up for life with a NFL contract but if he gets kicked out of school he will struggl. Poor decision may be his downfall.
slobodan
January 16th, 2012
10:16 pm
Certain NFL coaches will covet players such as Boykin. Athletic ability combined with intelligence and desire. Belicek and Sean Payton would surely be interested. Also, Steven Hill from Tech will be a damn good pro. He has exceptional talent.
athdog
January 16th, 2012
10:18 pm
I expect that Figgins will be a late round or FA pickup. Whomever picks him will get a bargain. He could play FB and be successful, be a boon on short yardage which Coach Bobo apparently never thought of, and could also play TE. Don’t forget he was a freshman All American TE before OC and AW came in and Figgins got hurt and had a little discipline issue (since corrected, he is a great young man.) I believe Boykin will be a really good CB and will start for years. I’d love for the Falcons to end up with Cordy, he’s a hoss.
it is what it is
January 16th, 2012
10:27 pm
Players flooding the NFL draft? Could they not flood the Champs Bowl or was that too much to ask? How much NFL talent do you need to beat Michigan State for God’s sake?
William
January 16th, 2012
11:50 pm
Good luck to all the Dawgs as they prepare for their futures. I hope they all get picked up and play for a long time. To all the trolls on here, surely you can find something else to do that’s productive.
Hunkerdown
January 17th, 2012
1:12 am
You won our hearts when you choose to wear the letter G. We will be your fans still just now on Sundays. Good luck and Go Dawgs!
ob/db
January 17th, 2012
1:47 am
I hope the Falcons land both Boykin and Charles. Figgins will surprise he and White have great late round value. I think given the right situation Roddy White could also make someones team.
red&black
January 17th, 2012
5:21 am
Just visited the Tech site. They had 18 comments, and there are 128 here. What a fan base.
RedandBlackDAWG
January 17th, 2012
6:44 am
I hope the falcons can get a couple of the young men from UGA, but knowing the brain trust (?) at the Falcons head quarters, they will put all their eggs in one cart and go once again, for one high priced piece of the puzzle, and falcon fans can watch the play offs again from their easy chairs. I am not even sure the Falcons administration has a handle on what positions are their greatest needs and the type of players they need. It doesn’t seem like the coaches know how to build up a player. They expect to draft, ready to go from day one players that wreck their budget and might give good results, but leave you empty at other critical positions.
RedandBlackDAWG
January 17th, 2012
8:51 am
OB/DB,
I agree. If some team is looking for high potential talent that maybe needs some training to reach the next level completely, they couldn’t go wrong with these two. As has been seen time after time in the NFL, there are always more than just a few lower draft picks and even free agents that far exceed what the potential they bring, was evaluated at.
Good luck to these two young men.
RxDawg
January 17th, 2012
8:54 am
I’m kind of surprised that Figgins wasn’t invited. He looks every bit the part.
And seeing that Orson is a late 2nd round pick makes me really surprised that he left early. I’m excited about our TE’s next year in Lynch and Rome so I’m not worried about the TE spot. But I remember lot’s of comments from Orson and his parents about how important that degree was. Eh… oh well. Guess I’d probably go get paid too.
RedandBlackDAWG
January 17th, 2012
9:12 am
RxDawg,
The allure of a big pay day is often something that is too hard to resist. He stated he is doing what his best for his family and himself, Can’t fault the young man for trying to cash in on his God given gift and try and secure his life for the better. As a purely selfish fan, I sure would have liked for him to return, but I think UGA has the guns to replace him. Now we just have to get our OC to utilize the replacements a little more, and we should be OK.
D man
January 17th, 2012
9:52 am
This just goes to show you that these players are being under utilized by the coaching staff. Need to step it up a bit coaches.
docdawg
January 17th, 2012
10:38 am
my prediction Boykin early second round, alot of versatility, aka Champ, who is similar in size, and has had a decent career. White will make a roster somewhere, better than most give him credit for.
DawgSTILE
January 17th, 2012
10:48 am
This is to “RamboNEdog”, word on the street is a mega scandell is about to hit the UGA athletic D. This will make the Demon Evans and UGA mascot troubles look like small potatoes. Three words, Auburn, RECRUITS, and tacos (maybe not in that order). Run for the hills boys, its gona git messy in the Classic city.
aprilglaspie
January 17th, 2012
11:04 am
GTBob: Isn’t it amazing how Megatron ripped it up in the NFL before he had a QB that could put the ball reliably on his back shoulder. He was nada without Stafford, and that is a fact. And Boykin is as big as most NFL corners. They can’t all be Champ.
RedandBlackDAWG
January 17th, 2012
11:51 am
DawgsSTILE,
You must be on the street where somewhere close to one of the UGA competitors. You aren’t by chance also known on these blogs as ” UGA Insider” now, are you? It is amazing the rumors folks like to start on these blogs.
Fire Me
January 17th, 2012
11:53 am
Boykin will follow in a line of good Dawgs.
He will do well at the next level in areas in which he would have done well in college if he had decent coaching.
UGA has no special teams coach, as evidenced by their special teams play.
UGA has no creativity on offense, as evidenced by Boykin’s performance on offense in the Boise game and then scant use on offense throughout thes season (especially the bowl game).
Like Matthew Stafford, he will look around after a couple of years in the NFL and say, wow, I would have a NCAA national championship ring if I had gone to any of four other schools in the SEC other than UGA.
Go Dawgs!
darrin
January 17th, 2012
12:10 pm
uga sucks always have always will they are a disgrace to the sec and college football all of yall stupid a** dawg fans are dumb as h*** find a real team to cheer for
MountainDawg
January 17th, 2012
12:28 pm
Boykin could climb high in the 2nd round if he puts up impressive numbers at the combine. Anderson’s an overrated sumo, & I’m curious to see what his Wonderlic score will be.
RedandBlackDAWG
January 17th, 2012
12:31 pm
Darrin,
Recess is over now, so go back to your 8th grade class, and study hard. Maybe the third time is a charm and you will get out of it this time.
Tucker
January 17th, 2012
12:42 pm
CMR should focus all his attention on preparing players for the NFL instead of pursuing the pipe dream of a BCS or SEC championship.
Ezra
January 17th, 2012
12:44 pm
The early draft is the worse thing that could have happened to college football. I am slowly turning away from college football. It reminds me of the Olympics when our amateurs were competing against professionals. Yeah you get a win every century or so. The NFL has destroyed college football. Have you noticed most of the early picks get hurt the first year. Hopefully it is not career ending.
Fire Me
January 17th, 2012
12:56 pm
Tucker, I’m pretty sure that’s what he does already.
Should Earn It
January 17th, 2012
1:10 pm
Boykin can look Aaron Muarry in the eye.
WDE
January 17th, 2012
1:50 pm
Best of luck to these young men DGD’s each and everyone!! Go Dogs!
WDE
January 17th, 2012
2:08 pm
@tide roll I’m truly surprised to see you on the blog so much since the season ended. With all the coaching openings I would think you would gotten at least a few offers as a OC at one of the SEC schools..you being such a talented coach and all.
News | MrSEC.com
January 17th, 2012
2:16 pm
[...] Here goes…1. Florida’s Patrick Young is battling ankle tendinitis.2. Georgia should be well represented in the NFL draft.3. Freshman tailback Keith Marshall challenged sophomore receiver Malcolm [...]
The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
January 17th, 2012
2:23 pm
One would think they could beat a ranked team with all that talent. One might also think they would average less than 37 pts to ranked teams. Good coaching in Athens.
WDE
January 17th, 2012
2:31 pm
@The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it , gentle reminder that coaching staff has a winning record vs the tide.