Stafford may join legends at No. 1

If quarterback Matthew Stafford is the No. 1 pick in Saturday’s NFL draft, he would become the first University of Georgia player in more than a half-century to be chosen first.

Not since the San Francisco 49ers drafted receiver Harry Babcock No. 1 in 1953 —- 56 years ago —- has a Georgia player been the NFL’s top pick.

And only two other UGA players have been drafted No. 1: legendary halfbacks Frank Sinkwich in 1943 by the Detroit Lions —- yep, the same team considering Stafford —- and Charley Trippi in 1945 by the then-Chicago Cardinals.

It’s grand company that Stafford would be joining:

> Babcock was an All-American at Georgia.

> Sinkwich was the Bulldogs’ first Heisman Trophy winner and an NFL MVP.

> Trippi long has been hailed as perhaps UGA’s greatest all-around athlete and is a member of the college and pro football halls of fame.

Trippi’s was an unusual draft case: Although picked No. 1 in 1945 while serving in World War II, he returned to UGA to play part of the ‘45 season and all of the ‘46 season before joining the Cardinals in ‘47.

Detroit, which wants to have its No. 1 pick under contract before the draft starts, is attempting to negotiate a deal with Stafford. If that works out and he becomes the No. 1 pick, one of his new teammates would be former Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 draft —- the highest a Tech player has ever been selected.

While Stafford would reap huge financial rewards from being the No. 1 pick, Georgia also would benefit from priceless publicity that perhaps could be cashed in on the recruiting trail.

“If a young man can visualize himself playing for Georgia, and how playing within our system would give him the opportunity to possibly be a first pick, that’s only a positive,” coach Mark Richt said.

Such benefits notwithstanding, “I really want more than that what is best for Matthew —- a long, healthy career on the right team,” Richt said.

“I know he does [want to be the No. 1 pick],” Richt added.

Since 1953, only one Georgia player has been chosen in the draft’s top five picks: tailback Garrison Hearst, No. 3 in 1993.

What, you ask, about Herschel Walker? He left Georgia after the 1982 season for the upstart United States Football League and wasn’t drafted by the NFL until 1985, when the Dallas Cowboys made him a fifth-round pick in anticipation of the USFL’s demise.

What, you ask, about Fran Tarkenton? Third-round pick in 1961.

But Stafford, it appears, might go where no Dog has gone since 1953.

TOP DOGS

Georgia players chosen in the top 10 picks of the NFL draft:

Year ..Player, position ….Pick ..Team

1943 ..Frank Sinkwich, HB……1 ..Detroit Lions

1945 ..Charley Trippi, HB……1 ..Chicago Cardinals

1948 ..Dan Edwards, E……….9 ..Pittsburgh Steelers

1949 ..Johnny Rauch, QB……..2 ..Detroit Lions

1953 ..Harry Babcock, E……..1 ..San Francisco 49ers

1972 ..Royce Smith, OG ……..8 ..New Orleans Saints

1989 ..Tim Worley, TB……….7 ..Pittsburgh Steelers

1993 ..Garrison Hearst, TB ….3 ..Arizona Cardinals

1999 ..Champ Bailey, CB……..7 ..Washington Redskins

2001 ..Richard Seymour, DT ….6 ..New England Patriots

2003 ..Johnathan Sullivan, DT..6 ..New Orleans Saints

(Note: Trippi was drafted in 1945 but joined the Cardinals in 1947.)

Sources: UGA, NFL

On ajc.com/sports: Get the latest scoop on what the Falcons might do in this weekend’s NFL draft.