Thomas Brown had long waited for this weekend.

He sweated the details. He stomached the butterflies. He dreamed of the possibilities. And he couldn't wait until it arrived.

Brant Sanderlin/AJC (ENLARGE)

Defensive end Marcus Howard led the Southeastern Conference in sacks last season with 10.5.

Jason Getz/AJC (ENLARGE)

Georgia running back Thomas Brown suffered a knee injury as a junior and broke his collarbone as a senior. Still the 5-9, 205-pound back rushed for 779 with 10 touchdowns.

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Brown was married to his fiancée Jessica Brown in small ceremony at West Mitchell CME Friday.

Oh yeah, the Georgia running back also was drafted to play in the NFL. He always was one to multi-task like in his last semester when he took 21 hours of classes and rushed for nearly 78 yards per game for the No. 2 Bulldogs.

Now his act will move just down the road to Atlanta. The Tucker High graduate was picked in the sixth round (No. 172 overall) by the Falcons Sunday.

"I'm very excited," Brown said. "It's a dream of mine, being born in the City of Atlanta, playing my ball here at Georgia. Having the opportunity to go to the National Football League and play for the Falcons is a dream come true for me."

Brown wasn't the only Georgia player living his dream Sunday. Brown's former teammate, Marcus Howard, was selected in the fifth round by Indianapolis.

"I think I'll be able to help the Colts rush the passer," Howard told the media in Indianapolis. "They have a couple of guys just like me, probably just a tad bit bigger. I think I'm going to come in, help them rush the passer and help them on special teams.

"Just watching those guys play the past three or four years, I've seen the defensive ends that they use. It's pretty much the same Tampa two (defense) we got here at UGA. I think I'm going to come in and help the team out."

Howard led the Southeastern Conference in sacks last season with 10.5. At 6-foot, 237-pounds, the biggest knock on Howard had been his size. He came to Georgia as a linebacker before the move to defensive end.

For Brown the questions will surround his size and durability. When healthy Brown was one of the most productive backs in Georgia history. He ranks fifth in rushing yards with 2,646 and averaged five yards per carry.

But Brown suffered a knee injury as a junior. He also broke his collarbone as a senior. Still the 5-9, 205-pound running back was able to bounce back from those injuries to help lead his team to the Sugar Bowl in 2007.

Now Brown will be vying for a spot in a backfield that features veterans Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood.

"I think it is a good situation for me,'" Brown said. "Most teams have four or five running backs. But I come from a system at Georgia where you had to compete against a number of guys."

Georgia typically had three running backs vying for carries throughout Brown's career.

As for his NFL career, it will get started before his honeymoon. The first mini-camp is May 9-11.

"I'm looking forward to coming and getting acquainted with the new team and earning my spot," Brown said.