UGA’s Stafford, Moreno declare for NFL draft

Athens — Georgia’s Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno announced today their intentions to enter the NFL draft. And with them exits 95.5 percent of the Bulldogs’ offense from this past season.

Stafford, a junior quarterback, and Moreno, a redshirt sophomore tailback, accounted for 5,291 of the Bulldogs 5,538 yards in offense in 2008. They also combined to account for nearly half (44) of the team’s 89 touchdowns with 26 and 18, respectively.

“Very tough decision,” Moreno said. “I went home, talked to family members about the pros and cons of leaving. I came to the decision to leave early to pursue my career in the NFL. It’s a life-long dream. It’s been awesome coming to Athens. It’s like a second home to me.”

“After the (bowl) game I got pretty emotional thinking about what I’m going to do,” Stafford said. “It was a tough decision, but I’m going to go to the NFL. Like Knowshon, it’s also a lifelong dream for me.

“Glad I got to wear the ‘G’ on my helmet, and represent the university as best I could.”

College underclassmen have until January 15 to file paperwork with the NFL declaring themselves eligible for the draft. But with classes scheduled to resume Thursday and recruiting ongoing, the two players opted to move up their decisions and go ahead and make them public.

“I’m proud of these guys,” coach Mark Richt said. “Great representation for their families and family names. They’ve blessed our program. I hope that we’ve blessed them.”

Both players are projected first-rounders, according to numerous NFL draft analysts. Stafford said that, according to information from the NFL’s draft advisory panel, he is likely to be selected in the first round. Moreno said he missed the deadline to send his paperwork to the advisors.

Georgia players were disappointed but understood their teammates’ decisions.

“I still think we’ll have a great team next season with them or without them,” said sophomore offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant. “I’m proud of them both and wish them all the luck in the world. I wish I had another year to block for them but it’s all good. We’re going to move on.”

Stafford set a school record with 25 passing touchdowns this past season. He threw for 3,459 yards this past season and has 7,731 yards with 51 TDs and 33 interceptions in three seasons. He was named MVP of the Capital One Bowl last week with 250 yards passing and three TDs.

Moreno, a redshirt sophomore, had 1,400 yards rushing and 18 TDs this past season. He has 2,734 yards rushing in two seasons as the Bulldogs’ featured tailback. That total is the fourth-best career total in Georgia history.

Stafford said that he and Moreno didn’t discuss leaving too much before playing in the Capital One bowl game against Michigan State. He said during the press conference that he had decided before the game that he was likely going to go pro, despite saying numerous times throughout December that he hadn’t given much thought to leaving.

Stafford said he leaned heavily on the advice of his numerous NFL contacts. John Stafford, Matthew’s father, said his son consulted the Kansas City Chiefs’ Mike Hagen, a friend of the family, as well as neighbor Troy Aikman and current NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler about his decision. He also talked to Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo at Georgia.

“He’s gotten input about what it’s like, what to expect and everything else from those guys,” John Stafford said. “I’ve done my best to try to get him those kinds of contacts with those kinds of folks that have actually been involved in something to help him figure out what he wants to do. My role really was just to try to do that, to get him as much input as possible number one. And then number two really to help him go through the thought process, make sure he was looking at it both ways and look at the different areas and make sure he wasn’t getting too much weight from one point or the other. But I’ve always stated it’s up to him, it’s what he wants to do.”

Moreno visited with family and friends back in New Jersey and leaned heavily on the advice of his former high school coach, Steve Antonucci.

Stafford’s and Moreno’s defections leave Georgia with a question mark at quarterback and running back for the 2009 season.

Joe Cox, whom Richt said is the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart, has been mostly a backup the past three seasons, but will likely enter the spring as the player to beat. Richt compared Cox to former quarterback D.J. Shockley, who was a team leader as a sub before becoming the starter as a senior.

“His senior year has taken on a whole new light,” Richt said.

Cox will likely be challenged by incoming freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger, as well as Logan Gray.

Several players will compete to take over Moreno’s spot, including Caleb King and Richard Samuel.

They will benefit from playing behind an offensive line that gained a lot of experience this season.