Georgia Tech juniors Burnett, Dwyer, Morgan going pro

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Their reasons were similar: chances to fulfill dreams and take care of families.

But that was not to say that leaving was easy.

Morgan Burnett, Jonathan Dwyer and Derrick Morgan all announced on Monday that they were leaving Georgia Tech for the NFL, after helping to account for 27 wins, one ACC title and one BCS bowl appearance in their three years together.

"It's not goodbye. It's see you later," said Morgan, who flew to Arizona later in the day to begin working out for the NFL combine in February. He is projected to be a top-10 pick in April's NFL draft.

Many of those who attended the announcement were a part of the junior class that had declared it wanted to go down as one of the best in Tech history. Linebacker Brad Jefferson stood in a doorway. Offensive tackle Nick Claytor loomed to the side. Wide receiver Tyler Melton was in the back and A-back Roddy Jones leaned against a wall.

"We came in together, all from our ‘07 class," Burnett said. "We promised each other we were going to try to bring a championship to Georgia Tech and that we'd also come together as a family. We'll always be a family until we were old and gray. We are not leaving each other."

Claytor, Jefferson and Jones said they will miss their friends, but they don't have time to mull. Workouts start soon and spring practice starts in a little more than two months. There's a title to defend.

"Those guys are leaving but it's going to take a bunch of guys to step up and replace them," Jones said. "It's going to be a team thing but I think we can come out a better team. We may have leaned on those guys a little too much. You never know. We're going to work hard this offseason and get better."

Claytor was more emphatic about Tech's goals for next year: "It's time get a bowl win. A BCS bowl win. It's time."

The Jackets are winless in their last five bowl games, including the 24-14 loss to Iowa in the Orange Bowl.

Coach Paul Johnson and his staff will have to find someone to help replace the 2,549 yards and 22 touchdowns that are leaving the offense with the departures of Dwyer and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who announced on Friday that he was also leaving school for the NFL.

On defense, Burnett had 14 career interceptions, second-most in Tech history. Morgan was the ACC's defensive player of the year after posting 12 1/2 sacks and 55 tackles. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper rates Morgan, 6 feet 4 and 272-pounds, as the top defensive end in the junior class, saying he's a "proven pass-rusher, stout versus run. Very productive." Morgan said he has signed with Creative Arts Agency.

Dwyer, the ACC's player of the year in 2008,  rushed for 1,395 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, after rushing for 1,395 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. He is projected to go as high as late in the first round. Kiper rates Dwyer, 6-0 and 235 pounds, as the fourth-best junior running back. He is leaving Wednesday to begin preparing for the draft at a clinic in Dallas. He hasn't signed with an agent yet.

"Told my mom when I was 5 that I was going to play pro ball," Dwyer said "It's kind of shocking and kind of scary at the same time. I can see it in my mom's face and my dad's face and even my little brother's face."

After the press conference, Dwyer's father, Tony, said it still hasn't sunk in that his son will soon be playing professionally.

"It probably won't until the day he's on the field somewhere or in some practice facility," Tony Dwyer said. "It's a tough decision. He's been playing the sport for 15 years knowing that there was a possibility of it but that it wasn't the main or most important point. Going to school, getting a degree ... everything else was just icing on the cake."

Burnett, a 6-1, 210-pound safety, has made 235 tackles in three seasons. Kiper rates him the second-best junior safety. He hasn't signed with an agent or decided where he will begin preparing for the draft.

Johnson was attending a coaches' convention in Orlando, but said during Thomas' press conference on Friday that he would support whatever decisions his players made.

All three players will be back at Tech in March to work out for pro scouts, Morgan said. After all, they said it wasn't goodbye.

"I don't think we're leaving anything," Dwyer said. "[We're] just leaving seeing each other every day. I'm going to come back every chance I can. I'll be their No. 1 fan on the sideline. Maybe, who knows, we might be future teammates together."