In all, 26 players with Georgia connections are on the official invite list to the NFL scouting combine, which starts Wednesday with interviews and medical evaluations. The drills start Thursday and run through Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Last season there were 31 players with Georgia connections, including former Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green, who was the fourth player selected in the draft.
Some of the lesser-known players with local ties include Yale quarterback Patrick Witt, Samford defensive back Corey White and Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, the cousin of former Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi.
Witt played at Parkview before finishing his high school career in Texas. He started his college career at Nebraska before transferring to Yale, where he was a three-year starter and now holds most of the school’s major career passing records.
White, who played at Dunwoody, had four interceptions last season to go with 58 tackles, including 52 solo.
Massaquoi terrorized quarterbacks in the Sun Belt Conference after playing at Central Gwinnett High.
Here’s a look at the group of players with Georgia ties:
1. Justin Anderson, Georgia, OL, 6-foot-5, 342 pounds, (Irwin County High). Earned his undergraduate degree in Housing.
2. Brandon Boykin, Georgia, DB, 5-10, 183, (Fayette County). Suffered a leg injury at the Senior Bowl. The Falcons interviewed him in Mobile.
3. Drew Butler, Georgia, P, 6-2, 214 (Peachtree Ridge). Earned undergraduate degree in telecommunications graduating cum laude.
4. Orson Charles, Georgia, TE, 6-3, 241. "Not much of a blocker," according to Mel Kiper's 2012 draft report. "When you bring the type of dimension that he does to passing game, it more than compensates for any deficiencies in that area."
5. Alfonza Dennard, Nebraska, DB, 5-10, 205, (Wilcox County). Suffered a hip injury at the Senior Bowl. "Dennard is a gifted athlete with superior leaping ability," according to Kiper.
6. Cordy Glenn, Georgia, OL, 6-5, 348 (Riverdale). "Glenn has proven to be a [strong] run blocker when he plays with proper leverage and hand placement," according to Kiper.
7. Darius Hanks, Alabama, WR, 6-0, 185 (Norcross). Caught 26 passes for 328 yards and one touchdown last season for the Crimson Tide.
8. Josh Harris, Auburn, LS, 6-1, 224 (Carrollton). Participated in the Senior Bowl.
9. Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt, DB, 5-11, 188 (Perry). Hayward started 37 consecutive games and had 13 interceptions.
10. Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech, WR, 6-5, 205, (Miller Grove). "What is lacking from the equation at the present time in polish," according to Kiper.
11. Bruce Irvin, West Virginia, DE, 6-3, 245 (Stephenson). He was number two in the nation with 14 sacks as a junior. His sacks dropped to seven last season.
12. Ben Jones, Georgia, OL, 6-3, 316. Played in the Senior Bowl. He was a Rimington Trophy finalist.
13. DeQuan Menzie, Alabama, DB, 6-0, 198 (Carver-Columbus). He started and moved inside in nickel situations. He's also a solid blitzer from the slot.
14. Jonathan Massaquoi, Troy, DE, 6-2, 270 (Central Gwinnett). "He had the look of a raising star in the Sun Belt Conference last season, finishing with 20.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks," according to Kiper.
15. Rennie Moore, Clemson, DT, 6-3, 265 (Camden County). He received his degree.
16. Kelcie McCray, Arkansas State, DB, 6-2, 195 (Hardaway). A hard-hitting safety.
17. Brandon Mosley, Auburn, OL, 6-6, 310 (Jefferson). Played in the Senior Bowl. Mosley was a second team All-SEC selection by the league coaches in 2011 after starting all 13 games for the Tigers.
18. Tauren Poole, Tennessee, RB, 5-10, 215 (Stephens County). Was the Vols leading rusher with 693 yards in 12 games (57.8 per game) with five touchdowns. He also had 21 catches for 164 yards.
19. Shawn Powell, Florida State, P, 6-4, 235 (Darlington Prep). Won several of awards for top punter in the nation.
20. Brandon Thompson, Clemson, DT, 6-2, 310 (Thomasville). "One of the more under-publicized blue chip, first-round prospects on the defensive side of the ball," according to Kiper. "Thompson is difficult to handle along the interior."
21. Cyhl Quarles, Wake Forest, DB, 6-3, 210 (Meadowcreek). The 12th-ranked safety in the draft, according to nfldraftscout.com.
22. Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina, OL, 6-4, 340 (Creekside). Has played both guard and tackle for the Gamecocks.
23. DeAngelo Tyson, Georgia, DE, 6-2, 306 (Statesboro). Played in the East-West Shrine game.
24. Blair Walsh, Georgia, K, 5-10, 192. Named to UGA's team of the decade.
25. Corey White, Samford, DB, 6-1, 210 (Dunwoody). A first-team all-Southern Conference pick.
26. Patrick Witt, Yale, QB, 6-4, 230 (Parkview). Started his college career at Nebraska, before transferring to Yale.
