He became an All-America punter at Southern Miss but also recorded 18 interceptions as a defensive back and also served as the Golden Eagles’ place-kicker. He went on to be a fixture at that position, missing just six starts in 12 seasons while teaming with star quarterback Peyton Manning. Drew Brees. Dent’s career took a nomadic turn starting in 1994, with a season each in San Francisco, back in Chicago, Indianapolis and Philadelphia. The Chicago Bears have the most former Bulldogs with five, and Georgia has at least one player at every position. Make no mistake, though, legendary Packers quarterback Brett Favre benefited greatly by having the reliable hands of Sharpe early in his career. Five former Georgia State football players entered the 2014 NFL preseason. But unlike Sterling, who was drafted No. Wright went undrafted out of Georgia State in April and subsequently reached a deal with the Jags. 51 former Georgia football players on NFL rosters to start season, Former Georgia football players learn their fate as NFL teams finalize 53-man rosters, Sunday reads: This past week in Georgia sports, Georgia’s Redcoat Band manages COVID-19 changes ahead of football’s home opener, Bulldogs in the NFL: Todd Gurley impresses in Falcons debut, Bulldogs in the NFL: Nick Chubb leads Cleveland to Thursday night win, Pregnant woman dies in Athens’ 2nd fatal car crash of 2021, COVID-19 crisis reaches new highs in Athens as UGA spring semester begins, Athens Black-owned restaurants are optimistic about the future, New strain of the coronavirus comes to Georgia, Athens police blotter: Man assaults ex-girlfriend, woman threatened by man she met on dating site and more, Getting cuffed without a cough: UGA students reflect on this year's cuffing season, Athens restaurant roundup: Agua Linda has a food truck, Cool World reopens for service, Taco Stand on Milledge is fully renovated and more, Georgia gymnastics makes lineup changes amid injuries, Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement opens justice center and bookstore, PHOTOS: Drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic opens in Athens, PHOTOS: Flower memorial remembers Tara Baker 20 years after unsolved murder in Athens, WEEK IN PHOTOS: A look at a COVID vaccination clinic, first day of spring semester and more, PHOTOS: Athens celebrates fifth annual MLK Day Parade and Music Fest, PHOTOS: Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement opens Justice Center, PHOTOS: UGA women's basketball defeats Ole Miss 73-57, PHOTOS: Athens remains quiet amid heightened security for Inauguration Day, PHOTOS: Scenes from around campus on the first day of spring semester, PHOTOS: UGA men's basketball falls to Auburn 95-77. After arriving in Pittsburgh, he battled knee injuries for two seasons but emerged as a starter in 1989 – and it wasn’t long until he became one of the NFL’s most feared players. He earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was named first-team All-Pro three times in 14 years. He accepted a scholarship to Fort Valley State, where he would excel in both sports. Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC, Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea, Sign up for the Falcons Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. But based on a … 5 overall pick in 2000. Although it was a completely new position for Wright, he performed well enough to become the full-time starting right tackle in 1970, with Neely sliding over to play left tackle. Miami scooped up Jones in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft, a selection that would prove to be a bargain. Geno Atkins, DL, Cincinnati Bengals. Parker also was named to the NFL’s 100th season team in 2019. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. Berry won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award for the 2015 season after successfully battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. With speed, power and all-around athleticism that bordered on mythical, he helped the Bulldogs win the 1980 national championship as a freshman and captured the Heisman Trophy as a junior. Rodrigo Blankenship, PK, Indianapolis Colts, Thomas Davis, LB, Washington Football Team, Elijah Holyfield, RB, Philadelphia Eagles, Michael Barnett, DL, New England Patriots. Five former Georgia State football players entered the 2014 National Football League (NFL) preseason. 7 overall in 1988, and he appeared to be on a Hall of Fame career arc when he required career-ending surgery to fuse two neck vertebrae. In four seasons at Valdosta State, he registered 340 tackles, earned first-team All-Gulf South Conference honors twice and was named GSC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Listed at 5-11 and 232 pounds, Tuggle went on to earn five Pro Bowl selections in a 14-year NFL career spent solely with the Falcons. The average is one NFL player for 180,447 residents, using the 2010 census. Wright averaged more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game on the hardwood – that’s not a typo – and played defensive end, tight end and punter on the football squad. As the 2020-2021 NFL season kicked off with the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the Houston Texans on Thursday night, 51 former Georgia players will begin the season on NFL rosters. That season, he played in the Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro. Oakland drafted him in the first round in 1973, the first time such a selection had been spent on a full-time punter. List of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the NFL Draft. Brooking would play 11 seasons with the Falcons, and like Tuggle, he earned five Pro Bowl selections. Justin Houston, LB, Kansas City Chiefs. Ezekiel Elliott. Widely hailed as one of the finest offensive linemen in NFL history, Parker was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973. Former Georgia running back Nick Chubb opens the 2020 NFL season with the Cleveland Browns. Denver saw draft value in Sharpe when other NFL teams believed he was too slow to play receiver and too small to play tight end. He spent six years with the Minnesota Vikings, then five with the New York Giants, before returning to Minnesota for another seven years. Dent developed into a Division I-AA All-American and set a school record with 45 sacks, topping the totals of Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Claude Humphrey. A junior to NFL team with the Ravens the Green Bay and Philadelphia Pro seasons and earned his first Bowl! 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