Georgia Football: Bulldogs All-Time NFL Defensive Unit

Now in its 120th season, Georgia Bulldogs football has built a reputation for developing NFL-ready defensive players.

Dozens of former Dawgs' defenders have gone on to have lengthy careers as professionals, but which ones have been most successful?

You can find greats like Fran Tarkenton, Herschel Walker, Hines Ward and Terrell Davis on other lists. This article strictly concerns the all-time starters on the other side of the ball.

Historically, the Bulldogs have ran a 4-3 defense, so this unit will be assembled as such.

Keep in mind, though, that players' collegiate accomplishments—or lack thereof—did not influence their placement on this list.

These are the ones who have excelled at the highest level.

Defensive Tackle: Richard Seymour (2001-Present)

Richard Seymour is not simply the greatest NFL defensive tackle ever to come out of Georgia, but he is among the best active players at his position.

Midway through his 11th season in the league, Seymour has already been a major contributor on three championship teams—all with the Patriots—and a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He is currently in his third season with the Oakland Raiders.

At 6'6", Seymour is unusually tall and athletic for a tackle.

With five sacks in seven regular-season games, he is on pace to reach double digits for the first time in his career.

Defensive Tackle: Marcus Stroud (2001-2010)

Marcus Stroud started alongside Richard Seymour at UGA in 2000 before the pair were first-round draft picks the following spring. It's hard to believe that the Bulldogs won only eight games that season!

Stroud spent his glory years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and thrice was picked as an All-Pro (2003-2005).

He and Seymour are similarly sized, although Stroud wasn't quite as dominate a pass-rusher.

The principal blemish on his resume is a 2007 suspension under the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

Stroud played three seasons with the Buffalo Bills. His career appears finished after he was released from the New England Patriots during the preseason.

Defensive End: Phillip Daniels (1996-2010)

Phillip Daniels played 15 seasons in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins.

Daniels was primarily a starter with all three organizations. He totaled 191 NFL regular season games.

Daniels recorded at least one sack in each of his professional seasons and 62 for his career.

Defensive End: Bill Stanfill (1969-1976)

Bill Stanfill made winners out of every football team he ever played on.

His high school team won three regional championships, the Dawgs were 26-6-2 during his tenure and he was a prominent player on the famously undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins.

Stanfill spent eight seasons with the Dolphins and earned one Super Bowl ring.

He was a prolific sacker before the statistic became official.

Stanfill's career was shortened by head and neck injuries, but former teammates still insist that he deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Outside Linebacker: Randall Godfrey (1996-2007)

Randall Godfrey played for five NFL franchises from 1996 to 2007.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if he has a reputation as a jinx in football circles.

To clarify, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans in 1996 and 2000, respectively, the years after they won league championships. Neither team has even appeared in the Super Bowl since.

Godfrey accumulated six interceptions, 19 forced fumbles and 837 tackles in the NFL.

Outside Linebacker: Mo Lewis (1991-2003)

Mo Lewis suited up for the New York Jets 200 times during the regular season. He ranks first among ex-Georgia defenders in NFL games played.

Lewis spent all of his 13 pro campaigns with Gang Green.

He compiled 956 tackles, the most infamous of which was on New England Patriots' quarterback Drew Bledsoe during Week 2 of the 2001 season. It put an end to Bledsoe's year and served as a baptism by fire for unheralded rookie passer Tom Brady.

Lewis took a number of seasons to reach his all-pro potential. Overall, though, he was well worth New York's third-round investment.

Middle Linebacker: Will Witherspoon (2002-Present)

Will Witherspoon is the only one of Georgia's all-time defensive players I have to move out of position.

The Dawgs have produced an abundance of successful outside linebackers, but very few such guys in the middle. "Spoon" was an MLB by necessity on the Carolina Panthers in 2003.

He currently plays for the Tennessee Titans.

Speed is his greatest asset.

Cornerback: Champ Bailey (1999-Present)

Champ Bailey is a living legend.

There were sky-high expectations for him after he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as college football's best defensive player.

Bailey hasn't disappointed: 10 Pro Bowl selections (NFL cornerback record), member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and part of the Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team.

Bailey ranks third among active NFL players with 48 career interceptions. His shut-down coverage through the years has helped his team in non-quantifiable ways, too.

Even as age robs Bailey of his health and tremendous speed, nothing can impair his stellar "football IQ," his understanding of the intricacies of this magnificent sport.

Cornerback: Tim Jennings (2006-Present)

Tim Jennings is a shorter back than Champ Bailey—5'8" compared to 6'0"—and a less-decorated player.

Still, he has found a starting role with the Chicago Bears following four years in Indianapolis.

Jennings carries a streak of three straight seasons of at least one interception into 2011.

Safety: Terry Hoage (1984-1996)

Terry Hoage's NFL accomplishments—no matter how impressive—will always be overshadowed by his collegiate career.

Hoage has been inducted into a handful of hall of fames and is considered one of the best defensive players in school history. He finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1983.

He played 13 seasons with six franchises, most notably with the Philadelphia Eagles. He intercepted eight passes for them during the 1988 season.

His tackling statistics are largely unavailable because of the era in which he played.

Safety: Jake Scott (1970-1978)

Jake Scott was a long-time teammate of aforementioned defensive end Bill Stanfill, both as a Bulldog and as a professional.

Scott wasn't only a player on the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins, but he was their Super Bowl MVP.

He was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls in the 1970s. Not even Champ Bailey has a comparable ability to break up passes.

Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley has claimed that Scott was the best all-around athlete he ever coached.

Future NFL Stars?

I'm sure you noticed that the majority of Georgia's all-time NFL defenders were Dawgs in the last 25 years.

This is not a coincidence nor a reflection on my laziness. The program is simply drawing interest from top recruits like never before.

The 2011 Bulldogs (6-2, 5-1 in SEC) remain in contention for a Southeastern Conference title on the strength of their talented defense.

Redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Jarvis Jones has been tremendous with 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks in eight games this season. Although eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft, Jones has already announced that he intends to stay.

Senior Brandon Boykin will be moving on to the pros, but possibly with some hardware. He is a semifinalist for the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to best defensive back in college football.

Aside from his cornerback duties, Boykin is a prolific kick returner.

The future is bright in Athens. For the seventh straight year, the Dawgs have a top-15 recruiting class on the way.

However, those high school kids have nothing on the starting members of Georgia's all-time NFL defensive unit. Not yet, at least.