Final Exams: Will Stafford and Moreno...Pass?

As Bulldog fans finalize their Christmas lists and UGA students complete their fall semester coursework, quarterback Matt Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno prepare for a final exam of a different variety; one that will impact both players and fans alike.

It has but one simple question: Will No. 7 and No. 24 pass on their remaining eligibility to cash in on a chance to be among the top picks in April’s NFL draft? Georgia fans stand ready to grade the two stars, but the reality is that this is one test they cannot fail.

Stafford’s transcript:

• Experts feel he could use another season, but he is widely regarded as having the arm that is more than NFL ready.
• 38 games played, 33 started (26-7 record as a starter, 29-9 overall).
• 21 games with over 200 yards, three with over 300 and one over 400.
• 2008 semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award.
• 2-1 against Tech, 1-2 against Florida.
• Mock NFL drafts mostly have him as the first QB taken.
• Hard to imagine him not going below top five since both Detroit and Kansas City need a franchise QB and both should finish either in the NFL cellar or on the steps towards it.
• Speech Communication major entered school a semester early.
  

Moreno’s transcript:

• Definitely NFL ready.
• Tremendous talent, even without breakaway speed.
• Has the quickness and instinct that makes defenders miss.
• Dangerous receiver out of the backfield and he can block…….well!
• Has 475 carries for 2,672 yards and 30 TDs.
• Averages nearly six yards per carry and over 12 yards per reception.
• Sports Communication major has stated that finishing his degree is very important to him and his family; Redshirt sophomore is on track to graduate.

Talent and development aside, the legacy of these two players is undoubtedly unfulfilled to date.

For all of Stafford’s talent and NFL potential, he has not done something that D.J. Shockley was able to do in just one season: be an integral part of a championship team. For all of Moreno’s highlights and YouTube hits, he may end up playing one less season between the hedges than Herschel and Hearst.

So while the players study vocabulary like a potential NFL rookie salary cap and guaranteed money within a contract, fans are longing to put their stars on a pedestal with the likes of Buck Belue, David Greene, D.J., Herschel, Musa Smith, and Thomas Brown. Those players earned championship banners that the fans can look upon even today with pride.

The opportunity for glory in the NFL could be there this time next year as well, but that is never a guarantee.

Were Stafford and Moreno to both return for the 2009 season, Georgia would widely be considered one of the best offensive teams in the country and surely the arguments for the players to stay in school are more academic and emotional than financial.

But, in about a month pencils will be ordered down and answers will be turned in. In a holiday season known for giving, Dawg fans selfishly want another season to see them in silver britches.

However, the lures of a professional career and financial security may be too great. Surely Stafford and Moreno will parlay the marketing leading up to the Capital One Bowl with a decision to declare for the NFL draft. Their stock continues to rise and the exam they will surely pass.

Dawg fans however, will ask Santa for the only answer they consider a passing score: “I’m still a Dawg.”