A total of 21 former Georgia High School football products were selected in this year’s NFL Draft, resulting in the highest total since 2017 and the third-highest in the past decade. The Peach State had its biggest group of draft picks in 2015 with 30 and then led all states in 2017 with its 29.
In 2018, the total dipped to just 12 players and last year’s draft concluded with 14.
Among the state’s 21 2020 NFL draft picks are players representing four different graduating classes with five Class of 2017, 10 Class of 2016, five Class of 2015 and one Class of 2014. Before we take a look back at each pick’s varsity days and journey to the NFL, here’s more analysis about this year’s draft by the numbers.
The New York Giants led all teams with four former Georgia high school players selected, The Rams and Redskins each drafted two and a dozen other teams selected one (DET, BUF, SF, MIA, CAR, ATL, NE, NYJ, HOU, CLE, MIN, CHI). Additionally, the 21 players breaks down pretty evenly with 10 defensive, nine offensive and two specialists.
Here’s how it played out by college division: SEC (10), ACC (3), BIG TEN (2), Sun Belt (1), DI Ind. (1), DII (1), CUSA (1), MAC (1), American Athletic (1).
The first four Georgia products selected were Andrew Thomas, Derrick Brown, A.J. Terrell and Xavier McKinney. Thomas, Terrell and McKinney were all ranked in the top 10 of the state’s Class of 2017 prospects and Brown was the No. 1 ranked prospect in the Class of 2016. Former Georgia and Hosuton County quarterback Jake Fromm was also ranked in the top 10 of the Class of 2017 as a four-star, but was the state’s 15th selection in the draft when he was taken off the board by the Buffalo Bills in the Fifth Round.
Westlake’s Terrell went to the Atlanta Falcons as a cornerback in the first round and gives the franchise an exciting local product to star in the secondary. Terrell appeared in the 2017 Under Armour All-American game and played cornerback and receiver at Westlake before attending Clemson for three seasons.
Former Whitewater Wildcat Kyle Dugger was selected by the New England Patriots after McKinney went to the Giants with the 36th overall. Dugger, who was known for his basketball skills at the varsity level did not start for Whitewater on the gridiron until his senior year. Lenoir-Rhyne was one of just three programs to offer Dugger and he spent the next six years at the school before emerging as a coveted draft pick. The safety and return man was the first DII product taken in the 2020 Draft when the Patriots took him at 37th overall.
Pace Academy was the only Georgia High School with more than one player taken in this year’s draft. Following Thomas getting selected as the No. 4 overall pick, former Pace Academy kicker Sam Sloman was drafted at No. 248 overall by the Rams.
ROUND 1
#4 OT Andrew Thomas / GIANTS / Pace Academy ’17 (Georgia)
#7 DT Derrick Brown / PANTHERS / Lanier ’16 (Auburn)
#16 CB A.J. Terrell / FALCONS / Westlake ’17 (Clemson)
ROUND 2
#36 S Xavier McKinney / GIANTS / Roswell ’17 (Alabama)
#37 S Kyle Dugger / PATRIOTS / Whitewater ’14 (Lenoir Rhyne)
ROUND 3
#66 WR Antonio Gibson / REDSKINS / Eagle’s Landing ’16 (Memphis)
#79 DL Jabiri Zuniga / JETS / Sprayberry ’15 (Florida)
#90 DL Jonathan Greenard / TEXANS / Hiram ’15 (Florida)
ROUND 4
#115 TE Harrison Bryant / BROWNS / John Milledge Acad. ’16 (Florida Atlantic)
#117 DL D.J. Wonnum / VIKINGS / Stephenson ‘16 (South Carolina)
#142 WR Antonio Gandy-Golden / REDSKINS / Paulding County ’16 (Liberty)
#144 RB Deejay Dallas / SEAHAWKS / Glynn Academy ’17 (Miami)
ROUND 5
#163 DB Kindle Vidor / BEARS / North Clayton ’16 (Georgia Southern)
#166 WR Quintez Cephus / LIONS / Stratford Academy ’16 (Wisconsin)
#167 QB Jake Fromm / BILLS / Houston County ’17 (Georgia)
ROUND 6
#185 LS Blake Ferguson / DOLPHINS / Buford ’15 (LSU)
#190 TE Charlie Woerner / 49ERS / Rabun County ’16 (Georgia)
ROUND 7
#247 DB Chris Williamson / GIANTS / Gainesville ’15 (Minnesota)
#248 PK Sam Sloman / RAMS / Pace Academy ’16 (Miami-Ohio)
#250 OL Tremayne Anchrum / RAMS / McEachern ’16 (Clemson)
#255 LB Tae Crowder / GIANTS / Harris County ’15 (Georgia)
Loading ...
