The University of Georgia is known as a football factory producing such great players such as Fran Tarkenton, Herschel Walker, Champ Bailey, Garrison Hearst, Terrell Davis, Richard Seymour, Ben Watson and Alec Ogletree, as well as many other current NFL stars in Thomas Davis, Justin Houston, A.J. Green, Todd Gurley, Sony Michel, Matthew Stafford and Nick Chubb.
The New York Giants, in business for 95 years, outside of Tarkenton have not really had their share of Georgia players. Only running back Rodney Hampton, the team’s top draft pick in 1990, is the only draftee worth noting.
That is, until Dave Gettleman took over the team. For the third consecutive season, Gettleman has dipped into he deepening pool of talent being cultivated by Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.
Hey folks, Gettleman loves those Bulldogs huh? Kirby Smart is the breeding ground for Giants football.
— The Giant Insider Newspaper & Podcast (@GiantInsider) April 24, 2020
In 2018, Gettleman selected linebacker Lorenzo Carter in the third round (No. 66 overall) and cornerback DeAndre Baker with he 30th overall pick in last year’s draft.
Now comes the selection of offensive tackle Andrew Thomas in this year’s draft. The Giants are hoping Thomas, the fourth pick in Round 1 on Thursday night, will be their long term answer at left tackle.
Thomas is looking forward to hooking back up with his former Bulldog mates.
“I remember being a freshman with Zo being a senior here,” Thomas said on Thursday night. “It’s going to be exciting to be back with him. With D-Bake, I talk to him every now and then. I’m excited to get in the locker room and be with those guys again.”
Asked if Carter or Baker had spoken to him yet, he said that they hadn’t.
“Not really, but I know Lorenzo hit me up right after I got drafted, so I will probably talk to him later today,” he said.
Carter and Baker are on the defensive side of the football. Thomas will be in different rooms than them this season forging new relationships.
Thomas now becomes the core of a Giants offense that contains young stare such as quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver Darius Slayton.
“Definitely,” Thomas said when asked if he’s looking forward to playing with the aforementioned players. “Those guys are very talented. I’ll be looking up to those guys to teach me the ropes, working hard to help the program.”
The draft still has six rounds to go and the relationship between the Giants and the University of Georgia continues to grow, especially since Giants new head coach Joe Judge and Smart worked together under Nick Saban at Alabama.
Offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson was selected 29th overall on Thursday night by the Tennessee Titans, but there are still plenty of Bulldogs to be had in this draft.
Running backs D’andre Swift and Brian Herrien, quarterback Jake Fromm, safety J.R. Reed, kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, wide receivers Lawrence Cager and Tyler Simmons, offensive lineman Solomon Kindley, defensive tackle Tyler Clark and tight end Charlie Woerner are all likely to be either drafted or signed by NFL teams this weekend.
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