The New York Giants started their draft by selecting Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas 10th overall Thursday. They closed the proceedings for the league Saturday by picking another Dawg, LB Tae Crowder, with the 255th pick.
That makes Crowder (No. 30 in the picture above) the 2020 Mr. Irrelevant. He will be celebrated at events in Santa Monica, Ca, as is the annual honor for the person chosen last in the NFL Draft.
The Tae is short for Dequartavous. He majored in International Affairs and was a recipient of the Richard Young Football Scholarship.
Crowder was one of three remaining members of UGA’s 2015 recruiting class. As a high school senior, Crowder was committed to Georgia Southern, but signed with the Bulldogs after another commit NFL standout Chris Carson) flipped to Oklahoma State just before signing day.
Crowder committed to the Bulldogs without visiting the campus and without meeting any of the coaches in person. After arriving at UGA as a running back, Crowder switched to inside linebacker in the middle of his second season.
Here is some background, courtesy of Giants.com and Georgiadogs.com:
Career Highs
* 12 tackles vs. South Carolina, 2019
* 1 INT at Missouri & UMass, 2018
* 43-yard INT return at Missouri, 2018
* 60-yard Fumble Return vs. Tennessee, 2019
2019: A key player on Georgia teams that won 11 or more games three straight seasons, won three straight SEC Eastern Division titles, and played in three straight New Year’s Six Bowl game (2018 Rose, 2019 Allstate Sugar, 2020 Allstate Sugar)…also part of a senior class that won 44 games, tied for most in school history…key cog in a Georgia defense that finished with the #1 national ranking in Scoring Defense (12.6 ppg—school record for few points allowed in 12-+ game season), #1 national ranking in Rushing Defense (74.6 ypg—2nd best in school history), #1 nationally in fewest rushing TD’s allowed (2—school record), and #3 nationally in Total Defense (257.7 ypg)…started all 14 games in 2019 and finished season with 62 total stops (second-best on team), including 4.0 for lost yardage, three QB pressures and four pass breakups…one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker…Georgia’s leading tackler vs. South Carolina with a career-high 12 stops…also its top tackler vs. Notre Dame, with a then career-high nine tackles…one of four Bulldogs with a team-high six stops in shutout of Kentucky…scored his first collegiate touchdown when he picked up a Tennessee fumble and returned it 60 yards for a score…led Georgia in tackles vs. Missouri with seven…was named one of three team captains for the Missouri game.
2018: Played in all 14 games, starting in five, and finished with 53 total stops (fifth-best on team), including 6.0 tackles for loss (third-best on team) and 1.5 QB sacks..also had four QB pressures and a pass breakup…second on the team in QB pressures with four…made his first career start at Kentucky…
2017: Appeared in all 15 games and had seven total stops, including two at Georgia Tech and two at Vanderbilt…biggest contribution of the season, however, came as a member of the Bulldogs’ KO return unit…fielded and downed a “squib” kickoff by Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl, enabling Georgia to kick a field goal as the first half expired.
2016: Moved to ILB in mid-season from his RB position…saw his first action of the season vs. Louisiana…rushed for two TDs and played most of the way at tailback for the victorious Black team at the annual G-Day intrasquad spring game.
2015: Redshirted.
To find out who Crowder joins as Mr. Irrelevant, click here.