According to USA TODAY’s Draft Wire, Georgia alum Tae Crowder ranks just inside the top twenty in a list of NFL Draft prospects at linebacker.
It is important to note that these are preliminary rankings based entirely upon collegiate performance. Such rankings are subject to change following pre-draft workouts including the NFL Combine and each school’s respective Pro Days.
That said, dear reader, Tae Crowder is an unsung hero and one of my personal favorite Georgia Bulldogs.
It’s partially due to his play, but chiefly because of his backward football background:
Crowder was a last-minute addition to the Dawgs’ 2015 signing class, receiving his scholarship offer the morning before National Signing Day. He hadn’t taken an official visit. He spent no time in personal meetings with Georgia coaches.
Yet, he committed on the spot.
“It was always my dream to play at the University of Georgia,” Crowder told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2015.
This year, he graduates as one of the very last prospects recruited by Mark Richt, who left his post as top Dawg following the 2015 college football season.
As Harris County’s offensive player of the year during his senior season, Crowder came to Athens as a dual receiver and running back.
He was quickly moved to inside linebacker, and, after redshirting his first year in Athens, spent another year fine-tuning his linebacking skills before spending three years starting, recording 122 tackles, and grabbing two takeaways along the way(s).
Does this one ring a bell? It certainly rung the referee’s bell.
CB Eric Stokes @_jamane_ with the SACK & FUMBLE!!!
then Recovered by LB Tae Crowder @TaeCrowder and TD!!!!#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/3A1pfolMRW
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) October 6, 2019
Crowder was not invited to the NFL Combine. Only one former Bulldog defender of the ten total was summoned to Indianapolis.
Given his history of adaptation, I think Tae will do just fine.