Should UGA Fans Worry About Terry Godwin Being Drafted By Braves?

Incoming Georgia football freshman Terry Godwin was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2015 MLB Draft this week, so do Georgia fans have anything to worry about?

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There were reports a few weeks ago that that Atlanta Braves were treading on hallowed ground and having conversations with one of Georgia’s biggest recruiting catches for 2015, 5-star athlete Terry Godwin. It’s not unusual for Major League Baseball teams to snoop around the recruiting classes for both football and basketball at various schools, but when they start tampering with guys like Godwin, fans begin to sweat.

The lure of baseball’s comparatively relaxed atmosphere has flipped more than one player from the gridiron to the diamond, even from as high in the NFL ranks. Former Atlanta Falcons safety Brian Jordan is a prime example of someone who preferred shagging fly balls and playing pepper to two-a-days and power sleds.

The Braves moved from conversations to “hey kid, why don’t you come give it a try” when they chose Terry Godwin in the 33rd round of the MLB draft this week.

Godwin had a private workout with the Braves earlier this month and, acccording to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Godwin’s father said he’d consider signing with the club if drafted high enough and for enough money.

“Well, you know, it depends,” Godwin’s father told the AJC. “If they offer him a good bit of money, I think he’s going to play pro baseball. But I don’t know. He loves football, too. He’s kind of mixed up right now.”

The question now is, was the 33rd round high enough?

Probably not, as Godwin is not expected to sign by the July 17 deadline, but the pending contract looms over Georgia’s offense like a miniature dark cloud right now. The last thing Mark Richt, Brian Schottenheimer and the Georgia offense need is to lose another potential wide receiver before the season even begins.

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Even if Godwin doesn’t sign with the Braves, he could still pursue baseball by playing for Georgia. Both Mark Richt and UGA baseball coach Scott Stricklin have said that Godwin would be allowed to participate in both sports at Georgia, provided he “keeps up his grades”, qualified Richt.

For now it would seem that disaster has been averted, but keep a close eye on how much time and energy Godwin puts into Georgia’s baseball team if he decides to play.