Power ranking NFL Draft picks of UGA players

1 of 5

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

The NFL Draft was last week, and multiple former UGA players are moving on to the next level.

The NFL Draft has become one of the biggest events in sports today. It not only serves to shape players’ futures but teams and executives.

One fact that is often overlooked is how important it is to have a player drafted from your school to recruiting. The impact is huge, and the more players taken from your school the better.

Georgia had five players drafted into the NFL in this year’s draft and had eight players signed to NFL teams as undrafted free agents. In this piece, we power rank the NFL Draft picks of UGA players. Let’s start with No. 5.

Sep 26, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Keith Marshall (4) runs against the Southern University Jaguars during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Southern 48-6. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Keith Marshall was the last Bulldog drafted into the NFL, as he was taken as the 21st pick of the seventh round by the Washington Redskins. Marshall is most well known for having the fastest 40-yard dash of anyone at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

Taking the fastest guy in his class in the seventh round is normally puzzling, but there is a reason. Marshall tore his ACL at UGA during his sophomore season and never looked quite the same.

However, Marshall’s freshman season was something to behold as he ran for 759 yards on 117 carries for eight touchdowns despite sharing the backfield with reigning NFL Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley. He showed off his speed and athleticism that year.

Marshall also started off well in his sophomore season before tearing his ACL mid-season against Tennessee. Marshall missed the rest of the season and only played three games the next year due to this nagging injury not healing correctly.

Last year, he was finally healthy but appeared a shell of his former self as he would go down very quickly upon contact and looked timid at times. He opted out of coming back to Georgia this fall, and that brings us to the present

While there are some red flags about Marshall, make no mistake, he has the speed and sheer athletic ability to do some good things in the NFL. He will probably not be an every down back, but he is a good change of pace back and can contribute while sharing carriers with Alfred Morris already at Washington. Who knows, if Marshall gets fully healthy and back to what he is capable of, the sky is the limit.

Next: 4-John Theus

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