Georgia football: Today is the deadline for Roquan Smith and other juniors

Today is the last day for juniors and redshirt sophomores to declare for the NFL Draft. Roquan Smith and several other Bulldogs are yet to announce their decisions.

Last week, we all knew Roquan Smith was going to declare that he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. And as Georgia football lost to Alabama last Monday night, we all knew it was a matter of time before he made his announcement.

Tuesday passed, and he was silent. But we expected that. He just suffered a devastating loss, he probably wanted to rest and stay out of the limelight. But then, Wednesday went by, he remained silent. Now the weekend has come and went, and Roquan Smith still hasn’t declared for the NFL Draft.

What makes this delay even more puzzling, is that today is the deadline for juniors and redshirt sophomores to declare. If Monday passes, and Smith doesn’t make an announcement, he will remain at the University of Georgia to play his senior season as a Bulldog.

This delay has left the Bulldog Nation with mixed emotions. One one hand, the fan base will be ecstatic for the best defensive player to remain in Athens one more year. After the loss in the National Title Game, my first thought was how were we going to rebuild our starting group of linebackers. No bookends, no Roquan Smith and possibly no Natrez Patrick.

But now, if Smith stays, that will ease the transitions at linebacker. Two or three new starters will play alongside the best defensive player in the SEC. That’s a lot better than starting with a clean slate. And it’s an outcome that will make Georgia unanimous favorites to win the SEC East.

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But on the other hand, Roquan Smith is a first round draft pick. Every board has him drafted in the first round as one of the first inside linebackers. The big contract, guaranteed money and signing bonus alone is enough to entice anyone to enter the draft. And yet, Smith is clearly on the fence about it.

As much as fans would love to see him return, we do not want to see him ruin his chance of playing in the NFL. We don’t want to see him ruin his chance to going in the first round either. We love our Bulldogs while they’re in Athens. But that love doesn’t end there. We want to see our guys shine in the NFL.

Regardless, Smith isn’t concerned about that divide in the minds of Georgia fans. He wants to make the best decision for himself. He knows the pros and cons, which is why he has waited until the deadline. Whatever decision he makes, the Bulldog Nation will understand and support him 100-percent.

Other decisions

Of course, Roquan Smith is far from the only Bulldog with a decision to make today. Cornerback Deandre Baker, defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter and inside linebacker Natrez Patrick are possible selections on defense. Wide receiver Terry Godwin and center Lamont Gaillard are the only players on offense.

Baker and Ledbetter are the most likely players to go in at least the third round. Baker is a good, physical cover corner who can also intercept passes. He uses his body to slow down receivers and close windows on deep routes. And he’s a great tackler for short routes and run plays.

Ledbetter is a leader and one of Georgia’s most consistent defensive linemen. But Georgia is deep at his position, they are not deep at corner. Ledbetter leaving will hurt, but Baker leaving is potentially devastating.

However, I think both players will stay. They aren’t role players, both are leaders whose role will increase. Smith doesn’t have anything left to prove. If he comes back, it will be for a National Championship. Ledbetter and Baker have something to prove.

Can Ledbetter be the man on the line and can baker be the man in the defensive backfield? That challenge is why I think they’ll stay in Athens. I actually think Natrez Patrick will leave. He has been arrested three times and charged with a crime twice.

One more charge and he is gone unless UGA changes their policy in the off-season. I don’t think he wants to risk the embarrassment of getting dismissed. That will come with issues that will hurt his draft stock. Leaving now will keep his stock intact (from what it is now) and he can expect a decent NFL contract.

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But he doesn’t have to leave yet and he can certainly clean up his act. He spent Georgia’s bowl season in rehab following his arrest and subsequent failed drug test after the SEC Championship Game. If his rehab went well, Georgia should have optimism for Patrick’s senior year.

Then there’s Godwin and Gaillard, and I think both stay. I don’t think either have a high enough stock. Both also stand to be a part of great units in 2018. The offensive line will be amazing this season and Gaillard should want to play with that group. The receiving corps is deeper now. Godwin can guide them and mold them into an elite unit.