Georgia football: Four former Bulldogs who should consider the XFL
Knowshon Moreno
In the mid-2000’s, Georgia football used a running back by committee approach with Thomas Brown, Danny Ware and Kregg Lumpkin. But Ware leaving early for the NFL draft and injuries to Brown and Lumpkin forced the Bulldogs to abandon that strategy in 2007. Fortunately, Knowshon Moreno was there to carry the load on his own.
Moreno dominated with 100-yard games against Vanderbilt, Florida, Troy, Auburn and Kentucky. He finished his freshman year with over 1,300 yards, second in Bulldog history for a freshman behind Herschel Walker.
He was even better as a sophomore in 2008 with over 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns. But since Moreno was a redshirt sophomore, he was eligible for the NFL Draft. He left Georgia after only two seasons and the Denver Broncos drafted him 12th overall.
More from Dawn of the Dawg
- Georgia Football: Top 5 Nick Chubb Moments at Georgia
- Georgia Football: Know the enemy UAB Blazers
- Nick Chubb is America’s running back, and he will return
- Georgia Football: Should laundry list of injuries be a cause to panic?
- Georgia Football: Report cards for Week 3 game against South Carolina
In his first two seasons, Moreno played very well despite not rushing for 1,000 yards. He rushed for 927 yards with seven touchdowns in seven starts and 16 appearances as a rookie in 2009. Moreno also caught 28 passes for 213 yards with two touchdowns.
In his second year, he played in only 13 games and rushed for 779 yards with five scores. But his receiving stats went up with 27 receptions for 372 yards and three touchdowns. Then injuries caught up to him. He only started two games in 2011 before tearing his ACL and missing the last nine games of the season.
Moreno bounced back mildly with 525 yards in the Broncos last eight games of 2012. He had his best season in 2013 with 1,038 rushing yards and 548 receiving yards on 301 touches with 13 total touchdowns. The Broncos played in the Super Bowl that season but lost to the Denver Broncos.
Moreno then left Denver and signed with Miami before the 2014 season. He began the year hot with 134 yards on just 24 carries against New England. But a dislocated shoulder slowed him down for the next two games. He tore his ACL again three games into the season and hasn’t played a down in the NFL since.
In 2016, Moreno said he was healthy again and ready to return to the league, but still, no team signed him. That’s why Moreno should consider joining the new XFL if he still wants to return to the NFL. Moreno proved himself as a quality back. Even if he’s just a backup, he can be very effective when healthy.
Sure 2020 is a long time away, and he’ll be 32 when that league starts play, but what other shot does he have at this point? It’s not like he’ll have the normal wear and tear of other 32-year-old running backs. He would have gone almost six full seasons without play.
If he’s healthy and in great shape, why not give the XFL a shot. The least it would do is put a great former Bulldog in the spotlight of professional football once again.