Three Georgia football stars heard their names called in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots drafted Sony Michel 31st overall.
Last year, Sony Michel decided to return to Georgia football for one more season because he felt he still had things to prove. Someone would have drafted him on day two most likely. He was already a beloved Bulldog. He had left a good legacy and was facing a bright future. But that wasn’t good enough for Michel.
And now, he can say that through every step he’s taken this past year, his decision to stay in school paid off. He helped lead Georgia to an SEC Championship. Scored the game-winning touchdown to cap off a historic performance in the Rose Bowl. Eclipsed 1,200 yards and became one half of the best rushing duo statistically in college football history with Nick Chubb.
Now, Michel can add first-round pick in the NFL Draft to that list. The New England Patriots selected him with their second first-round pick and the 31st pick overall. He was also the second Bulldog that the Patriots drafted Thursday. Michel joins a team that already features two Bulldogs; center David Andrews and receiver Malcolm Mitchell.
Regardless of how you feel about the Patriots, there’s no way you’re not excited about what Michel can accomplish there. New England has a lot of running backs, they picked up Jeremy Hill last month from Cincinnati. They also have Brandon Bolden, Rex Burkhead, Mike Gillislee and James White. That’s a crowd of running backs and it’ll be difficult to standout.
But Michel is used to that. He’s dealt with sharing the spotlight his whole college career. That’s made him appreciate every touch he gets. His yards per carry and yards per catch percentages are amazing as a result. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry in his UGA career and 7.1 yards as a senior. He also averaged 9.7 yards per catch as a Bulldog.
Next: Do not mistake Sony Michel for a backup
Those receiving stats are key because as long as Tom Brady is in New England, they aren’t going to play a smash-mouth style. Michel can quickly become Brady’s favorite target out of the backfield. But he’s still a runner and with their offensive line, Michel might become the best running back the Patriots have had in a long time.