The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/27/09 Section: Sports

ALLEN

IRVIN

WYNN

By now you know that Matthew Stafford (No. 1 overall) is a Lion and Knowshon Moreno (No. 12 overall) is a Bronco, and you probably know Mohamed Massaquoi went to the Browns in the second round.

But Sunday, Day 2 of the 2009 NFL draft, was just as busy for former Bulldogs, as they tied a school record for the most draftees in the first three rounds (5) and ended up sending a total of six players into the NFL.

Here's where those outside of Stafford, Moreno and Massaquoi landed:

Asher Allen, CB - Minnesota Vikings - 3rd round, 22nd pick, 86th overall: Allen's decision to leave school after his junior season sends him to Minneapolis.

Allen, undersized but fundamentally and instinctually sound, joins a Vikings cornerback corps that was middle-of-the-NFL-pack in terms of pass defense last season, and is young outside of veteran Antoine Winfield, who Allen said he has looked up to in years past.

"I'm a big fan of Antoine Winfield. I've always been a big fan of him and everything that he does," he said. "A guy like him, who is kind of similar to the way I play, it's just great to be on a team with him. Hopefully I have a chance to learn. That's pretty much, as far as the secondary as of right now that I know."

Added Allen: "I think anytime you get drafted and go through a stage like this in your life, it's one of the most heart-pounding things, but it's also one of the most-enjoyable things."

Corvey Irvin, DT - Carolina Panthers - 3rd round, 29th pick, 93rd overall: The Panthers have a history of choosing Bulldog defenders, and Irvin is the newest addition. He joins former Georgia safety and NFL linebacker Thomas Davis and end Charles Johnson in Charlotte, but it's been a long road.

A transfer from Georgia Military College before his junior season, Irvin came up big after Jeff Owens' ACL tear at the beginning of the 2008 season, becoming a vocal leader on Georgia's much-maligned defense.

At 6-foot-3 and 301 pounds, Irvin showed scouts at Georgia's Pro Day that he could move for a big man.

"I feel like it's Christmas morning right now," Irvin said in a Q&A on the Panthers' Web site. "I'm just so proud."

Jarius Wynn, DE - Green Bay Packers - 6th round, 9th pick, 182nd overall: Perhaps the most surprising selection Bulldog-wise.

Wynn started seven games for the Bulldogs in 2008, charting 24 tackles. He was also a teammate of Irvin's at Georgia Military College.

Others: Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (considered a possible early-round selection after the 2007 season), fullback Brannan Southerland, defensive back CJ Byrd (who wowed scouts at Georgia's Pro Day) and punter Brian Mimbs are still waiting for the NFL to come calling.

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