GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Georgia Bulldogs won College Football’s National Championship in January and if they were good enough for the NCAA title, a couple of their stars were plenty good enough for Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst. For the first time in the history of the NFL draft, the Packers took two players in the first round from the same school.
At number 22, Gutekunst took inside linebacker Quay Walker and at number 28, it was his teammate, defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. Both were key players on Georgia’s dominant defense a year ago.
Quay Walker
Devonte Wyatt
Walker, a 6-4, 245 pound linebacker, didn’t become a full time starter until last year and Wyatt, at 6-3 and 315 pounds, was a disruptive force against the run. Green Bay wasn’t the only one impressed with the talent on the Georgia defense last year. Trevon Walker at defensive end was the number one overall choice of Jacksonville, defensive tackle Jordan Davis was taken at number 13 by Philadelphia and Minnesota finishing the Bulldog parade taking safety Lewis Cine with the final choice of the night.
Gutekunst met reporters when round one wrapped up and said there’s something about athletes from Athens and they got two more:
Gutekunst believes Walker with play alongside first team All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell at inside linebacker and be able to stay on the field for all three downs making it even more difficult for opposing offenses. Wyatt will be an explosive addition to the front four alongside Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry and free agent signing Jarran Reed.
While everyone believed the most pressing need for the Packers was at wide receiver, several other teams were in the same boat and a big run on pass catchers early in the draft took the top six receivers off the board by pick number 18. Gutekunst considered moving up but balked at sacrificing one of his first round choices or gutting the second and third round board where he still thinks there’s value to be had at receiver.
Walker and Wyatt join last year’s top pick, defensive back Eric Stokes who will only change colors from red and black to green and gold but continue to carry the “G” on their helmets.
