41 former Bulldogs on NFL rosters as season begins tonight

The NFL season that begins tonight and continues through the weekend gets underway with 41 former Georgia Bulldogs on the rosters of 21 teams in the National Football League. UGA says 10 rookies made NFL teams this year.

From Steven Colquitt, UGA Sports Communications…

Of note regarding the 2021 Bulldogs in the NFL:

• Georgia has at least one active player at every position — including kicker, punter, snapper, and return specialist — for the first time in school history.

• Georgia has seven offensive linemen; six outside linebackers and defensive backs; five receivers; four inside linebackers; three running backs and defensive linemen; two quarterbacks and tight ends; and one kicker, punter, and snapper.

• Nine veterans have new teams this season: receiver Chris Conley, Houston; receiver A.J. Green, Arizona; outside linebacker Justin Houston, Baltimore; defensive lineman John Jenkins, Miami; outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, Houston; defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter, Arizona; running back Sony Michel, Los Angeles Rams; outside linebacker Alec Ogletree, Chicago; inside linebacker Natrez Patrick, Denver; and quarterback Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams.

• Ten rookies made NFL rosters: defensive back Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville; offensive lineman Ben Cleveland, Baltimore; defensive end Malik Herring, Kansas City; offensive lineman Trey Hill, Cincinnati; defensive back Richard LeCounte, Cleveland; tight end Tre’ McKitty, Los Angeles Chargers; outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, New York Giants; inside linebacker Monty Rice, Tennessee; defensive back Eric Stokes, Green Bay; and defensive back Mark Webb, Los Angeles Chargers. In addition, punter Cameron Nizialek of Atlanta will appear on an active roster for the first time in his career.

• Stafford is beginning his 13th year in the NFL, followed by Green and Houston at 11 each. Stafford and Green are both 33, while Houston is 32. Ogletree, entering his ninth season, will turn 30 in September.

• Ten active Bulldogs were previous first-round draft picks: defensive back Deandre Baker, Kansas City; outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, Rams; Green; Michel; Ogletree; inside linebacker Roquan Smith, Bears; Stafford; Stokes; offensive lineman Andrew Thomas, New York Giants; and offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, New England.

• The Rams and the Giants each have four Bulldogs, while the Chiefs and the Ravens both boast three.

•  The Bulldogs are members of 13 AFC teams and eight NFC squads.

• Georgia heads into the season with a national-best 20 straight years of having a Bulldog on a Super Bowl roster. LSU is tied with Georgia, followed by Florida at 19.

• With 41 players, Georgia is the fifth-ranked school in NFL representation.

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