Big night for big Dogs. Two Georgia offensive linemen go in NFL Draft’s first round
The first Bulldogs are off the board.
Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas became the first Georgia player taken in the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night, going to the New York Giants with the No. 4 pick. Offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson was chosen later in the draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Thomas told New York reporters that it was important to him that he was the first tackle drafted.
“Definitely,” Thomas said. “I work hard every day to be the best. I don’t understand why you would play this game if you don’t want to be the best. It definitely meant something.”
Thomas started all 15 games at right tackle in 2017, his freshman season. He and left tackle Isaiah Wynn anchored an offensive line that allowed just 22 sacks in 15 games. His stellar play earned freshman All-American honors from ESPN, USA Today and the Football Writers Association of America.
Over the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Thomas made 26 starts at left tackle for the Bulldogs. Georgia allowed just 35 sacks in 28 games over Thomas’ last two seasons in Athens.
Thomas earned the distinction of first-team All-American in both his sophomore and junior seasons. He is the fifth Bulldog lineman to be twice selected a first-team All-American, joining Joe Bennett, Pat Dye, Tommy Lyons and Matt Stinchcomb.
He didn’t blow scouts away at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, but Thomas did showcase his agility by finishing with the fourth-fastest time in the three-cone drill (7.58 seconds) and sixth-fastest 20-yard shuttle time (4.66).
“We can’t be any more thankful as a family here at UGA for what you did for our program,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of Thomas in a video posted Thursday night to Twitter. “You’ve got a bright future. We can’t wait for you to be an NFL Dawg and come back and visit with our players. You meant so much to the University of Georgia.”
Tennessee Titans draft Georgia’s Isaiah Wilson
Isaiah Wilson shook his head in joyous disbelief as tears seemed to roll down his face. The former Georgia offensive tackle was chosen 29th overall by the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.
Wilson declared for the professional ranks as a redshirt sophomore. The Brooklyn, NY native played for two seasons as a Bulldog, playing opposite Andrew Thomas, who was drafted fourth overall by the New York Giants.
Former Georgia offensive line coach Sam Pittman, now head coach at Arkansas, saw his two highest-rated recruits become first-round draftees.
Brandon Sudge contributed to this story
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 8:49 PM.