Georgia’s second-leading tackler from the 2019 has a new title. Tae Crowder was last player picked in the NFL Draft this year, No. 255 to the New York Giants. He’s Mr. Irrelevant.
A key player on Georgia teams that won 11 or more games 3 straight seasons, Crowder helped Georgia win 3 straight SEC Eastern Division titles, and played in three straight New Year’s Six Bowl games. He was also part of a senior class that won 44 games, tied for most in school history.
Crowder was in the middle of a Georgia defense that finished with the No. 1 national ranking in scoring defense (12.6 ppg—school record for few points allowed in 12-+ game season), No. 1 national ranking in rushing defense (74.6 ypg—2nd best in school history), No. 1 nationally in fewest rushing TD’s allowed (2—school record), and No. 3 nationally in total defense (257.7 ypg)
Crowder started all 14 games in 2019 and finished season with 62 total stops. Crowder was also the only member of that defense to be picked in this year’s NFL Draft.
Hence the name, many Mr. Irrelevants live up to the name, but several haven’t.
One of the most notable was Ryan Succop, who the Chiefs drafted with the final pick of the 2009 draft. The former South Carolina star became a dependable kicker for the Chiefs and Titans.
Other recent SEC Mr. Irrevlevants include Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly in 2017 and South Carolina’s Justice Cunningham in 2013.
Former NFL receiver Paul Salata in 1976 came up with the name “Mr. Irrelevant,” and the ensuing “Irrelevant Week,” which has sent the final pick out to Newport Beach, Calif., for a week of both boasting and roasting, the New York Post reported. It includes the presentation of the Lowsman Trophy, which looks like the Heisman Trophy except the player has dropped the ball.
“Dad said we should celebrate the last guy just like the first guy. He always thought it was an honor to be drafted at all,” Salata’s daughter, Melanie Fitch told Reuters recently. “Unfortunately, my dad’s not a marketing guy so he coined the term Mr. Irrelevant thinking that was a good idea. Now 45 years later we’re still having to explain to people that being irrelevant is a good thing.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
