Black Friday: Fans, players react to 6 offensive players leaving Georgia
UPDATE: RB Elijah Holyfield has also announced he is entering the NFL Draft, the sixth Friday departure. The small sample of social media reactions were collected prior to that development.
Original article:
Part of signing the best players in the country is potentially losing them to the NFL after their third year on campus. Transfers are also going to happen. By themselves, neither should cause a fanbase to panic. But when they come in a wave of news one after the other, it’s understandable for fans to feel a little shell shocked.
Early Friday, it became apparent that Georgia QB Justin Fields has selected Ohio State as his transfer destination. In the afternoon, four more players announced their departures. It all started with TE Isaac Nauta declaring for the NFL Draft. Shortly after, TE Luke Ford announced he was transferring to Illinois while wide receivers Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman also declared for the NFL Draft. Ridley, Hardman and Nauta were the top receivers on the team in 2018. The No. 5 receiver, Terry Godwin, completed his senior season.
The stream of departures even caught UGA players off guard.
Hurting bad https://t.co/XrkW84VpUQ
— Isaiah Wilson (@_LayZay_) January 4, 2019
Fans of the Bulldogs and their rivals had mixed reactions.
Damn everybody leaving Georgia 👀
— Gevarius Brown (@YoungBoski_78) January 4, 2019
It reflects very poorly on Chaney. Some of these guys have no business going pro but they know the offense we run probably won’t help increase their stock much more. Just my opinion 🤷♂️
— BulldogBrock (@BulldogBrock) January 4, 2019
YOOO UGA IS FALLING APART LMAO
— wicki_23 (@JacobKulwicki) January 4, 2019
Just waiting to hear the news about caving to PETA on Uga.
— dawgsonline (@dawgsonline) January 4, 2019
So UGA gone have to have some new receivers step up
— KING OF FALLING ASLEEP ON FT (@AlwysJustinTime) January 4, 2019
He will be better than Mecole
— Kirbstompin (@UGA_GRAD14) January 4, 2019
Whole UGA squad gone 😭😭😭😭
— Lolo The Snob (@404Leaux) January 4, 2019
Pretty rough day for UGA fans and the city of Athens.
– Freshman QB Justin Fields transfers to Ohio State
– Riley Ridley and Isaac Nauta both declare for the #NFLDraft
– Freshman TE Luke Ford transfers to Illinois— 🇺🇸🇲🇽 True To The 404 🇲🇽🇺🇸 (@ATLSportsNut_19) January 4, 2019
UGA is losing play makers by the hour
— Trevor Willis (@trevorwillis03) January 4, 2019
Haselwood can come on now, he guaranteed a spot at UGA now.
— Reggie (@i_am_reggie) January 4, 2019
We losing our entire offense but we stacked
— UGA Recruiting (@RecruitingUGA) January 4, 2019
UGA football doing its best Kentucky Basketball imitation today. Mass exodus #NFLDraft #Dawgs
— Eric Phillips (@amERICa_523) January 4, 2019
Would you rather UGA not have talented players who could make it to the NFL so that they stay all four years?
— Jay Mauldin (@JayMauldin) January 4, 2019
Well damn everybody dipping on UGA 😭😭😭😭
— Chip Skylark (@NoJuiceCinco) January 4, 2019
Uga falling apart 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/C6vCSFJ6uX
— Big Money Rasta 🌍🤘🏿 (@TrevonPolk2) January 4, 2019
Them UGA boys know they peaked so they getting out of there
— Captain Insano (@WesPhillie) January 4, 2019