Big events often elicit big reactions, big emotions.
Former Georgia standout Knowshon Moreno teared up while hearing the national anthem. Cameras caught it, but Moreno said it really wasn’t newsworthy; he said the emotions get to him frequently, even at practice.
Emotions no doubt will be on display Thursday during the first round of the NFL draft, where several SEC standouts will be selected and share their story with the world.
Here are five of the most memorable draft moments involving SEC stars.
Mark Ingram, 2011
ESPN’s Suzy Kolber read a letter, sent from Ingram’s father, who watched the draft from prison.
It read in part that “you have made me a proud father, and I am so proud of the young man you have become.”
Kolber finished the letter, then asked the Alabama star running back what it meant. He couldn’t answer. He turned briefly from the cameras, pulling hard on his crisp, new Saints cap to cover his eyes.
“I miss you dog,” Ingram said, through tears. “I love you, man. We did it.”
Todd Gurley, 2015
Gurley held it together before ESPN’s Suzy Kolber asked him about the journey, seemingly from out of nowhere, a small trailer park in Tarboro, N.C., to SEC stardom. The journey included a serious knee injury and an NCAA suspension.
Recounting all of that, Gurley’s emotions took over.
Eli Manning, 2004
Manning had to hide his emotions. Walking to the podium to hold a Chargers jersey he knew he’d never wear, Manning looked like the second-grader whose parents just told him they were moving across the country.
Don’t make me go …
That’s kind of what happened, only the Manning camp engineered the trade that sent him to the New York Giants.
The boos and chants contributed to an awkward yet memorable TV moment.
Manning tried to downplay it. He smiled during an interview with ESPN and said he’s dealt with boos plenty of times before.
Tim Tebow, 2010
Tebow’s reaction couldn’t have been any more different from Manning’s.
Surrounded by family and friends in Jacksonville, Fla., Tebow’s grin never went away. Neither did the hugs.
“You are adding one big-time human being on your football team,” an excited Jon Gruden said on ESPN’s draft coverage. “This guy Tebow will not be denied … I love this pick. … I’m a little surprised. … This guy’s going to give them something.”
Mel Kiper quickly pointed out that Tebow couldn’t live in the NFL with that delivery.
“He dominated in college,” Gruden countered. “He can get it done.”
Tebow said he was blessed to be in that position and thanked God for the opportunity.
Randall Cobb, 2011
Just about everybody in the green room had gone home. Cobb, a standout Kentucky receiver, had removed his jacket by the time the Green Bay Packers selected him with the final pick in the second round. Somebody had to help him fix his jacket collar.
The emotion when his name finally was called, 64th overall? Relief. Huge relief.
Cobb later told NFL.com that he was so motivated after waiting so long that he worked out that night.
“It’s probably the best thing that could have happened to me, to wait as long as I did and to go to the team that I did,” Cobb told NFL.com. “God works in mysterious ways.”
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
