Matthew Stafford

Staff photo by Dan Henry Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford waves to fans following a 26-14 win over Tennessee on Oct. 11.

There were no comebacks Wednesday afternoon at the University of Georgia.

Junior quarterback Matthew Stafford and redshirt sophomore tailback Knowshon Moreno announced at a joint news conference that they would forego remaining eligibility to enter the NFL draft. Stafford threw for a school-record 25 touchdowns this season and compiled a 27-7 record as a starter, while Moreno rushed for 1,400 yards and will leave as the No. 4 rusher in program history.

“I think whichever NFL teams get them will be very excited and very blessed by it,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “They will be good in their communities. They’re just going to represent well, so anybody who is out there thinking about drafting these guys will do well taking them as high on the board as you can. Trade up for them if you’re smart.”

Stafford and Moreno said they talked briefly before and after last Thursday’s Capital One Bowl win over Michigan State about their decisions but that their choices were independent of one another. Though he said he was “50-50” immediately after the bowl, Stafford admitted Wednesday that he had been leaning in recent weeks towards leaving.

“Taking off the pads for the last time is tough at a place that gave me so much,” he said. “That was the toughest part for me, but I know this is the right decision for me and I know that I’m ready for it. I graduated early from high school and feel like I’ve been on a fast track since I can remember.”

Said Moreno: “My lifelong dream is to play in the NFL. It’s been awesome to come to Athens. It’s been like a second home to me. It’s been wonderful.”

Moreno was too late in sending paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Committee, but he is expected to be a first-round selection. One AFC team’s director of scouting believes the 5-foot-11, 207-pounder from Belford, N.J., will be a top-20 pick and could be the first tailback taken.

Ohio State’s Beanie Wells and Clemson’s C.J. Spiller could be in that mix if they leave early as well.

“I would say Moreno had a very quiet 1,400 yards this year, but it’s still been a very good season,” the scout said. “I don’t think he’s scratched the surface of his ability.”

Stafford was billed as a future No. 1 pick by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper before taking his first snap with the Bulldogs in 2006. He led Georgia to an 11-2 record and a No. 2 final ranking in the ’07 season but threw three interceptions in this season’s 49-10 loss to Florida.

The 6-3, 228-pounder from Dallas was miserable then marvelous in last week’s win, but the scout believes he has too much talent not to be among the top two quarterbacks taken.

“You’re hoping that a guy can go into his senior year and iron those problems out, but it’s just part of his game,” he said. “You’re going to go through some inconsistent times, but the upside is really big there. He’s got the ability to make big-time throws, and he’s intelligent enough to run an offense.

“He was doing it behind a young offensive line and with only adequate wide receivers until this season, so I don’t think he was doing it with a great supporting cast. Most really good quarterbacks have really good offensive lines.”

Richt has to replace the SEC’s leading passer and rusher entering spring practice. He said Joe Cox, who will be a redshirt senior, is now the No. 1 quarterback.

Cox played once in Georgia’s last 11 games.

“Somebody is going to have to knock Joe out of the box is the way I see it right now,” Richt said. “Joe absolutely understands our system very well and is an accurate passer.”

Running backs coach Tony Ball recently said Caleb King and Richard Samuel would enter spring splitting time as the top tailback should Moreno depart. Richt said the two absences will result in an enthusiastic offseason, but he did wonder what might have been had Stafford and Moreno returned.

“It would have been pretty nice to see these guys play behind a veteran line,” Richt said. “These guys played behind babies.”