UGA lineman Cordy Glenn may go in first round

photo Former Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn. Photo by Paul Abell

Two games into the 2011 college football season, Georgia left tackle Cordy Glenn was anything but NFL first-round material.

The Bulldogs were whipped up front in an opening loss to Boise State, managing four first downs in their first eight possessions, and then there was Glenn's failure to contain South Carolina fabulous freshman defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. With three minutes remaining in a back-and-forth thriller, Clowney blew inside and sacked Aaron Murray, causing a fumble that opposite end Melvin Ingram returned 5 yards for the win-sealing touchdown.

"He was horrific early in the year when they moved him from guard to left tackle," ESPN analyst Todd McShay said. "People think it's easy to move out to left tackle from guard, but it's not. When he played that Boise State game, I think he was embarrassed. Towards the end of the year, he showed you how much he worked at it and how good he can get."

The 6-foot-5, 345-pounder made 50 career starts on Georgia's offensive line -- 32 at guard and 18 at tackle -- and is expected to be the only Bulldogs player selected in Thursday night's opening round of the NFL draft. Glenn would become Georgia's fourth first-round pick in the past four drafts, joining quarterback Matthew Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno in 2009 and receiver A.J. Green last year.

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper lists Glenn as the 14th-best player available and projects him going 22nd to Cleveland.

"I like his versatility," Kiper said. "If he doesn't get it done at right tackle, then you've got yourself one heck of a guard."

Georgia should have players taken all three days of the draft, with cornerback Brandon Boykin and tight end Orson Charles projected in Friday's second or third rounds. Boykin had an impressive career at Georgia but hasn't been on display since fracturing his fibula in the Senior Bowl.

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He is the only player in Southeastern Conference history with three 100-yard touchdowns of any kind, accomplishing all three on kickoff returns.

"Size is the only thing you would look at with him that could maybe push him into the third round," Kiper said. "He's a good return man and certainly did a good job in coverage, but being 5-9 and 185 pounds will probably push him down a little bit. I like his return skills, his feisty approach and the way he gets after it. He's got a lot of confidence in his ability and played a lot of good football in the SEC."

Kiper said Charles is a good blocker and his route-running can stretch the deep middle. He did not mention his early March arrest on a DUI charge, so that incident may not cause any slippage.

Georgia's most likely late-round selections are center Ben Jones and punter Drew Butler, leaving offensive lineman Justin Anderson, defensive tackle DeAngelo Tyson, tight end Aron White and kicker Blair Walsh headed for free-agent deals.

"I have Walsh as the third highest-rated kicker," Kiper said. "You look at the inconsistencies this past year, and I think he went from a draftable guy to an undrafted free agent. Two years ago, he looked like he was a fifth-round guy."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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