ATHENS, Ga. --- Junior quarterback Matthew Stafford and redshirt sophomore Knowshon Moreno announced at a joint press conference at the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall on Wednesday afternoon that they will be entering the 2009 NFL Draft.

Stafford, a 6-3, 228-pound native of Dallas, Texas, recorded 3,459 yards passing and a school-record 25 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions in 2008.  He also broke the all-time record for total offense in a season after accumulating 3,499 yards and had the second-most passing yards in one season of any Bulldog in history.  Starting all 13 games in 2008, Stafford led the Bulldogs (10-3) to their second straight season with at least 10 wins.

For his career, Stafford finished third in school history with 7,731 yards, 51 touchdown passes and 564 completions.  He finished with a 27-7 record in three seasons as a starter for the Bulldogs.

“It was a tough decision for me,” Stafford said. “I’m going to go to the NFL and see what that has for me. It’s been a lifelong dream for me and something hopefully I will be able to realize this year. It’s been an amazing run here. I’ve had an amazing time at Georgia. There is no better place for me to go to school. The way the coaches and fans treat you makes it feel like home. There is no better place in the country. This program has done a lot for me. I’m glad I got a chance to wear the “G” on my helmet and represent it the best I could.”

Moreno, a 5-11, 207-pound native of Belford, N.J., averaged 107.7 yards per game en route to a 1,400-yard season in 2008.  He became just the second player in school history to have more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons (Herschel Walker, 1980-82).  Moreno scored 18 touchdowns during the 2008 season, which is the most for a Bulldog since Garrison Hearst tallied 21 in 1992.  Snagging the second receiving touchdown of his career during Georgia’s 24-12 win over #19 Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl, Moreno finished as the team’s third-leading receiver with 33 catches for 392 yards and two scores in 2008.

Following his two seasons, Moreno finished No. 4 on Georgia’s all-time top rushers list after registering 2,734 yards.  He also had the fifth (2008-1,400 yds.) and sixth (2007-1,334 yds.) most productive seasons for a running back in school history.

“It was a very tough decision,” Moreno said. “It has been my lifelong dream to play in the NFL. It’s been a journey; it’s been awesome. Coming to Athens has been like a second home to me. It’s been wonderful. The coaches have been there for me with open arms. We have great fans. It was like a dream come true coming here and playing in front of 92,000. Running out of the stadium and having them cheer for us really means a lot. They are great fans and the best in the world. I also want to thank my family for supporting me in whatever I want to do.”

Georgia closed out the 2008 season by beating Michigan State 24-12 in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 1.  Stafford was named the Most Valuable Player after finishing with 250 yards passing and three touchdowns while Moreno registered 125 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.

“I’m proud of these guys,” head coach Mark Richt said. “They are two great people and a great representation of our program and a great representation of their families. If all of the guys were like these two coaching would really be easy. They blessed our program. I hope we blessed them. I wish them the best and I am truly excited for them. When guys like this come out of our program that have the high level of success they’ve had it bodes well for the program. Whichever NFL teams get them will be very blessed by them because they will not only be good players, but they’ll be good in their locker rooms and their communities. They are going represent well.”

Knowshon Moreno, Redshirt Sophomore Tailback

Knowshon Moreno, a redshirt sophomore tailback from Belford, N.J., averaged 5.6 yards per carry (107.7 per game) en route to a 1,400-yard season in 2008. He became just the second player in school history to have more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons (Herschel Walker, 1980-82). Moreno scored 18 touchdowns during the 2008 season, which is the most for a Bulldog since Garrison Hearst tallied 21 in 1992. Moreno’s 16 rushing touchdowns in 2008 tied him for the fourth-most touchdowns in Georgia history.

Moreno also finished as the Bulldogs’ third-leading receiver in 2008 after snagging 33 catches for 392 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player at the annual Gala.   Moreno, one of three fi nalists for the 2008 Doak Walker Award, was named to the 2008 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team as well as a Second Team All-American by Walter Camp, Associated Press and Phil Steele. He was also a unanimous First Team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and the SEC Coaches.

For his career, Moreno finished No. 4 on Georgia’s all-time top rushers list after registering 2,734 yards in two seasons. He also had the fi fth (2008 - 1,400 yds.) and sixth (2007 - 1,334 yds.) most productive seasons for a running back in school history.

For Knowshon's Game by Game Stats

Matthew Stafford, Junior Quarterback

Matthew Stafford, a junior quarterback from Dallas, Texas, recorded 3,459 yards passing and 25 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions in 2008 as he led the Bulldogs to their second straight season with at least 10 wins. 

Stafford broke the school record for touchdown passes in one season and had the second-most passing yards in one season of any Bulldog in history. He also topped Georgia’s all-time top mark in total offense in a season after accumulating 3,499 yards.

Stafford capped his junior year by earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando after finishing with 250 yards passing and three
touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 24-12 win over #19 Michigan State. During his freshman season, Stafford was also named the MVP of the 2006 Chick-Fil-A
Bowl. After being named a semifinalist for the 2008 Davey O’Brien Award, Stafford was named Second Team All-SEC by the Associated Press, the SEC Coaches and Phil Steele. He was also voted the team’s Vince Dooley Most Valuable Player of the Year Award at the annual Gala.

For his career, Stafford finished third in school history with 7,731 yards, 564 completions and 51 touchdown passes.

For Matthew's Game by Game Stats