From being an 18-year-old true freshman starter to becoming the number one pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Matthew Stafford accomplished more during his college career at Georgia than most football players in history. However, given Georgia’s stellar history of producing elite players, is Stafford the best Bulldog of the last 25 years?
That was the subject of debate online this week as Stafford was cited as Georgia’s “best football player of the 21st century” by Front Porch Sports:
Stafford was Georgia’s first true freshman starter in a decade when he won the job in 2006, and the first to do it straight out of high school (after graduating early) since 1991.
Even though Stafford threw 13 interceptions and had a mediocre season, the Bulldogs went 9-4 with an 18-year-old under center.
Stafford led Georgia to an 11-2 record and a second place finish in the polls in 2007, then had his best season yet with 3,459 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2008.
However, not all Bulldogs fans agree that Stafford is the best player from Georgia of the 21st century.
Who’s Matthew Stanford? Matthew Stafford was pretty good. I’d probably take Chubb or Bowers though.
— Matt Flournoy (@matt_flournoy) May 20, 2025
Matthew Stafford* couldn’t even spell his name right…but still wrong
— him (@anothertime22s) May 20, 2025
By pro career maybe. By college results not close. Stetson would be the answer w Herschel right beside.
— dt4c (@TerryForsheeRx) May 20, 2025
Stetson Bennett is the greatest college football player of all time
— waduhhhhhh (@spateevoheevo) May 20, 2025
Have we forgotten about Nick Chubb, Sony Michel?
— Mike Pilcher (@MikePilcher07) May 20, 2025
Taking Bowers and Gurley at minimum over Stafford, respectfully.
— ✭Noah✭ (@NoahMOfficial) May 20, 2025
Definitely should be Brock Bowers
— B (@Br8yd3nS) May 20, 2025
Early draft picks out of Georgia in this century include:
Travon Walker, 1st overall in 2022
Andrew Thomas, 4th overall in 2020
A.J. Green, 4th overall in 2011
Johnathan Sullivan, 6th overall in 2003
Richard Seymour, 6th overall in 2001
Roquan Smith, 8th overall in 2018
Leonard Floyd, 9th overall in 2016
Jalen Carter, 9th overall in 2023
Todd Gurley, 10th overall in 2015
Jordan Davis, 13th overall in 2022
Brock Bowers, 14th overall in 2024
Just to cite a few examples of players who might have had great careers at Georgia, although not all of them did. Walker, for example.
That being said, another Rams player like Todd Gurley has a strong case too, and it seems many fans from Georgia were siding with Bowers and Stetson Bennett.
Stafford never came that close to winning any significant awards in college, only getting second-team All-SEC in 2008. He was on a Heisman watch list, but never close to winning the Heisman or the national championship.
Bennett is not a good NFL player, but as a Bulldog he went 26-1 as a starter and won two national championships in his final two seasons. He finished 4th in Heisman voting in 2022.
So while Stafford has all the advantages in the pro game, this one very specific argument might actually belong to his NFL backup.