Advertisement

Mark Richt says Todd Gurley will be entering the 2015 NFL draft

Nick Bromberg
College football and motorsports writer

Unsurprisingly, Georgia RB Todd Gurley is turning pro.

Georgia coach Mark Richt said Friday that Gurley would be "moving on" from the school in 2015.

Gurley will not play in Georgia's game against Louisville in the Belk Bowl because of a torn ACL he suffered against Auburn on Nov. 16. The game against Auburn, where Gurley had 29 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown before suffering the injury, was his first game back from an NCAA suspension for being compensated for his autograph.

He missed four games for the suspension after the NCAA said Gurley received more than $3,000 over a span of two years for autographs. When Georgia first received word that Gurley was compensated for his autograph, it immediately declared him inelgible for the Bulldogs' game against Missouri. In announcing Gurley's suspension, the NCAA said Gurley avoided more missed games because of the way Georgia swiftly handled the case.

Gurley finished 2014 with 911 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. His replacement, freshman Nick Chubb, was a first team All-SEC selection. Chubb has 1,281 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.

The decision between Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and Gurley for NFL teams looking to spend an early pick on a running back will likely be a tough one. Gordon, who was a Heisman finalist, may have an edge because of Gurley's knee surgery, but given the nature of ACL injuries and the recovery timeframe, the injury shouldn't hinder Gurley's stock too much and, barring any complications, he should be healthy for the beginning of the 2015 season.

Not long before the game against Auburn, Georgia reportedly upped Gurley's insurance policy which covered him in case he never played football in the pros or fell in the draft. If he falls out of the first round &nash; not an unlikely possibility because of the injury and the declining value of running backs relative to other positions in the NFL draft – Gurley could collect some money on the policy.

For more Georgia news, visit UGASports.com.

- - - - - - -

Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!