Where Are They Now: Jeff Greene

Techster

Techster

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Was considered the top WR in the recruiting class that included Darren Waller. Had a good sophomore year (for GT WR standards) leading the team with 18 receptions. Showed promise for someone growing into the position on this level in our offense. Wasn't happy with "just" 18 receptions during the 2012 season, and thought he should have played a bigger role. Felt that the staff sold him on one thing, and the offense didn't turn out the way they promised when he was recruited. Joined Ohio State as a walk-on. Was a regular on special teams, but never became a big contributor at WR. Caught two career passes at OSU, one each his junior and senior seasons. Never earned a scholarship playing for the Buckeyes, but did earn a National Championship and Big Ten ring in 2014. OSU's bowl game will be his last collegiate game, and he will have spent the last 3 years combined playing less than his sophomore season at GT. As his recruiting classmate Waller got drafted in the 6th round, and spent 2015 playing in the NFL, Greene struggled to find playing time for OSU.

http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...-the-end-ohio-state-wide-receiver-jeff-greene

Had Jeff Greene stayed at GT, would GT have had 3 WR prospects for the 2015 NFL draft? I think he would have had a good shot at the NFL, and he probably would have started ahead of Waller who struggled with consistency on the field and discipline off the field. May have not been drafted, but definitely would have been a camp invite somewhere. Was the better WR prospect his first 2 seasons here than Waller, but Waller was able to blossom because of the playing that GT provided for him. Let's be honest, our WR depth is not on the same level as OSU's.

Hope he was able to find happiness at OSU that he seemingly couldn't find here. Definitely one of the situations where you think "What if"...but GT definitely did not lack at the WR position in 2013 and 2014 with the rise of Deandre Smelter and Waller's contributions. GT's offense is tough on the patience of WRs who expect a lot of passes, but history has shown that for WRs that stick it out, the NFL is a very real possibility.
 
GTBillyJosh

GTBillyJosh

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Great article, thanks! Glad he was closer to his father at Ohio State! Hope things work out for him after football. Even Jeff would probably admit that staying at GT would have meant more personal success, but it sounds like he was happy with his choice in the end. Everyone goes into college thinking they'll be the next Calvin Johnson, but far more end up like Jeff Greene. The key is to set yourself up for life after football (sounds like he did with the internships).

Also, I'm personally happy with Jeune and Stewart moving forward.
 

southernhive

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Did Greene decide to leave before or after Smelter decided to play football? His football career definitely suffered from his decision and his after football will likely suffer as well since the GT degree is a much more valuable degree. IMHO.
 

65Jacket

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southernhive said:
Did Greene decide to leave before or after Smelter decided to play football? His football career definitely suffered from his decision and his after football will likely suffer as well since the GT degree is a much more valuable degree. IMHO.
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+1
 
GaTech4ever

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Everything I heard about Jeff Greene during his career at Tech was that he spent more time running laps during practice (as the #1 WR) than anyone in the program. Can't say he was missed regarding his attitude or ability, and I know some, if not most of his old teammates feel the same way.
 
LongforDodd

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southernhive said:
Did Greene decide to leave before or after Smelter decided to play football? His football career definitely suffered from his decision and his after football will likely suffer as well since the GT degree is a much more valuable degree. IMHO.
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We all appreciate the degrees we received from GT since it was the result of alot of blood, sweat, and tears but let's not just assume that Jeff G's professional career will suffer. There are extremely well off people that didn't go to GT and some that are grads and just outright fans of that school he graduated from. Those contacts he may have made at OSU could just as easily set him up with a nice career job as one he may have received from a GT grad or booster. But this realization won't stop me, nonetheless, from sticking my nose up in the air as I recall my years spent on North Ave. and walking across the stage at AMC. :)
 
GTpdm

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LongforDodd said:
We all appreciate the degrees we received from GT since it was the result of alot of blood, sweat, and tears but let's not just assume that Jeff G's professional career will suffer. There are extremely well off people that didn't go to GT and some that are grads and just outright fans of that school he graduated from. Those contacts he may have made at OSU could just as easily set him up with a nice career job as one he may have received from a GT grad or booster. But this realization won't stop me, nonetheless, from sticking my nose up in the air as I recall my years spent on North Ave. and walking across the stage at AMC. :)
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I have to disagree, somewhat. I believe that there really is a difference between a GT degree and an OSU degree, in this regard: with a Tech degree, you are far less dependent on contacts with boosters or other Tech graduates to get hired, in comparison to OSU or other schools of that ilk. Tech graduates have a reputation that gets them on the inside track for job positions in the absence of any "special connections". No Tech graduate that I personally know, or deal with on a professional basis, got their job through "collegial nepotism"--they were hired by their employer because of the reputation that went with their degree.

I'm not saying that sort of thing does not happen to Tech grads; only that it is far less necessary for them than it is for graduates of all those other schools...
 

Skeptic

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southernhive said:
Did Greene decide to leave before or after Smelter decided to play football? His football career definitely suffered from his decision and his after football will likely suffer as well since the GT degree is a much more valuable degree. IMHO.
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That depends on what he wants to do with his life, doesn't it? There is no reason in the world that he could not joins tens of thousands of OSU grads with a profitable and productive life ... and actually be doing something he likes. He made a bad football move, no question, but if that is the first mistake a 20-year-old makes it would be surprising. But academic? Nah. Again the superiority gene surfaces because a guy has zero interest in a technical education which he would never have used. Some excellent liberal arts universities actually look down on such as trade school training. Maybe there's too much smugness in both views.
 

Skeptic

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GTpdm said:
I have to disagree, somewhat. I believe that there really is a difference between a GT degree and an OSU degree, in this regard: with a Tech degree, you are far less dependent on contacts with boosters or other Tech graduates to get hired, in comparison to OSU or other schools of that ilk. Tech graduates have a reputation that gets them on the inside track for job positions in the absence of any "special connections". No Tech graduate that I personally know, or deal with on a professional basis, got their job through "collegial nepotism"--they were hired by their employer because of the reputation that went with their degree.

I'm not saying that sort of thing does not happen to Tech grads; only that it is far less necessary for them than it is for graduates of all those other schools...
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Are all those football program internships "special connections"?
 

Jean-Baptiste Rochambeau

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ATL1 said:
That OSU degree is strong throughout the Midwest & some Northeast.
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True if you actually took advantage of the educational opportunity. We all know it is possible to slide through all of the large state schools without learning a thing. Especially if you are an athlete. You could be Robert Smith, or you could be Art Schlichter.
 
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