SHOCK RETURN: Former WVU Freshman Star and Five-Star LB Rejoins Georgia After NFL Draft Letdown
In a twist that few saw coming, former West Virginia standout safety and five-star linebacker recruit Elijah “EJ” Morgan has made a dramatic return to college football, re-signing with the Georgia Bulldogs just months after going undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Morgan’s journey has been anything but conventional. As a blue-chip recruit out of IMG Academy, he stunned the nation by committing to West Virginia over SEC giants like Alabama, LSU, and Georgia. The 6-foot-3, 228-pound hybrid safety-linebacker earned Freshman All-American honors in 2023, racking up 87 tackles, four interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles in a breakout campaign that had NFL scouts salivating.
But after entering the portal in early 2024, Morgan shocked again—transferring to Georgia in what was heralded as the Bulldogs’ biggest defensive portal win in years. He enrolled in Athens for spring practices, but just weeks later, Morgan declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, citing family considerations and draft projections placing him in the late first to early second round.
Then came the draft night freefall.
Despite strong Combine numbers—a 4.48 40-yard dash and a 38-inch vertical—teams grew wary of Morgan’s position ambiguity and abrupt decision-making. Whispers of inconsistent interviews and concerns about scheme fit caused his stock to plummet. Seven rounds came and went. EJ Morgan’s name was never called.
“I was humbled, no doubt,” Morgan said in a surprise press conference from Athens’ Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall on Monday. “But I knew where I belonged—and that was back here, wearing red and black, finishing what I started.”
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who had recruited Morgan out of high school and again in the portal, welcomed him back with open arms.
“EJ’s story isn’t over—it’s just getting more interesting,” Smart said. “He’s still one of the most dynamic athletes I’ve ever coached, and now he’s got something even more dangerous: a chip on his shoulder.”
Morgan’s return injects immediate energy into a Georgia defense already considered one of the deepest in the nation. He’s expected to compete for the STAR position—an integral hybrid role in Smart’s 3-3-5 defense—with the potential to rotate at weakside linebacker in high-leverage packages.
More importantly, his return underscores the evolving nature of modern college football. With NIL opportunities still available and draft eligibility more fluid than ever, Morgan’s decision to return post-draft could pave the way for future undrafted prospects reconsidering their path.
Sources confirm Morgan has signed a short-term NIL deal with a major Atlanta-based brand rumored to be worth nearly $600,000—less than what a rookie NFL minimum offers, but enough to ease the financial pressure that had contributed to his early declaration.
“I’m betting on myself again,” Morgan said, with a composed intensity. “I’ve worn gold and blue. Now I’m back in Bulldog country. Let’s get to work.”
For Georgia, it’s another high-profile addition to a defense that refuses to reload quietly. For Morgan, it’s a second chance—and this time, he’s determined to write a different ending.
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