*All athletes have that one game, that one contest, that ranks as the most unforgettable of their lives. It can be memorable because of a personal or team achievement, a dramatic finish, a sentimental moment, or any number of other factors.
Continuing an annual summer series, Packers.com caught up with the members of the 2009 draft class to ask them about the game they'll never forget. It could be a game at any level of competition that took place at any time. They're all hoping their new NFL careers will give them new memories and new games to cherish, but for now, these rank at the top.*
Jarius Wynn may have saved the best for last, and it may have gotten him a legitimate shot in the NFL.
The most memorable game of Wynn's football career to this point was the last one he played, the 2009 Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day in Orlando, Fla., which his Georgia Bulldogs won 24-12 over the Michigan State Spartans.
Statistically speaking, Wynn hadn't done anything too dynamic during his final college season. In Georgia's first 12 games, the defensive end posted 20 tackles, two of them for loss, and one sack.
But he busted through in a big defensive performance by the Bulldogs' entire unit, collecting a career-high two sacks among four tackles as Georgia held a relatively potent Michigan State offense to just 236 total yards.
"During the whole season I was playing kind of uptight and nervous," Wynn said. "I just went out and gave it my all. I went out and played free.
"That's one of the best games we played all season. Everybody let loose and really played. It wasn't just me. Everybody played hard."
Georgia's defensive performance that day was overshadowed by the dominant second half turned in by quarterback Matthew Stafford, the game's MVP. After a rough start, Stafford completed 14 of his final 17 passes, including three touchdowns, and shortly thereafter the junior announced he would enter the NFL Draft early. This past April, the Detroit Lions made him the No. 1 overall pick.
But Stafford might not have gone out in a blaze of glory if not for the efforts of Georgia's defense and players like Wynn.
Michigan State's All-American running back, Javon Ringer, was held to just 47 yards on 20 carries, and Spartans quarterback Brian Hoyer was sacked four times.
Wynn had a hand in a few big stops, including one midway through the first quarter after a Stafford interception gave Michigan State first-and-goal on the Georgia 6-yard line. Wynn stopped Ringer for a solo tackle after a 3-yard gain on first down, and after another fruitless rush and an incomplete pass, the Spartans had to settle for a field goal, failing to capitalize on the prime field position. That tied the score at 3.
Then, later in the first half, Michigan State faced third-and-6 at the Georgia 10 when Wynn sacked Hoyer for a 5-yard loss, forcing another field goal and keeping Georgia close at 6-3.
"I got some good shots on the quarterback," Wynn recalled. "He was a very good quarterback, but I got some good licks on him."
After Stafford's three TD throws surged the Bulldogs in front, Wynn got his second sack of the game with Georgia protecting the lead.
{sportsad300}In the final five minutes, the Spartans had driven to midfield but faced third-and-17 when Wynn got Hoyer again for a 5-yard loss. On the next snap, a fourth-and-22, Hoyer completed a 21-yard pass and Georgia got the ball back to essentially seal the win.
Wynn said he felt the whole team played an emotionally charged game, after all the seniors spoke in front of the team beforehand. A transfer from Georgia Military College, Wynn didn't partake in the senior speeches, but he was plenty fired up for his final college game nonetheless.
A little less than five months later, the Packers drafted Wynn in the sixth round with the 162nd overall selection. The quiet, soft-spoken Wynn isn't entirely sure that would have transpired had he not ended his college career with such a flourish.
In Georgia's final regular-season game, Wynn established his career-high in tackles with six against Georgia Tech, and he followed that up with another strong showing of his potential.
"I felt like it gave me a better chance to get drafted or have a chance to go on to play the sport of football," said Wynn, adding that the bowl game performance gave him a legitimate boost of confidence heading into the scouting combine and pre-draft workouts.
"That game really did put me on the map."
