Knowshon Moreno is pretty confident about getting drafted.

The now-former Georgia tailback, who announced Wednesday he is leaving for the NFL draft alongside quarterback Matthew Stafford, didn’t even file his papers to the NFL Advisory Committee before making his decision.

The committee, which tells prospective draftees what round they might be selected in if they enter, told Stafford he could expect to be a first-rounder, but never heard from Moreno.

“I just didn’t get them in on time,” he said, laughing.

While he doesn’t have any official word from the NFL, Moreno, who rushed for the most yards for a Bulldog freshman not named Herschel Walker in 2007, is touted by many experts as a mid-first round pick and the most NFL-ready back to enter this year’s draft.

Stafford, Georgia’s all-time single season touchdown leader, is regarded as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

“The toughest part about this is probably leaving my teammates,” Moreno said. “I had some great memories with these guys.”

The redshirt sophomore ran for 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, and was a Doak Walker Award finalist and second-team All-American. During his two-year stint in Athens, he ran for 2,734 yards and 40 touchdowns, ranking him fourth all-time at Georgia.

Stafford improved greatly after being thrust into the starting job during his freshman season, in which he threw seven touchdowns against 13 interceptions. Stafford led the Bulldogs to a 27-7 record and three bowl victories as a starter while passing for 7,731 yards and 51 scores, putting him third all-time at Georgia.

“Like Knowshon, [the NFL has] been a lifelong dream for me that I’m going to hopefully be able to realize this year,” said Stafford, a junior.

Stafford is favored to go to either the winless Detroit Lions with the No. 1 overall pick or to two-win Kansas City at No. 3, but said he wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of taking over an organization in turmoil.

“I don’t know what it’s like sitting on the sideline,” Stafford said. “I’d love to play as soon as I’m possibly ready. I’d rather be out there taking licks than sitting on the sideline.”

The departure of Stafford and Moreno no doubt puts a damper on the Bulldogs’ championship hopes for 2009. But it does open the door for long-time backup quarterback Joe Cox and young tailbacks Caleb King and Richard Samuel.

The 2009 season will be Cox’s fifth year at Georgia, and he has seen action in 13 games during his career – starting once against Ole Miss in 2006. He played in three games this season, going 11-15 for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Bulldogs also welcome freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, regarded as Georgia’s quarterback of the future.

Regardless of how Stafford and Moreno’s leaving may affect his program’s near future, Richt was touting his pair of talented Georgia playmakers to their potential future employers.

“Anybody who’s out there thinking about drafting these guys, you’ll do well by drafting these guys as high as you can get them,” he said, smiling.

“And trade up for them if you’ve got to.”