According to an ESPN report former Plant football star Orson Charles will enter the 2012 NFL Draft. Charles, who as a senior at Plant reeled in 75 receptions for 1421 yards and 21 touchdowns, helped lead the Panthers to a state championship in 2008-2009.
In the ESPN report Charles is quoted as saying: “It’s time to move on to the next part of my life,” Charles said. “There is the injury risk. There is the ability to help my family. The time is right to chase my dream.”
As a junior Charles played in all 13 games for the Bulldogs, starting 12 of them. He caught 26 passes for 422 yards and 2 TD.
The following accolades are from Orson Charles’ player profile on the official Georgia Bulldogs website.
Career Highs:
*6 receptions (2x) last vs. No. 5 Boise State in 2011
*109 receiving yards vs. No. 5 Boise State in 2011
*Long reception of 44 yards at Arkansas in 2009
*1 TD reception (10x), last vs. New Mexico St. in 2011
*Long TD reception of 44 yards at Arkansas in 2009
*1 Blocked Punt at Vanderbilt in 2011
2011:
*John Mackey Award Finalist.
*AFCA All-American, Walter Camp and Phil Steele Second Team All-American and Sports Illustrated All-America
Honorable Mention.
*First Team All-SEC by Associated Press, ESPN.com, Phil Steele and SEC Coaches.
*Elected one of team’s offensive captains.
*Recipient of one of the team’s offensive Coaches Leadership Awards.
*Started all 13 games catching a team-best 44 receptions for 572 yards and five TDs.
*Ranks eighth in SEC with 3.4 receptions per game.
*Led team with five receptions for 95 yards at No. 21 Ga. Tech.
*Tied for team lead with five catches for 60 yards and a TD vs. New Mexico St.
*Led team with four receptions for 31 yards vs. Florida.
*At Vanderbilt, caught five passes for 33 yards and blocked a punt.
*Named to Phil Steele’s mid-season All-America Fourth Team and All-SEC First Team.
*Three receptions for 46 yards and a TD vs. Miss. St.
*Led team with five receptions for 59 yards and a TD at Ole Miss.
*Hauled in two passes for 42 yards and a TD vs. Coastal Carolina.
*CFPA Honorable Mention TE of the Week after he caught a team-best six passes for a career-high 109 yards and a TD vs
No. 5 Boise St.
*Preseason All-America First Team by Sporting News and Third Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
*Preseason All-SEC First Team by Athlon Sports, Birmingham News, Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s, Phil Steele, SEC Coaches, SEC
Media and SouthernPigskin.com; Lindy’s also tabbed him the nation’s fifth-best tight end.
*Tabbed Birmingham News’ best tight end in the SEC.
*Named one of team’s offensive MVPs at the conclusion of spring practice.
*Caught four passes for 41 yards in spring G-Day game.
*Inducted into UGA’s Student-Athlete Leadership Academy known as L.E.A.D (Leadership Education and Development).
*Recipient of the Mobley Family Football Scholarship.
2010:
*Named All-SEC Second Team by SEC Coaches and Fourth Team by Phil Steele.
*Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll.
*Appeared in 13 games with 12 starts catching 26 passes for 422 yards and two TDs.
*Two receptions for 67 yards including a 32-yard TD vs. Ga. Tech.
*Named John Mackey Tight End of the Week after he led the team in receiving with a career-high six receptions for a
career-high 108 yards and a TD vs. Florida.
*Named preseason All-SEC third team by Phil Steele.
*Recipient of the Mobley Family Football Scholarship.
*Earned Athletic Director’s Honor Roll distinction for spring semester.
*Made one reception for 18 yards in spring G-Day game.
2009:
*Named Freshman All-America First Team by Football Writers Association of America and AON Insurance, Phil Steele,
CollegeFootballNews.com, and Sporting News.
*Selected to SEC All-Freshman Team by SEC Coaches and Sporting News.
*Named to fall 2009 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
*Appeared in 12 games making three starts with 23 receptions for 374 yards and two touchdowns.
*Three starts came vs. No. 1 Florida, at No. 7 Ga. Tech and in Independence Bowl vs. Texas A&M.
*Caught a sesaon-high four passes for a career-high 73 yards and a TD vs. Kentucky.
*Led team in with three catches for 42 yards and a TD vs. Tenn. Tech.
*Earned CollegeFootballPerformance.com honorable mention tight end Performance of the Week after he caught two
passes for 62 yards including first career TD on a 44-yard reception at Arkansas.
*Named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for summer semester.
*Recipient of Mobley Family Football Scholarship.
*Named to Phil Steele’s mid-season All-America Fourth Team and All-SEC First Team.
Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleBennettUT