ATHENS — Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley emerged as a key threat for Georgia this year. And that emergence enabled him to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft after his junior year, which he did on Friday afternoon.

Ridley joins Georgia tight end Isaac Nauta, who declared earlier in the day. Like Nauta, Ridley thanked Georgia fans with a message he posted on his Twitter account.

I am thankful that I chose the University of Georgia and was a part of an outstanding program. I could not imagine any other program preparing me for the next the way this one has,” Ridley wrote. ” Thank you to coach Smart and the entire phenomenal coaching staff for molding me into the athlete I am today. My experience here has been nothing less than absolutely amazing.

“I am declaring for the 2019 NFL Draft and I’ll forever be a Damn Good Dawg! Go Dawgs!”

Underclassmen have until Jan. 14 to declare for the upcoming NFL Draft, which takes place April 25-27 in Nashville. The NFL combine is Feb. 26 through March 4 in Indianapolis.

Junior Isaac Nauta declared himself eligible for the NFL draft on Friday.

Ridley, a junior from Coconut Creek, Fla., led the Bulldogs with 44 catches for 570 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder had five catches in the Sugar Bowl for a team-high 61 yards in Georgia’s 28-21 loss to Texas on Jan. 1.

Ridley came on the national radar with his 6-catch, 82-yard performance in the College Football Playoff Championship Game in Atlanta.

Ridley’s season-high receiving yardage in 2018 came against Missouri when he had 87 yards on five catches.

Against Georgia Tech, Ridley had a career-high two touchdown catches.

Best stories from around DawgNation