ATHENS, Ga. --- Knowshon Moreno made his college debut less than a year ago and already there's buzz wondering whether Georgia fans will have to catch him while they can.

Moreno, a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore, has been talked about as a potential top NFL running back prospect for 2009.

Will it be one more season and done with the Bulldogs for Moreno? Will he even consider that possibility after the season?

"I'm not sure because I'm not giving any thought to that right now," Moreno said. "That's something for people to talk about, but I'm not going to pay any attention to it."

Mel Kiper Jr., the ESPN draft analyst, talked about that this week when he mentioned Moreno as a 2009 draft prospect.

"If you look at a third-year sophomore who is eligible for the draft and is also a Heisman candidate, Knowshon Moreno at Georgia, what a football player he is," Kiper said on ESPNews. "An attacker, an aggressive player, tackle-breaker with dynamic skills, Knowshon Moreno, I think, will be a highly rated guy if in fact he leaves the Bulldogs early."

That scenario is a possibility after Moreno had a breakthrough season in 2007. Moreno rushed for 1,334 yards, the most for a Georgia freshman since Herschel Walker in 1980, and 14 touchdowns.

Those close to him back home in New Jersey aren't in unison about what Moreno might do.

"There's no doubt in my mind that this boy will stay at UGA until he graduates," said Dr. Jean D'Arcy Maculaitis, who runs a testing center in New Jersey that Moreno attended when he was in high school. "I don't think he'll do the redshirt year (2010) but I think after he graduates in four years then he will leave. He will not stay for an extra year. He will be there to graduate. It's always been about academics with him."

Steve Antonucci, who coached Moreno at Middletown South High School and remains close with him, won't go that far.

"I don't know what his thoughts are to what's going to happen after next season," Antonucci said. "Money talks, obviously."

How the next few months ahead unfold could have an impact. Moreno is a Heisman Trophy front-runner, and Georgia is ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press and USA Today coaches' poll.

"If the Heisman is a reality, if it does happen, if Georgia wins a national championship that will have an impact," Antonucci said. "And I think (junior quarterback) Matthew Stafford's status. If Matthew decides that he's going to go out, that could have some (influence)."

Georgia coach Mark Richt wants Moreno -- and Stafford, for that matter-- to enjoy the season ahead and not think about decisions that they will make after the season.

"Right now, what I think is really important is for them to just enjoy this season and enjoy competing for Georgia," Richt said.

"Let's live that experience," he added.