Kevin Butler’s Players of the Game
by Kevin Butler
photo by Rob Saye
Kevin Butler, former University of Georgia
legendary kicker and a member of the
Georgia radio broadcast team, will each
week during the 2012 football season select
his offensive, defensive and special
teams players of the week for Bulldawg Illustrated.
Here are Butler’s selections and
reasons why for the Bulldogs’ 37-10 win
over Ole Miss Saturday.
OFFENSE – Sophomore center David
Andrews, who helped regroup and
spark the Georgia offensive line to an
outstanding performance after the
Bulldogs’ front allowed five sacks of
quarterback Aaron Murray in the first
half.
“Being the center, David is the leader of
the offensive line and it all starts with him
and Aaron Murray on the communication,”
said Butler. “His ability to be a leader for
the offense and get them in the right
frame of mind and adjusted at halftime is
a tremendous step forward in his development
as a great offensive lineman. He is
the second most important communicator
on offense next to the quarterback and his
development this year has been a great
addition to the offense.”
DEFENSE – Sophomore cornerback
Damian Swann, who was one of the
ringleaders for a Bulldogs’ defense
that shut the Rebels out from early in
the second quarter on while limiting
Ole Miss to just 46 yards net rushing
and 188 passing. Swann contributed
three tackles, one sack, one tacklefor-
loss, one pass breakup and two
fumble recoveries, which he returned
for a total of 49 yards.
“We’ve had tremendous play up front all
year long but Damian seems to have a
nose for the ball,” said Butler. “He’s a
young player with great ability and gives
Georgia a very good cover man to deal
with potentially very strong receivers. One
of Damian’s best qualities is when he does
have the ball in his hands, he can really
make things happen. And he’s a strong
tackler which certainly makes him have the
foundation to be a great DB.”
SPECIAL TEAMS – Freshman punter
Collin Barber, who kicked five times
for a 48.2 average which included a
career-long 60-yard punt and also a
48-yard kick that backed the Rebels
up at their own 3-yard line and enabled
Bulldog linebacker Alec Ogletree
to tackle Ole Miss’ Jeff Scott for
a safety.
“This is a guy who’s really starting to come
on,” said Butler. “He averaged 48 yards
and anytime in these games coming up
that we can flip the field, it’s just been
something that hasn’t been consistent all
year and Collin is becoming more comfortable
and more consistent with his
drops, which enables him to be a more effective
punter. We’ll need his ability to accomplish
our goals and make Georgia’s net
punting much more effective for our defense.”
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