Kevin Butler, former University of Georgia legendary kicker and a member of the Georgia radio broadcast team, will each week during the 2016 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’ 24-10 loss to Florida Saturday.
Compiled by Murray Poole
OFFENSE
Sophomore wide receiver Terry Godwin, who led the Bulldogs in receiving with five catches for 57 yards, including a 38- yard reception from Jacob Eason on the Bulldogs’ lone touchdown drive.
“This is the first OPA that I have given Terry and I am very happy to make this call,” said Butler. “TG is a player the Dawgs desperately need from an offensive weapon standpoint. Against a strong Florida defense Terry led the team with 57 total yards or 34 percent of the total yards for the Dawgs all day. Five catches for 57 yards was a great outing by TG and we will need him to keep producing the rest of the season.”
DEFENSE
Sophomore cornerback Deandre Baker, who led a Georgia defense that limited the Gators to just 231 yards of total offense. Baker had a career-high 10 tackles with a sack of Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio for a 10-yard loss.
“What a performance from Deandre against the Gators,” said Butler. “Coming back from an injury, DB made an impressive impact for the defense. His 10 tackles and a sack helped the defense keep the Dawgs in the game. Baker’s ability to cover and pressure the QB on blitzes is a weapon the Dawgs must develop heading into Kentucky. With the running game Kentucky has established, Deandre’s tackling will be greatly needed this week.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior linebacker Ryne Rankin, who is a leader on Georgia’s kick coverage teams and helped the Bulldogs prevent Antonio Callaway and the other Florida returners from breaking anything big on Saturday.
“Ryne is the leader of the special teams and he leads by example,” said Butler. “Please watch Ryne against Kentucky and watch him direct the punt coverage team and isolate on him during the kickoff coverage and you will see some great collisions come from RR. His leadership and physical play is something that needs to spread to all the other players.