Following the first national championship – good gosh that always feels great to say – of the Coach King Kirby Smart dynasty, my biggest concern heading into the 2022 campaign was punter.
Jake Camarda is one of the greatest punters in Georgia history. He was also an ace kickoff specialist. His talents, combined with one of the most highly acclaimed defenses in college football history, compressed the field and helped deliver a slew of victories and that precious 2021 national title. Even though Georgia lost a great deal of talent off both the defense and offense, there was still a lot coming back in 2022, including Brock Bowers, Stetson Bennett, Ladd McConkey and Jalen Carter. Plus the outstanding place kicker Jack Podlesny.
Enter Brett Thorson.
The Melbourne, Australia native took the long journey on his Baroche and Four to America’s Greatest College Town with big shoes to fill. He didn’t make a huge first game impact, but that showcased his tremendous sense of humor and big personality. And, on one chance, Thorson gave an early sign of what was to come. Reigning national champion Georgia steamrolled Oregon 49-3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Stadium, with the Bulldogs scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions. The Thunder From Down Under sent out a clever tweet about Stetson Bennett and the Bulldogs clearly hating punters, since Georgia scored nearly every time it had the ball.
Thorson did punt once, and it came with just over 10 minutes to go. It was a 53-yarder which was fair-caught at the 11-yard line.
Distance and touch.
It didn’t take long to figure out that the Bulldogs had another great punter. His quick wit on social media overshadowed his tremendous talent perhaps a bit, as the Bulldogs were in the midst of a dominant campaign.
Thorson went next level, though, in Georgia’s ninth game of the 2022 season. In arguably the biggest game ever played Between the Hedges (I know, I know, Auburn ‘71 and ‘83, Alabama ‘76, the Jackets in ‘42 and ‘46) but this was No. 1 vs. No. 1. Defending national champion Georgia sat atop the Associated Press poll ranking. Tennessee was No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff poll. It was No. 1 vs. No. 1. With the winner a virtual lock for the SEC Championship Game and inside track to the playoff.
Leading 7-3 in the first quarter, Thorson boomed what is arguably the most sensational punt ever Between the Hedges. He launched a 75-yard punt that the Bulldogs downed at the 1-yard line.
Distance and touch.
The Dogs got the stop (I still don’t know how the Jalen Carter sack and forced fumble wasn’t a safety). The Dogs got the ball. Bennett hit McConkey for a 37-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead. Georgia went on to win 27-13, improving to 9-0 and unanimously vaulting into the top spot in all the polls.
Georgia won a second straight national championship and posted a perfect 15-0 record. Following an instant classic 42-41 triumph over Ohio State in the Chick Fil Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, the Bulldogs punctuated a second straight dream season with a 65-7 trouncing of TCU in the National Championship Game.
The last game of the season went much like the first one. Thorson had one punt, a 48-yarder on the first possession of the second half. A Freshman All-SEC selection, Thorson averaged 48 yards on just 36 punts. Georgia scored a lot of points. Of those 36 punts, 18 were fair caught, 19 pinned the opposition inside the 20.
Distance and touch. And efficiency.
As a sophomore in 2023, Thorson had another tremendous season and the Bulldogs punt team made history. He kicked 32 times for an average of 43.8 yards, and the opposition had ZERO returns. Yes, zero returns. Not only no return yardage (I always felt the 2 total punt return yards allowed all season by the magnificent 1980 national champions would be a record that would stand forever), but Thorson punted so high, that not one was returned.
Incredible.
Georgia posted a 13-1 record and finished No. 3 nationally. Thorson was not only nationally recognized as one of the country’s best punters, he was a genuine Georgia Football Folk Hero.
“Brett Thorson is a man amongst boys in the world of punter,” says beloved College Football Hall of Fame legendary Bulldog place kicker Kevin Butler. “He is a great leader who puts the team first and enjoys every minute of the preparation that needs to go into being a successful punter.”
Thorson had an amazing year in 2024, averaging 48 yards per punt. He earned All-American honors and was named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award.
In a bit of twist, with returns so rare against the Thorson-led Bulldog punt team, two had a big impact on the season.
The first came against Tennessee. Georgia trailed and the Volunteers return man found an open space, only to be laid out by the Bulldogs punter (as seen on this issue’s cover). Thorson’s big hit was the spark that led the Bulldogs to a 31-17 comeback victory. At practice the following week came a great KIrby gag. In the team meeting room, the Bulldogs head coach complained about the cumulative tackling of the defense, and announced that he had brought in a consultant.
Down the aisle came none other than Brett Thorson.
Fantastic.
Unfortunately, Thorson injured his knee in coverage against Texas in the SEC Championship Game, and was unable to play in the Sugar Bowl, which was a huge blow to the Bulldogs.
“He is such a big factor for Georgia when it comes to flipping the field, which is something we didn’t have against Notre Dame,” says Butler. He has committed to come back and be even stronger, which puts him at the top level of college football punters. If we want to get over the hump, we need another great year from Brett.”
Only time will tell when he is ready to play and 100 percent in 2025. Whenever that is, the Bulldogs will once again boast one of the all time elite punters in program history, and – combined with sensational place kicker Peyton Woodring – the country’s top kicking combo.