Kevin Butler’s Players of the Game: South Carolina

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Kevin Butler’s Players of the Game: South Carolina

Kevin Butler
Kevin Butler
[su_spacer size=”20″] Kevin was in Chicago the Sunday following Georgia’s 52-20 victory over South Carolina for the 50 year celebration reunion of the Bears 1985 Super Bowl Championship season, in which he set the National Football League Rookie Scoring Record. Butler kicked 11 years for the Bears, and is the storied franchise’s all-time leading scorer. As a serendipitous aside, Chicago hosted the Cardinals, whose punter is his son Drew Butler. Kevin spent his final two pro seasons in Arizona, as well. Both Kevin and Drew were All-Americans at Georgia.
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Offense:

[su_spacer size=”20″] Greyson Lambert – When a team hangs 52 points on a Southeastern Conference foe, the list of candidates is going to be long and distinguished. The offensive line was dominant. Nick Chubb broke the century mark for an 11th straight game. Sony Michel scored three touchdowns. Malcolm Mitchell had over 100 yards receiving. But this night’s most valuable player was Greyson Lambert. The junior transfer out of Jesup and Wayne County High School connected on an astounding 24 of 25 passing, setting the NCAA single game record with a completion percentage of 96. Lambert threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns – two to Michel and one to Mitchell – with no interceptions. The turnaround from his first half the week prior at Vanderbilt was astounding. Lambert was 0 for 7 passing in the first two quarters in the Music City, but hit on 11-14 second half aerials and ran for a touchdown. Against South Carolina, he was behind smoking hot. His pocket presence was also outstanding. Lambert was not sacked and ran twice for 10 yards, with a long of 9, against the Gamecocks.
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Defense:

[su_spacer size=”20″] Chris Mayes – Georgia’s defense had a good night against the Gamecocks and came up with a slew of big plays. Like with the offense, the list of candidates was impressive, including Dominick Sanders, Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins, and the newly engaged Jake Ganus. We’ll go with Chris Mayes, who is having a tremendous month of September on the front. He was been a dominating defensive tackle, (giving Georgia the oh-so valuable big, physical, agile, athletic interior lineman that is incredibly hard to find. Mayes had a pair of solo tackles and consistently pushed the middle of South Carolina’s enormous offensive line. Mayes occupies blockers, disrupts plays, collapses passing pockets and wreaks havoc. His continued outstanding play will be a must if this impressive defense is to live up to its full potential. Mayes is showing the way for the Bulldogs talented freshmen defensive linemen, who continue to progress. His five-star understudy Trenton Thompson had two tackles. A senior from Griffin, Mayes is certainly catching the eye of National Football League scouts.
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Special Teams:

[su_spacer size=”20″] Marshall Morgan – Georgia’s offense and defense outplayed South Carolina’s. That was not the case in the kicking game. In fact, the first 30 minutes represented the third straight half Georgia was clearly outplayed on special teams. The Bulldogs had poor field position throughout the first half, but the offense responded with a quartet of long scoring drives. The breakdown on the kickoff at the end of the half, with a 15-yard facemask penalty tacked on was maddening. But Marshall Morgan hit his lone field goal attempt, a 30-yarder to cap the Bulldogs first drive – following Lambert’s lone incompletion – and give Georgia a 3-0 lead. Fie also hit on all seven extra points. Georgia must get better in the kicking game to realize the full potential of a season that is off to a 3-0, top ten start. Consistency from Morgan is a big part of that.
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