Kevin Butler’s Players of the Week: Georgia 23 GA. Southern 17

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Kevin Butler’s Players of the Week: Georgia 23 GA. Southern 17

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Sony Michel - 1st half GA Southern game 21-Nov-2015 (Photo by Bulldawg Illustrated's Greg Poole)
Sony Michel – 1st half GA Southern game 21-Nov-2015
(Photo by Bulldawg Illustrated’s Greg Poole)
[su_spacer size=”40″] Kevin Butler, former University of Georgia legendary kicker and a member of the Georgia radio broadcast team, will each week during the 2015 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’ 23-17 overtime win over Georgia Southern.
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OFFENSE
[su_spacer size=”40″] Sophomore tailback Sony Michel, who ran for 132 yards on 23 carries and scored the Bulldogs’ winning touchdown in overtime on a 25-yard dash right up the middle of the Eagles’ defense.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “When a team needs a horse to carry the load, the Bulldogs turn to Sony Michel,” said Butler. “He responded by assuming 76 percent of the carries for the Georgia offense, gaining 132 yards on the ground and capping his performance with a 25-yard sprint into the end zone on the first play for Georgia in overtime. The TD sealed a victory for a team that played hard and rode the ‘Sony Pony’ to a much-needed win. In a game that featured the two run-oriented teams, Sony was the winner!”
[su_spacer size=”40″] DEFENSE
[su_spacer size=”40″] Senior outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, who recorded a game-high13 tackles to help the Georgia defense limit the Eagles to 233 yards on the ground, 145 less than their nation-leading rushing average of 378 yards per game. Jenkins also led the charge, being assisted by Leonard Floyd and Davin Bellamy, that stopped Eagle running back L.A. Ramsby on a fourth-and-one situation when Georgia Southern first had the ball in overtime, the Bulldog defenders throwing Ramsby for a 3-yard loss and thereby providing the Georgia offense the opportunity to win the game on Michel’s touchdown run.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “In his last game between the hedges, Jordan made his presence felt, making 13 tackles against the nation’s leading rushing team,” said Butler. “The senior played one fierce game protecting the edge and not allowing Georgia Southern to establish a rhythm with their running game. JJ will be missed after this year but his performance against GSU also knocked him up a couple of picks in the 2016 NFL draft. Great career for a great Bulldog.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] SPECIAL TEAMS
[su_spacer size=”40″] Sophomore punter Brice Ramsey, who again provided the Bulldogs good field position by averaging 40.8 yards on five punts, including one kick that covered 58 yards and backed the Georgia Southern offense up at its own 1-yard line.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “Once again Brice did what he does best − he was a great teammate,” said Butler. “As a punter it keeps him involved in every game. Field position is the hidden factor in any game and Brice has provided the Dawgs with new-found talent in the punting category. A higher net average and inside-the-20 punts downed have been a plus for the Dawgs since Brice started punting, Once again he was a factor in the win.”
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[su_spacer size=”40″] Make sure to check out Bulldawg Illustrated’s latest print edition: Get the Cup Back, digital issue available for free online. CLICK HERE.
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Murray Poole is a 1965 graduate of the University of Georgia Journalism School. He served as sports editor of The Brunswick News for 40 years and has written for Bulldawg Illustrated the past 16 years. He has covered the Georgia Bulldogs for 53 years.