Georgia junior running back D’Andre Swift decided to travel to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl despite being roughed up and battling a shoulder injury.
This time would have been a great opportunity for Swift to rest up and get healthy. He will soon have to decide whether he will make an early jump to the NFL or stay for his senior year, but Swift wasn’t thinking about that right now. In the moment, he wants to be there for his team.
“Not for me,” Swift said Sunday during the post-practice interviews. “I’m glad I’m here.”
Swift is one of Georgia’s permanent four captains, and him deciding to not skip this game is huge for Georgia. Even though he might have a limited role, it shows that he is there to support his team no matter what.
“I’m not the person who is going to try and sit out,” Swift said. “Like I said, I don’t know how many more opportunities I’m going to have playing this game that I love, so if I’ve got the opportunity to go out there and play with the brothers I love, I’m going to try and do that to the best of my ability.”
Georgia takes on Baylor in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day at 8:45 p.m. ET.
It’s unknown if Swift will be healthy or not, but it’s evident that he wants to play.
“I want to play,” said Swift as he added that he isn’t exactly 100 percent yet.
“I just want to go out there and put my best foot forward, which I’m trying to do,” Swift said. “But I’ve got to be smart about it. I don’t want to make it worse. If I’m able to go, I’m going to go.”
It’s presumed that Swift will join teammates Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson and forgo his senior season for the NFL Draft, but it seems like and his family are weighing all their options.
“I’m not rushing the decision, but I’m going to be smart about it,” Swift said. “I just want to get the right information from the right people.”
He did mention in the interview that he has not yet received his draft grade from the NFL Draft Board.
“I’ve thought about everything a little bit, but not too much, because I’ve been focusing on getting my shoulder right,” Swift said. “But I will talk to everyone once everything is over.”
Swift is currently 7th on Georgia’s all-time leading rushers list with 2,797 yards, and has racked up 1,216 yards on just 195 carries (6.2 ypc average) and seven touchdowns. Swift also has 246 yards receiving on the year with a touchdown.
Time will only tell if Swift decides to make the leap to the pros, but for right now he is just enjoying The Big Easy with his teammates.
“I’m here for the team. I love being around my guys. I love the coaches. I would regret not trying to play,” he said. “What would I be doing? Just sitting back getting treatment, watching the team play on TV. I’d rather be here.”