Tag: brett thorson

Two Georgia Bulldogs make PFF’s All-American team

A pair of Georgia football players were selected on the 2024 All-America team from PFF.

Pro Football Focus released their College All-America team this week, and two Georgia Bulldogs made the team. These two Bulldogs have been excellent all season long, and it’s great for Bulldogs fans to see elite Georgia players get rewarded for their performances. Both players also earned spots on the All-SEC teams too.

Offensive guard Dylan Fairchild

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Fairchild has been a stalwart guard at UGA for a while now. He had limited snaps in his first few years, but as a junior, he was a reliable everyday starter. He thrives the most in pass protection, with an 87.6 grade in that department, but he is all-around a great protector. He graded out at a 75.2 this year. His best game was against UMass, with a 81.2 grade.

Fairchild has one more year of eligibility. Whether he declares for the 2025 NFL draft, transfers, or stays with UGA, any quarterback would be glad to have Fairchild blocking for him.

Punter Brett Thorson

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Thorson’s inclusion in PFF’s All-American list is bittersweet. He’s punted for Georgia since 2022, but Thorson emerged as one of the SEC’s best punters this year. With a net punt average of 44 yards and 23 punts inside the 20, Thorson earned a 94.1 grade on PFF, which is the highest among any punter. He is also one of the finalists for the Ray Guy award.

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Sadly, Thorson injured the knee in his non-kicking leg in the SEC championship game. He will need surgery and will be out for the rest of the season. However, he also graduates in 2026, so if he returns to Georgia, the Bulldogs will be set at punting.

Kirby Smart provides injury update on Brett Thorson

Injury update on Georgia football punter Brett Thorson, who has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck wasn’t the only key Georgia starter to suffer an injury in the SEC championship. Punter Brett Thorson, while defending a punt return, suffered a knee injury to his non-kicking leg. The injury may have contributed to Georgia calling a fake punt later in the game against Texas.

Unfortunately, his injury will take him out for the rest of the 2024 season. He will have knee surgery on his non-kicking leg.

“Punter Brett Thorson sustained a knee injury to his non-kicking leg in Saturday’s contest and will require season-ending surgery,” said Georgia in a statement.

“Carson and Brett are both fierce competitors and extremely hard workers,” coach Kirby Smart said. “I’m confident they will attack their rehab with the same determination they exhibit in their daily habits. We will be here to support them every step of the way.”

Thorson is one of the best punters in the nation. He was one of the three finalists for the Ray Guy Award for the nation’s top punter. He averages 47.6 yards per punt, with a long of 60 yards. He’s punted the ball inside the 20 yardline 22 times.

Drew Miller, who was the nation’s No. 1 punter recruit in the class of 2024, will make his debut in the Sugar Bowl.

SEC honors two Georgia Bulldogs after win vs. Tennessee

The SEC announced their players of the week, rewarding two Georgia Bulldogs

In Georgia’s 31-17 win over the Tennessee Volunteers, there were several standout players. The SEC honored senior guard Tate Ratledge and junior punter Brett Thorson for their performance versus Tennessee.

Ratledge earned SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week, which is unbelievable considering he’s currently managing pain from the tightrope surgery from a high ankle sprain. Regardless of the injury, he played all 76 snaps of offense. He had a 77.5 pass-blocking grade, according to PFF (subscription needed), and he was part of a line that didn’t allow Carson Beck to get sacked once against a fierce Tennessee pass rush.

“It’s probably the first game that we haven’t subbed an offensive lineman the whole time,” Kirby Smart mentioned about Ratledge, “And we were concerned about that because we didn’t know how Tate would hold up. And that game meant a lot to Tate. Tate grew up in a Tennessee family and a dad that was a Tennessee fan. That game’s a lot of pride to him. And I thought his energy and toughness really showed. And just a week ago, he dinged it and couldn’t go. And he went out there tonight and really played physical, played tough.”

Thorson won SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. The Australian native averaged 44.2 yards per punt, with a 53-yard boot and two punts inside the Tennessee 20-yard line. He also had a touchdown-saving tackle in the first half.

Thorson gave a presentation to the team after his tackle.

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This year, Thorson has averaged 46.3 yards a punt, which is ranked tenth in the country. He also ranks fifth in the country on net punt average, with 43.5 net yards per punt.

Georgia specialist is highest graded player at his position in CFB

Georgia’s punter has been an absolute weapon this season

Georgia Bulldogs punter Brett Thorson is the highest graded punter in college football. Thorson has an overall grade of 94.2, per Pro Football Focus, and is averaging 4.64 seconds of hang time on his punts, which is highest in the country.

The junior punter from Melbourne, Australia, has punted 22 times this season. Thorson is averaging an impressive 48.3 yards per punt and has a long of 58 yards. There’s no doubt that Thorson is a weapon for the Georgia special teams.

Thorson did not have punt returned during the 2023 college football season. This year, he has had a few punts returned, but the Bulldogs have not allowed any lengthy returns.

Thirteen of Thorson’s 22 punts have been downed inside the 20. The Bulldogs took advantage of winning the field position battle against the Texas Longhorns and set up the UGA offense with several short fields. Thorson had his best game of the season against the Longhorns. He averaged 54 yards per punt against Texas.

Keys for Ohio State to defeat Georgia in the Peach Bowl

What are your keys for the Buckeyes? #GoBucks

The Buckeyes are underdogs and aren’t projected by many to have a chance against Georgia, last year’s [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] champion.

To say the Bulldogs are unbeatable, however, is false, even though they have not yet lost this season. They bring a 15-game winning streak and a 27-1 record over the last two seasons into this game.

It is not an easy task for [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Day[/autotag], but that is why they play the game. For the Buckeyes to come away with a win and play for a national championship, they are going to have to play one of their most complete games of the year. There will be plenty of keys to getting a victory against Georgia and here are a few that stick out.

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Georgia football signs Australian punter Brett Thorson

Australian punter Brett Thorson has already signed with the University of Georgia thanks to the time difference.

Australian punter Brett Thorson has signed with the University of Georgia. Thorson is the top-ranked punter in the class of 2022. He will attend UGA on a full scholarship.

Thorson is Kirby Smart and Georgia’s first player to sign in the class of 2022 thanks to the time difference. Thorson is ranked as a three-star prospect and is the top-ranked recruit in Australia.

Australia produces tons of punters in the college and pro ranks. In fact, Australia has six of the top 10 punters in the class of 2022.

Georgia football announced Thorson’s signing via Twitter:

Current UGA punter Jake Camarda is expected to enter the 2022 NFL draft following the College Football Playoff.

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