What have we learned from Georgia football alumni at the NFL Combine?

In which we compile all of this week’s posts pertaining to former Bulldogs at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine

For those who can’t focus the ideal amount of attention to Georgia football news, I’ll compile some of this week’s posts pertaining to former Bulldogs at the NFL Scouting Combine:

Brian Herrien provides a recollection of Nick Chubb’s encouragement.

Both of Georgia’s invited tailbacks were faster than Florida’s only invited tailback.

D’Andre Swift proved speedier than his two most famous former teammates.

J.R. Reed can do it all.

Charlie Woerner is a man among boys.

In other news:

The basketball Bulldogs stuck out a nervous victory over Arkansas sealed by an Anthony Edwards dunk.

The baseball Bulldogs embarrassed Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Fewer than twenty hours prior, Scott Stricklin’s Bulldogs edged out the Yellow Jackets by a score of six to five.

D’Andre Swift outran former teammates Chubb and Michel at NFL Combine

Though not yet a pro, D’Andre Swift has a leg up (so to speak) on each aforementioned Bulldog teammate.

Former Georgia football tailback D’Andre Swift spent only one season in Athens alongside current NFL standouts Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

NFL cameras and radar show that, in terms of speed, Swift is one step ahead.

To provide another trite observation: Swift is swift.

At this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, Swift dashed 40 yards in 4.49 seconds, outrunning Chubb’s 4.53 and Michel’s 4.54 recorded during 2018’s event.

Upon their respective departures from the University of Georgia, all three players received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. Both of Swift’s former teammates and current mentors were selected within the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft.

He outran the footsteps he was hoping to follow. In terms of draft order, he can do it again.

Swift, like Brian Herrien, had the opportunity to learn from some of Georgia’s best.

Though not yet a pro, D’Andre Swift has a leg up (so to speak) on each aforementioned Bulldog teammate.

Both former Georgia football RB’s invited to NFL Combine ran faster than Florida’s one

Just as it’s been in the SEC East every year for the past three years, the Dawgs are on top of Florida.

At this week’s NFL Scouting Combine, the University of Georgia boasts two representatives at running back. The school’s football program is known for having a one or two decent players at the position.

Georgia’s main rival has one representative running back at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, Lamical Perine. Perine ran a 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds compared to Swift’s 4.49 and Herrien’s 4.62.

Just as it’s been in the SEC East every year for the past three years, the Dawgs are on top of Florida.

Swift’s swift dash can be seen here:

Between the two tailbacks’ seven combined seasons in silver britches, one loss to the Gators was experienced collectively.

Former Georgia football RB Brian Herrien shares heartwarming Nick Chubb story at NFL Combine

Two legendary Georgia pros have confidence Brian Herrien is capable of achieving a similar future, and because of them, Herrien is, too.

Brian Herrien was a last-second addition to Kirby Smart’s first recruiting class at the University of Georgia, a recruiting class half comprised of Mark Richt holdovers.

Due to issues with his grades early on in high school, Herrien was by no means a highly exposed recruit. Until he got his grades right and qualified for UGA, he was ranked by only one recruiting service and was listed as a very low three-star.

He arrived in Athens in June 2016 and made nearly immediate impact. His first touch as a Dawg was a 19 yard touchdown run late into Kirby Smart’s first game at the helm for his alma mater, sealing a win over North Carolina in the Georgia Dome (rest in pieces). He would go on to rush for 1,394 more yards and 12 more touchdowns without a single fumble in a four-year career.

Herrien, in an media appearance at this week’s NFL Combine, says that he has a number of teammates to thank for his success at Georgia.

According to Herrien, Nick Chubb had something he wanted to tell him at halftime of the 2018 Rose Bowl. It never came up, so weeks later Herrien sent a text message to Chubb, who was training prior to the NFL Combine.

Chubb remarked that he’d rather have told Herrien in person as opposed to over the phone, but Herrien describes the rest of the interaction.

“He was just telling me ‘go show them who you are. Tell them that you can be a starter and show them that you can be that guy. Me and Sony [Michel] was always telling you that.'”

As a young tailback behind two proven stars and future NFL Draft picks, the encouragement was monumental for Herrien.

“He was always encouraging me, always telling me that he could see it, that Sony could see it.”

He continued:

“It meant a lot because because he was an older guy and one who was [on the roster] before me.”

Herrien follows in his former teammates’ footsteps having received his invitation to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Chubb and Michel performed strongly and were subsequently drafted in the first two rounds.

Two legendary Georgia pros have confidence Brian Herrien is capable of a similar future, and because of them, Herrien probably is, too.

Ten Georgia football alumni invited to NFL Combine

The Georgia Bulldogs will be well represented at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.

The Georgia Bulldogs will be well represented at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.

Ten Dawg lettermen will attempt to turn the heads of NFL scouts and coaches across a series of drills and exercises, all conducted between February 27 and March 2 in Indianapolis.

Today, the NFL released a list of all 337 players invited. Representing the Silver Britches will be (in alphabetical order):

  • Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship
  • Wide receiver Lawrence Cager
  • Quarterback Jake Fromm
  • Running back Brian Herrien
  • Offensive lineman Solomon Kindley
  • Safety JR Reed
  • Running back D’Andre Swift
  • Offensive lineman Andrew Thomas
  • Tight end Charlie Woerner
  • Offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson

With several surprising early draft declarations, Georgia is ranked among the top three in number of prospects invited per school.

The only school that matches Georgia’s number of participants is Alabama  and the only school with more participants than both is LSU.

Good luck to every Dawg at the Combine. The Bulldog Nation is rooting for you.