Tag: D’Andre Swift stats

Detroit Lions fans, get to know your new RB D’Andre Swift

The Detroit Lions have selected Georgia RB D’Andre Swift with the 35th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Now Lions fans, meet your new RB.

Detroit fans, it’s official.  D’Andre Swift is officially a Lion!

Now, it’s time for you to meet your new running back.

Swift is from Philadelphia, PA where he attended St. Josephs Prep and was ranked as the #4 running back in the 2017 college recruiting class.

He committed to the University of Georgia in September of 2016 in dramatic fashion and still remains the most hype college commitment video of all time.

Watch Swift’s 2016 UGA commitment video here:

Swift didn’t choose the easy option. He had an arsenal of seriously talented running backs ahead of him at UGA, including now super bowl champion Sony Michel, and the highest returning PFF graded NFL running back Nick Chubb.

Swift didn’t back down from this challenge, but instead used these players ahead of him as mentors, learning everything he could while he was the #3 or #4 back.

Swift got 81 carries on his rookie season, helping the Dawgs to a Rose Bowl title and nearly a national championship.  He split carries with Elijah Holyfield in his sophomore season, tallying over 1,000 rushing yards in a breakout year.

Swift now is coming off his junior year at Georgia, putting up the 7th all-time most rushing yards (2,885) in school history in his three years there.

Watch the shiftiest RB in the draft’s highlights here (Video via JustBombsProductions):

The Detroit Lions select Georgia Bulldogs RB D’Andre Swift

The The Detroit Lions have drafted University of Georgia running back D’Andre Swift with the 35th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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And with the 35th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the The Detroit Lions select D’Andre Swift, running back from the University of Georgia.

It has been D’Andre Swift’s dream his entire life to hear his name called on NFL draft day, and that dream has finally come true.

Swift finished 7th all-time in rushing yards in school history during his three years playing for the Bulldogs.  He helped lead the Dawgs to a Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl and an SEC Championship.

An incredible pick by the Detroit Lions that will provide them with a franchise caliber running back and be an offensive catalyst, hopefully for years to come.

Swift was originally the favorite to be the first RB selected off the board, but in stunning fashion the Kansas City Chiefs selected LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the final pick of the first round.

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit had some great things to say about the Philadelphia native prior to draft day.

“I think he’s a three-down guy, which is what the NFL is always looking for,” Herbstreit said. “Can he run between the tackles? Can he catch the ball on the perimeter and make people miss? I think those of us who have followed his career know he can be that type of guy. He’s not necessarily a blazer, but he’s incredibly quick and can catch the ball. I think he’s the total package, and I’m interested in seeing where he goes and how he fits in as well.”

Congratulations to D’Andre on an amazing accomplishment that came from nothing but hard work and dedication!

We wish him the best of luck in Detroiu.

Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift ranks top-five NFL backs

Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift ranked the top-five NFL running backs in today’s game.

Georgia running back D’Andre Swift is considered the top ball carrier in this year’s NFL Draft.

With the event set to take place next week, Swift should expect to hear his name called in either the first or second round of the virtual draft.

In an interview with USA TODAY’s Mackenzie Salmon, Swift was asked to rank either the top-five NFL running backs of all-time or the top-five that are currently in the league.

Swift opted to rank the five best current running backs.

Here they are:

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D’Andre Swift ranks top-5 NFL RBs, makes his own player comparison

Georgia football ball carrier D’Andre Swift ranked the top-five current NFL RBs and told us which guy he compares himself to.

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We are getting closer and closer to the start of the 2020 NFL Draft and Georgia running back D’Andre Swift continues to be viewed as the top ball carrier in this draft class.

Swift will be either a first or second round draft choice during next week’s event. In the meantime, he’s virtually meeting with teams, staying fit and taking part in interviews with the media.

USA TODAY’s Mackenzie Salmon sat down with Swift, virtually of course, and asked him who he thinks he resembles most in today’s game. She also got him to rank his top running backs currently in the NFL.

Swift’s versatility as both a ball carrier and a receiver is what makes him so special compared to other tailbacks in this draft class.

That’s why he compares himself to current Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

“Just because he does everything,” Swift said. “Catch the ball out of the backfield, they put him in space a lot, make a lot of people miss. And I think that’s something I can do really well.”

That’s quite the comparison, as McCaffrey just signed the richest running back contract in NFL history on Monday.

If you’ve seen McCaffrey play or are familiar with his production, you’re keeping your fingers crossed that Swift can produce similar numbers to the former Stanford great, who in 2019 tallied 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 yards receiving on 116 catches.

Swift also ranked the top-five current running backs in the NFL, but in an effort to get all three of the former Georgia Bulldogs, he had to expand that list to six.

His ranking is as follows:

1. Saquon Barkley

2. Christian McCaffrey

3. Alvin Kamara

And for 4, 5 and 6:

Nick Chubb/Sony Michel/Todd Gurley

Had to get them Dawgs in there.

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Which current NFL star does Georgia RB D’Andre Swift compare himself to?

Who does Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift compare himself to ahead of 2020 NFL Draft?

Georgia star D’Andre Swift is widely viewed as the best running back in the 2020 NFL Draft class.

Swift’s versatility as both a ball carrier and a receiver is what makes him so special compared to other tailbacks in this draft class. As a ball carrier, not only can he run you over, but he can also blow past you with his speed and he has one of the nastiest arsenals of jukes, spins and cuts that you’ll see from a college running back. But what really sets him apart is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make things happen.

That’s why, in a video tweeted by the NFL, he compared himself to current Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

(Keep scrolling for video)

That’s quite the comparison, as McCaffrey just signed the richest running back contract in NFL history on Monday.

If you’ve seen McCaffrey play or are familiar with his production, you’re keeping your fingers crossed that Swift can produce similar numbers to the former Stanford great, who in 2019 tallied 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 yards receiving on 116 catches.

“The team that drafts me is going to get a hard worker, somebody that’s committed to the process of football, the grind, loves the game of football, a leader and a competitor,” Swift said.

And a fun fact that we learned from this video: When Swift was six years old, he took his very first handoff for a 60 yard touchdown. He said that’s when he knew he wanted to play football.

The video closes out with Swift discussing the current success of Todd Gurley, Sony Michel and Nick Chubb — all former Georgia Bulldogs who are having great NFL careers.

“It’s amazing. Just to know you were on the field with those guys just not too long ago. So it kind of gives you a sense of hope, like, you’re on the right path and definitely can succeed at the next level. “

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Watch: D’Andre Swift Georgia highlights

Highlights of Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift as we approach the 2020 NFL Draft.

D’Andre Swift finished his collegiate career ranking seventh in Georgia history with 2,885 rushing yards.

When Swift committed to Georgia in September of 2016 (in epic fashion), he did so as a 5-star running back out of Philadelphia who ranked as the No. 4 ball carrier in the country.

He knew he was about to join a crowded running back room, with Sony Michel, Nick Chubb and Elijah Holyfield all on the roster. Chubb and Michel would go on to become the school’s second and third all-time leading rushers.  Swift’s time would come, but first he was given the opportunity to learn from the two senior backs.

In 2017, Swift burst onto the scene. In a backfield that included two future NFL stars, the freshman still took 81 handoffs for 618 yards as he helped the Bulldogs to the national championship game.

When Michel and Chubb left Athens for the NFL, it was Swift’s turn. Paired with Holyfield, the two formed a deadly duo and rushed for 2,067 yards, with both topping the 1,000 marker.

With Michel and Chub gone, Swift began to show Georgia fans a crazy blend of finesse, speed and power.

Following the 2018 season, Holyfield left for the NFL. Zamir White and Brian Herrien remained on the roster, but this was Swift’s backfield. He received 33 more carries than in 2018 and tallied 1,218 rushing yards as he was the focal point of the Georgia offense. Had he been fortunate enough to have a real offensive coordinator (sorry, James Coley), those numbers could have been way higher.

Swift’s versatility with and without the ball in his hands is what makes him so special compared to other tailbacks. Not only can he run you over, but he can also blow past you with his speed and he has one of the nastiest arsenals of jukes, spins and cuts that you’ll see from a college running back. But what really sets him apart is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make things happen.

Swift’s catching numbers by season:

2017: 17 receptions, 153 yards, 1 TD

2018: 32 receptions, 297 yards, 3 TDs

2019: 24 receptions, 216 yards, 1 TD

If you get Swift into the right offense – looking at you Kansas City – the sky is the limit. That would be a Fantasy Football dream scenario.

Non-Georgia fans, if you’re unsure of Swift’s abilities check out this video featuring #7’s best runs of his three-year Georgia career.

Video via JustBombsProductions:

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7 Georgia Bulldogs taken in CBSSports’ full NFL mock draft

CBS Sports released a full NFL mock draft that included 7 Georgia football players being taken.

Most NFL mock drafts that we’ve seen over the past couple of months have had 2-3 Georgia football players going in the first round.

However, in CBS Sports’ most recent 7-round mock draft, the outlet has just one Dawg taken in the first round, and that’s left tackle Andrew Thomas.

Analyst Chris Trapasso projects the New York Jets to take Thomas with the No. 11 overall pick in the NFL Draft, which is currently scheduled for April 23 in Las Vegas.

On Thomas, Trapasso wrote:

Jets GM Joe Douglas knows how vital an offensive line is after his time in Philadelphia. Thomas was outstanding the two seasons at Georgia and has length for days.

Trapasso has Thomas ranked as the 15th overall player in the draft class and 4th ranked offensive tackle.

In total, Trapasso has seven Georgia players going in the draft.

Round 2:

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