3 Georgia Bulldogs named AP preseason All-Americans

These Bulldogs may be playing on Sunday’s next fall.

The AP has released preseason All-Americans ahead of the 2021 college football season and three Georgia Bulldogs have made the list.

Nov 23, 2019; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs punter Jake Camarda (90) follows through on a punt against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Senior punter Jake Camarda is the Dawgs’ only first-team selection after a 2020 season which garnered him SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and All-American honors.

The Norcross, Ga., native is a big reason for Georgia’s special teams prowess. The Bulldogs ranked first in the SEC with a 46.4 net average per punt in 2020.

AUBURN, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 16: Bo Nix #10 of the Auburn Tigers dives for a touchdown against Jordan Davis #99 of the Georgia Bulldogs in the second half at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Senior defensive tackle Jordan Davis was named to the second-team. Davis has already been named preseason All-America first-team by Phil Steele and preseason All-SEC first-team by the league’s coaches. At 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, Davis is a monster in the middle of stout Bulldogs front and had a strong showing in UGA’s last game of 2020, racking up three quarterback pressures from the nose tackle position versus Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl.

Nov 30, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Tre Swilling (3) talks to Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer (69) in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The final Bulldog named to the AP’s preseason All-Americans is versatile offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, who was selected to the second-team. The senior has played almost every position on the Bulldogs’ front until settling in to left tackle in 2020. Salyer is also a preseason All-America first-team pick by Phil Steele.

With strong 2021 seasons, Camarda, Davis and Salyer could all be sitting high on NFL draft boards in the spring, which is just a testament to the roster that coach Kirby Smart and staff have put together in Athens.

The Bulldogs will get their first test on Sept. 4 versus No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte.

Check out the AP’s full list here,

Quarterback — Spencer Rattler, sophomore, Oklahoma.

Running backs —- Breece Hall, junior, Iowa State; Bijan Robinson, sophomore, Texas.

Tackles — Evan Neal, junior, Alabama; Kenyon Green, junior, Texas A&M.

Guards — Cain Madden, senior, Notre Dame; Zion Johnson, senior, Boston College.

Center — Tyler Linderbaum, junior, Iowa.

Tight end — Charlie Kolar, senior, Iowa State.

Wide receivers — Chris Olave, senior, Ohio State; Justyn Ross, junior, Clemson.

All-purpose player — Kyren Williams, sophomore, Notre Dame.

Kicker — Cade York, junior, LSU.

Defense:

Ends — Kayvon Thibodeaux, junior, Oregon; DeMarvin Leal, junior, Texas A&M.

Tackles —- Haskell Garrett, super senior, Ohio State; Bryan Bresee, sophomore, Clemson.

Linebackers — Will Anderson Jr., sophomore, Alabama; Nik Bonitto, junior, Oklahoma; Mike Rose, senior, Iowa State.

Cornerbacks — Derek Stingley, Jr., junior, LSU; Ahmad Gardner, junior, Cincinnati.

Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, junior, Notre Dame; Brandon Joseph, sophomore, Northwestern.

Punter — Jake Camarda, senior, Georgia.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Sam Howell, junior, North Carolina.

Running backs — Mohamed Ibrahim, senior, Minnesota; Isaiah Spiller, junior, Texas A&M.

Tackles — Thayer Munford, senior, Ohio State; Darian Kinnard, senior, Kentucky.

Guards — Jamaree Salyer, senior, Georgia; Emil Ekiyor, junior, Alabama.

Center — Jarrett Patterson, junior, Notre Dame.

Tight end — Jalen Wydermyer, junior, Texas A&M.

Wide receivers — Garrett Wilson, junior, Ohio State; John Metchie III, junior, Alabama.

All-purpose player — Jerrion Ealy, junior, Mississippi.

Kicker — Anders Carlson, senior, Auburn.

Defense:

Ends — Aidan Hutchinson, senior, Michigan; George Karlaftis, junior, Purdue.

Tackles — Jordan Davis, senior, Georgia; Dante Stills, senior, West Virginia.

Linebackers — Devin Lloyd, super senior Utah; Christian Harris, junior, Alabama; Micah McFadden, senior, Indiana.

Cornerbacks — Kaiir Elam, junior, Florida; Tiawan Mullen, junior, Indiana.

Safeties — Jalen Catalon, redshirt sophomore, Arkansas; Jaquan Brisker, super senior, Penn State.

Punter — Lou Hedley, senior, Miami.

Georgia WR Arik Gilbert named PFF first-team All-SEC

Georgia WR Arik Gilbert named PFF first-team All-SEC

Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently released its preseason All-SEC selections for the upcoming 2021 season.

Georgia football is represented by first-team selection, LSU transfer Arik Gilbert at receiver, along with four other first-team selections in defensive back Tykee Smith, senior guard Justin Shaffer, senior linebacker Nakobe Dean and senior punter Jake Camarda.

Gilbert played tight end at LSU but is officially listed as a receiver on UGA’s roster.

A former five-star recruit out of Marietta, Ga., Gilbert signed with Georgia after a solid freshman season at LSU where he caught 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns in eight games played.

A more telling stat is Gilbert’s ability to win jump balls, something that the Bulldogs will be missing without star receiver George Pickens – who’s out indefinitely with an ACL tear.

So at least on the surface, UGA may be able to plug-and-play Gilbert while Pickens rests up for a possible championship run.

Check out some of Gilbert’s freshman highlights here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PStpR8uAlc

 

And see the full list of PFF’s All-SEC selections here.

 

UGA football player card: P Jake Camarda

Georgia Bulldogs punter Jake Camarda is a versatile special teams player for UGA, who can kick, hold kicks, and punt.

Jake Camarda, Punter (No. 90):

Class: Junior

Height: 6-2

Weight: 180 pounds

Hometown: Norcross, Georgia

High School: Norcross High School

Georgia Bulldogs punter Jake Camarda wears multiple hats for the football team. While he’s the starting punter, he additionally held placed kick attempts last season and has experience as a kicker. In fact, Camarda is listed as both a kicker and punter on Georgia’s roster.

Camarda was considered an elite prospect out of high school. He was rated as a three-star prospect and was considered one of the best punters and kickers in the country. He played high school football for Norcross.

He could compete with incoming freshman kicker Jared Zirkel for the starting job. It is easier to specialize in one aspect of the kicking game, but it is good to know the UGA has a serviceable replacement in the rare instance of an injury.

Camarda punted 61 times last season for an average of 46.8 yards per punt, which ranked sixth nationally. He was utilized much more than in the 2018 season, where he punted only 43 times and averaged 42.6 yards per punt. Camarda’s improvement helped put Georgia’s defense in superior field position.

The Bulldogs offense will look to perform better next season, but Camarda could help the defense once again. He certainly aided the defense out in key wins over Auburn and Kentucky last season. He punted eleven times versus the Tigers and had a long of 67 yards.

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