Bulldogs’ Baker a finalist for Thorpe Award

Assistant coach, offensive line each award semifinalists.

ATHENS — Defensive back Deandre Baker was named a finalist, and offensive line coach Sam Pittman and Georgia’s offensive line were named semifinalists Tuesday for prestigious postseason awards.

Baker is one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s best defensive back. Pittman was named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2018 Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach. The offensive line was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding offensive line unit.

Baker joins Greedy Williams of LSU and Julian Love of Notre Dame as Thorpe Award finalists. The winner will be announced on Dec. 6 in Atlanta. A midseason All-American and Bednarik Award semifinalist, Baker has recorded 36 tackles and a team-leading two interceptions this season. He also has a team-best nine pass break-ups and has posted 11 passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Pittman, now in his third season at Georgia, is one of only two coaches on the list who aren’t coordinators. Five finalists for the Broyles Award will be selected Monday and the award winner will be announced Dec. 4.

Kirby Smart won the Broyles Award in 2009 while Alabama’s defensive coordinator and Brian VanGorder won the award in 2003 while Georgia’s defensive coordinator.

Finalists for the Moore Award will be announced Dec. 4 and the winner will be announced after a surprise visit to the winning school’s campus in late December.

Georgia’s offensive line, coached by Pittman and led by senior center Lamont Gaillard, leads the SEC in rushing offense (257.5 yards per game) and also leads in SEC-only games (232.8 yards per game). The Bulldogs have started four different alignments this season, including three freshmen and three sophomores and the team has averaged nearly 40 points per outing.

“It’s a great honor to be considered for that award and for us we want to win it because we know we’re the best,” Gaillard said Tuesday. “We have guys that go down and we still produce when we get on the field. But we’re not focused on that – we’re just focused on winning the next game.”

No time for panic: Georgia Tech, which has posted consecutive victories over Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Miami and Virginia in the last month, is well known for its triple-option offense, which when it is running well results in the Yellow Jackets maintaining possession for uncomfortable lengths of time.

Tech’s average time of possession this season is a little over 34 minutes per game (Georgia is at 31:48 per outing) and it was the Yellow Jackets’ ability to hold on to the ball that led to their victory over Georgia in 2016.

Although Smart said the Bulldogs’ offense won’t revert to panic mode from standing on the sidelines, he’s well aware that the offense may not have as many chances against Tech as they would other teams.

“I don’t think you ever panic,” he said. “I think you take advantage of your opportunities. You just may have less opportunities. I think panic comes from within . ...

“I think the number of opportunities or series or drives you may have may be less . ... And every offensive possession is critical, but when is it not? It’s always that way.”