Bullard is defensive MVP in Georgia win
Baldwin High School alum Javon Bullard’s highlights from the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship game versus Texas Christian University will ring throughout Georgia football history.
The University of Georgia defensive back added his name to the CFP record books Monday night as he picked off TCU Heisman Trophy runner-up quarterback Max Duggan twice in the first half to help the Bulldogs thrash the Horned Frogs 65-7. For his work, Bullard was awarded Defensive MVP on college football’s biggest stage. The player who wears No. 22 on defense is now 2-for-2 in winning national championships while in Athens.
“As a kid, you know, you always dream of moments like this,” Bullard said in the postgame press conference. “And just to see those moments and accomplishments and things like that come true, it’s just a surreal feeling. I’m extremely blessed to be in the position I am. I just thank God for it every day.”
He expanded on those national championship feelings a little more Tuesday during a day-after press conference with UGA head coach Kirby Smart and tight end Brock Bowers.
“I know it’s a special feeling for me being a Georgia boy and growing up here, and I know this state means a lot to me,” Bullard said. “It means a lot to my family. And me just having the opportunity to play here and step on the field and wear that G, it means the world to me.
And I couldn’t dream this big. And the fact I’m living out my dream, I give a lot of glory to my God, and I couldn’t be happier. It means the world to me. And I know it means the world to Coach Smart too.”
Entering Monday’s title matchup, no player in the CFP era, which began in 2014, had more than one interception in a championship game. Bullard had two in the second quarter alone before having to leave the game with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. They were the first interceptions of his collegiate career, and both led to touchdowns by the Georgia offense, helping the Bulldogs up their lead to 38-7 by halftime.
The first came at about the 6:40 mark when Duggan overthrew his intended target 40 yards downfield on 3rd-and-7. The second INT came with 38 seconds left in the half as Bullard made a great break on the football to set the Georgia offense up at the TCU 22.
Earlier in the game, the Baldwin County native also recovered a Duggan fumble forced by his defensive back teammate Christopher Smith.
Asked Monday night if he had ever played a better game at the college level, the National Championship game Defensive MVP said, “I can’t really answer that right now until I get the tape. But it’s a blessing to be up here speaking in front of you all tonight.”
As a unit, the Georgia defense had one of the more dominant title game performances in history against TCU. The Horned Frogs accumulated only 188 yards of offense and went just 2-for-11 on third downs throughout the night. All three of their turnovers wound up in Bullard’s hands.
A sophomore first-year starter, Bullard entered Monday’s game riding a hot streak after having been named Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the thrilling Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal win against Ohio State when he had a sack and a crucial pass breakup in the second half. Both he and quarterback Stetson Bennett earned MVP honors in the Bulldogs’ two playoff games this season.
“These two young men are special to our program,” UGA head coach Kirby Smart said Monday. “They’ve done a tremendous job. I don’t know that we have two players that embody toughness more than these two guys. Bullard’s had injuries throughout the year, has done an incredible job.”
The BHS Class of 2021 graduate did hit a pretty big hurdle other than injury this season as he was arrested for DUI in Athens in late September. He served a one-game suspension, sitting out the Missouri game, but was very apologetic in a social media post before returning to action versus Auburn Oct. 8. After receiving minimal playing time his true freshman year, Bullard was on the field nearly every defensive down as a sophomore, totaling 46 tackles, seven tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, and three pass breakups. Two of those sacks came in the Nov. 5 win against Tennessee, which was Georgia’s biggest game of the regular season.