The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Swift ‘feeling better,’ wants more chances
ATHENS — In Georgia’s victory Saturday over Florida, running back D’Andre Swift ran 12 times for 104 yards and the game’s final touchdown on a 32-yard burst; it was Swift’s first 100-yard game as a Bulldog, and it amply displayed that while he may be a bit banged up, he remains a threat.
Swift, a sophomore from Philadelphia who has rushed for 466 yards and five touchdowns in 2018, dealt with a groin injury earlier in the season and suffered a bruised foot against LSU that he didn’t react to until returning to Athens.
“I’m definitely feeling better than I did earlier in the season,” Swift said Wednesday. “I’m still a little banged up, but I’m still feeling better.”
Swift and Elijah Holyfield teamed for 32 carries and 175 yards against Florida, and Swift believes cutting the run game loose can often lead to more and better developments.
“The more opportunities we get, it just opens the game up for so much more, like passing the ball and running the ball,” said Swift, who has also caught 14 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown this season.
Center Lamont Gaillard said Swift’s teammates know exactly what to expect when he hits the field.
“Swift is going to be Swift,” he said. “We just need him to be there every game. We’ve got multiple backs that are going to give us yards, and we’re going to block for them.”
Steady on the line: The Bulldogs have had their moments this fall with injuries to both offensive and defensive linemen, and Gaillard has been one of the mainstays of a revolving cast of characters on the offensive front.
A starter in 36 consecutive games, Gaillard has also been a pivotal instructor for a position group that includes a number of younger hands, including Cade Mays, Ben Cleveland, Isaiah Wilson and Solomon Kindley.
Gaillard said he has not been troubled by Georgia’s lineman shuffle.
“It’s been fun playing next to different guys,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter to me, as long as we get the job done. It’s been fun teaching them different things so they can learn more about their games and helping them develop as an O-line. We’ve been doing that very well.”
Stingy Cats: With the exception of its 36-16 loss to LSU, Georgia has scored at least 36 points in every game. Led by sackmaster Josh Allen (nine for the season with 11 tackles for loss) and safety Darius West (49 tackles, three interceptions), Kentucky has been particularly close-fisted when it comes to points.
The Wildcats have not allowed more than 20 points in any game this season and has given up 16 or less points five times.
Coach Kirby Smart commended Kentucky’s communication and discipline on defense.
“They play complementary defense,” he said. “They’re on the same page at all times. You don’t see busts. They understand where each guy is.”