Georgia Bulldogs: Damian Swann
Freshman cornerback Reggie Wilkerson had an impressive spring camp after enrolling last January. The Florida native received praise from coaches and teammates about how quickly he was picking up the defensive schemes. But earlier this week he was injured during the voluntary summer workouts and now he will redshirt for the 2013 season.
“I won’t be playing next year,” Wilkerson said. “I tore my ACL and my meniscus.”
Wilkerson said a freak accident led to his injury.
“We were doing 7-on-7s and the receiver ran the wrong route,” Wilkerson said. “I ran into him, the tight end and the strong safety also. That just blew my knee out. I am the only one that got really hurt. I didn’t want anyone to know until tomorrow but people have already put it out on Twitter. I was getting ready to start but you know how it is.”
The Georgia secondary was already in the process of replacing four starters from last year, and with the news that safety Josh Harvey-Clemons will miss the season opener against Clemson, Wilkerson’s injury further depletes a thin secondary. Defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos will now have to rely on Damian Swann, Sheldon Dawson and Devin Bowman to man the cornerback spots, with true freshmen Shaq Wiggins and Brendan Langley getting looks, as well. Junior college transfer Kennar Johnson is coming to Georgia to play safety but could also help at cornerback, where he lined up last season.
Wilkerson will have ACL surgery on Friday at noon ET.
“I won’t be playing next year,” Wilkerson said. “I tore my ACL and my meniscus.”
Wilkerson said a freak accident led to his injury.
“We were doing 7-on-7s and the receiver ran the wrong route,” Wilkerson said. “I ran into him, the tight end and the strong safety also. That just blew my knee out. I am the only one that got really hurt. I didn’t want anyone to know until tomorrow but people have already put it out on Twitter. I was getting ready to start but you know how it is.”
The Georgia secondary was already in the process of replacing four starters from last year, and with the news that safety Josh Harvey-Clemons will miss the season opener against Clemson, Wilkerson’s injury further depletes a thin secondary. Defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos will now have to rely on Damian Swann, Sheldon Dawson and Devin Bowman to man the cornerback spots, with true freshmen Shaq Wiggins and Brendan Langley getting looks, as well. Junior college transfer Kennar Johnson is coming to Georgia to play safety but could also help at cornerback, where he lined up last season.
Wilkerson will have ACL surgery on Friday at noon ET.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Just when it looked like the identities of Georgia’s secondary starters were becoming clear, we learned that sophomore safety Josh Harvey-Clemons will miss the Bulldogs’ opener at Clemson.
That threw open the door for other players to enter the lineup for the opener, not only in the four traditional secondary spots but also in the nickelback role that Harvey-Clemons figured to fill most of the time when the Bulldogs deployed five defensive backs.
However, we’ll keep the question simple for this week’s DawgNation roundtable: With Harvey-Clemons out of the picture for the first game, who will be the starting four in the secondary when Georgia plays its base defense against Clemson?
That threw open the door for other players to enter the lineup for the opener, not only in the four traditional secondary spots but also in the nickelback role that Harvey-Clemons figured to fill most of the time when the Bulldogs deployed five defensive backs.
However, we’ll keep the question simple for this week’s DawgNation roundtable: With Harvey-Clemons out of the picture for the first game, who will be the starting four in the secondary when Georgia plays its base defense against Clemson?
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Editor's note: This week we continue to clean out our notebook from Georgia's spring practices to tell the stories we didn't get to tell before the Bulldogs' G-Day game. Previously we featured fullback Quayvon Hicks, tight end Jay Rome, defensive end Ray Drew, safety Connor Norman and receiver Rantavious Wooten. Today we recap a conversation with cornerback Damian Swann.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Count Damian Swann among the Georgia players whose expectations were fairly low when the Bulldogs’ rebuilt defense first took the field for spring practice. But it didn’t take long for that outlook to change.
“The first day, I kind of looked at it like, ‘Man, we’ve got a lot of work.’ But that just comes with we’re losing all those guys to the NFL,” Swann said of a 2012 defense that had seven players drafted and five more sign free agent deals after the draft. “We’re returning, what, four guys that have played a tremendous amount? So we have seven guys out there that didn’t really know. But after the first couple days once we put on pads, the first scrimmage, it’s like, ‘We’ve got something.’ ”
Swann made that comment midway through spring practice, but that optimism only grew throughout the spring -- up through the G-Day game, when the first-team defense largely held in check a starting offense that returns nearly everyone from last season’s record-setting unit.
Of course, the low-pressure nature of spring practice makes it a perfect time for unbridled optimism. Also factor in that the offense played without some of its key pieces for all or most of the spring. Nonetheless, junior cornerback Swann -- the only returning defender who started all 14 games last fall -- was reassured by what he saw from the numerous youngsters who got their first heavy doses of playing time in the spring.
“Before we went into [the first] scrimmage, we had our competition days where we’d go team this, team that, and out of all the competition drills with the one-on-ones and two-on-twos and three-on-threes, what we win are the team drills. The drills that really matter,” Swann said. “And that gave me confidence that, ‘If we’re doing this now with a very experienced offense, once we get very in sync come August, we should be fine.’ ”
Swann led the team with four interceptions last season and also forced two fumbles and recovered two more. But by this point it’s a well-documented fact that he is the only returning member of the secondary with any significant playing experience.
With that in mind, he took it upon himself to become a leader for the group by setting a tone with his play and even learning the duties at the safety positions so he could help newcomers such as safeties Tray Matthews and Quincy Mauger progress more rapidly. Prior to the spring, Matthews cited Swann as one of the veterans who best helped him learn what to do when practices began.
“I think if I know more, I can teach more,” Swann said. “Me being here, this is about to be my third year, I think I know exactly what to do at all three corners. So it wouldn’t hurt me to try and learn safety, strong or free, to try and learn either one of them so I guess I can be more helpful and more beneficial to the guys that are going to be playing with me.”
It wasn’t so long ago that Swann was the youngster who leaned on more experienced teammates to make sure he played assignments correctly. He played intermittently as a true freshman in 2011 before enjoying a solid debut season as a starter last fall.
Now the veterans who preceded him such as Sanders Commings, Branden Smith, Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams are gone, causing Swann to shift from mentee to mentor. He embraced that role this spring because he knew that was the time for the Bulldogs to endure their growing pains if they are to avoid getting embarrassed when they open the season against Clemson’s high-powered offense on Aug. 31.
“I think I have to take charge out there,” Swann said. “When guys are kind of confused, I have to tell it to them on the fly because the offense knows we’re new, but they’re not taking it lightly. So we’ve just got to get everybody on the same page so everybody can play fast.”
ATHENS, Ga. -- Count Damian Swann among the Georgia players whose expectations were fairly low when the Bulldogs’ rebuilt defense first took the field for spring practice. But it didn’t take long for that outlook to change.
[+] Enlarge
Daniel Shirey/USA TODAY SportsDamian Swann is embracing his newfound role as the veteran leader of Georgia's secondary.
Swann made that comment midway through spring practice, but that optimism only grew throughout the spring -- up through the G-Day game, when the first-team defense largely held in check a starting offense that returns nearly everyone from last season’s record-setting unit.
Of course, the low-pressure nature of spring practice makes it a perfect time for unbridled optimism. Also factor in that the offense played without some of its key pieces for all or most of the spring. Nonetheless, junior cornerback Swann -- the only returning defender who started all 14 games last fall -- was reassured by what he saw from the numerous youngsters who got their first heavy doses of playing time in the spring.
“Before we went into [the first] scrimmage, we had our competition days where we’d go team this, team that, and out of all the competition drills with the one-on-ones and two-on-twos and three-on-threes, what we win are the team drills. The drills that really matter,” Swann said. “And that gave me confidence that, ‘If we’re doing this now with a very experienced offense, once we get very in sync come August, we should be fine.’ ”
Swann led the team with four interceptions last season and also forced two fumbles and recovered two more. But by this point it’s a well-documented fact that he is the only returning member of the secondary with any significant playing experience.
With that in mind, he took it upon himself to become a leader for the group by setting a tone with his play and even learning the duties at the safety positions so he could help newcomers such as safeties Tray Matthews and Quincy Mauger progress more rapidly. Prior to the spring, Matthews cited Swann as one of the veterans who best helped him learn what to do when practices began.
“I think if I know more, I can teach more,” Swann said. “Me being here, this is about to be my third year, I think I know exactly what to do at all three corners. So it wouldn’t hurt me to try and learn safety, strong or free, to try and learn either one of them so I guess I can be more helpful and more beneficial to the guys that are going to be playing with me.”
It wasn’t so long ago that Swann was the youngster who leaned on more experienced teammates to make sure he played assignments correctly. He played intermittently as a true freshman in 2011 before enjoying a solid debut season as a starter last fall.
Now the veterans who preceded him such as Sanders Commings, Branden Smith, Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams are gone, causing Swann to shift from mentee to mentor. He embraced that role this spring because he knew that was the time for the Bulldogs to endure their growing pains if they are to avoid getting embarrassed when they open the season against Clemson’s high-powered offense on Aug. 31.
“I think I have to take charge out there,” Swann said. “When guys are kind of confused, I have to tell it to them on the fly because the offense knows we’re new, but they’re not taking it lightly. So we’ve just got to get everybody on the same page so everybody can play fast.”
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
2012 record: 12-2
2012 conference record: 7-1 (first, SEC East)
Returning starters: Offense: 10; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 2
Top returners: QB Aaron Murray, RB Todd Gurley, CB Damian Swann, WR Malcolm Mitchell, OLB Jordan Jenkins, OL Kenarious Gates, OG Chris Burnette, ILB Amarlo Herrera
Key losses: OLB Jarvis Jones, LB Alec Ogletree, S Shawn Williams, S Bacarri Rambo, NG John Jenkins, CB Sanders Commings, WR Tavarres King
2012 statistical leaders (* - returner)
Rushing: Gurley * (1,385 yards)
Passing: Murray * (3,893 yards)
Receiving: King (950 yards)
Tackles: Alec Ogletree (111)
Sacks: Jones (14.5)
Interceptions: Swann * (4)
Spring answers
1. Safety starters: With 2011 All-Americans Rambo and Williams completing their college careers, the Bulldogs entered the spring with two big holes at safety. It appears sophomore Josh Harvey-Clemons and January enrollee Tray Matthews have all but claimed the starting positions, however. Harvey-Clemons was named the Bulldogs’ defensive MVP of spring practice, and Matthews generated the most buzz of anyone this spring with his ability to deliver crushing hits. Georgia’s inexperience along the back end of the defense is not ideal, but the two youngsters could become a pleasant surprise.
2012 record: 12-2
2012 conference record: 7-1 (first, SEC East)
Returning starters: Offense: 10; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 2
Top returners: QB Aaron Murray, RB Todd Gurley, CB Damian Swann, WR Malcolm Mitchell, OLB Jordan Jenkins, OL Kenarious Gates, OG Chris Burnette, ILB Amarlo Herrera
Key losses: OLB Jarvis Jones, LB Alec Ogletree, S Shawn Williams, S Bacarri Rambo, NG John Jenkins, CB Sanders Commings, WR Tavarres King
2012 statistical leaders (* - returner)
Rushing: Gurley * (1,385 yards)
Passing: Murray * (3,893 yards)
Receiving: King (950 yards)
Tackles: Alec Ogletree (111)
Sacks: Jones (14.5)
Interceptions: Swann * (4)
Spring answers
1. Safety starters: With 2011 All-Americans Rambo and Williams completing their college careers, the Bulldogs entered the spring with two big holes at safety. It appears sophomore Josh Harvey-Clemons and January enrollee Tray Matthews have all but claimed the starting positions, however. Harvey-Clemons was named the Bulldogs’ defensive MVP of spring practice, and Matthews generated the most buzz of anyone this spring with his ability to deliver crushing hits. Georgia’s inexperience along the back end of the defense is not ideal, but the two youngsters could become a pleasant surprise.
ATHENS, Ga. -- With the spring camp over and the spring evaluation period underway, this seems as good a time as any to reopen the DawgNation Mailbag. We missed two weeks with the release of the ESPN 150 rankings and all the fireworks last week with the commitments of Sony Michel and Jeb Blazevich so let us get back to your burning questions.
gilly5134: I know it's hard to judge but how do you think the ACL injuries will affect Michael Bennett and Tramel Terry next year? I know it takes a lot of guys a while to get that mental edge back after realizing they can break.
gilly5134: I know it's hard to judge but how do you think the ACL injuries will affect Michael Bennett and Tramel Terry next year? I know it takes a lot of guys a while to get that mental edge back after realizing they can break.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
UGA could have another big draft in 2014 
April, 29, 2013
Apr 29
12:17
PM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Fourteen former Georgia players punched their ticket into professional football over the last few days, as eight Bulldogs were picked in the NFL draft and six more signed as free agents.
The eight selections -- linebacker Jarvis Jones (Pittsburgh), linebacker Alec Ogletree (St. Louis), defensive lineman John Jenkins (New Orleans), safety Shawn Williams (Cincinnati), receiver Tavarres King (Denver), cornerback Sanders Commings (Kansas City), defensive end Cornelius Washington (Chicago) and safety Bacarri Rambo (Washington) -- tied the program record for the most in one year.
Add in the free agent deals for receiver Marlon Brown (Houston), nose guard Kwame Geathers (San Diego), linebacker Michael Gilliard (St. Louis), defensive end Abry Jones (Jacksonville), linebacker Christian Robinson (St. Louis) and cornerback Branden Smith (Tampa Bay), and Georgia will be among the best-represented college programs in the NFL rookie camps that will take place over the next couple of weeks.
The numerous NFL departures naturally lead us to begin looking toward next year and how it might shape up for Bulldogs in the draft. Although this will be a smaller group of rising seniors than the ones who are now beginning their professional careers, the number of UGA draft picks in 2014 still could rank among the top college programs.
Among Georgia seniors who are most likely to be picked:
1. Quarterback Aaron Murray: Murray might have been a valuable prospect in the 2013 draft, because of this year’s underwhelming quarterback draft class. He still figures to rank among the top players at his position in the 2014 class, though, particularly if he posts another season with 3,000-plus passing yards and etches his name atop the SEC passing record book, as expected. He’ll have to contend with quarterbacks like Alabama’s AJ McCarron, Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, LSU’s Zach Mettenberger and Clemson’s Tajh Boyd for top billing, but a big senior season would keep him in the conversation among the best players at the position.
The eight selections -- linebacker Jarvis Jones (Pittsburgh), linebacker Alec Ogletree (St. Louis), defensive lineman John Jenkins (New Orleans), safety Shawn Williams (Cincinnati), receiver Tavarres King (Denver), cornerback Sanders Commings (Kansas City), defensive end Cornelius Washington (Chicago) and safety Bacarri Rambo (Washington) -- tied the program record for the most in one year.
Add in the free agent deals for receiver Marlon Brown (Houston), nose guard Kwame Geathers (San Diego), linebacker Michael Gilliard (St. Louis), defensive end Abry Jones (Jacksonville), linebacker Christian Robinson (St. Louis) and cornerback Branden Smith (Tampa Bay), and Georgia will be among the best-represented college programs in the NFL rookie camps that will take place over the next couple of weeks.
The numerous NFL departures naturally lead us to begin looking toward next year and how it might shape up for Bulldogs in the draft. Although this will be a smaller group of rising seniors than the ones who are now beginning their professional careers, the number of UGA draft picks in 2014 still could rank among the top college programs.
Among Georgia seniors who are most likely to be picked:
1. Quarterback Aaron Murray: Murray might have been a valuable prospect in the 2013 draft, because of this year’s underwhelming quarterback draft class. He still figures to rank among the top players at his position in the 2014 class, though, particularly if he posts another season with 3,000-plus passing yards and etches his name atop the SEC passing record book, as expected. He’ll have to contend with quarterbacks like Alabama’s AJ McCarron, Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas, LSU’s Zach Mettenberger and Clemson’s Tajh Boyd for top billing, but a big senior season would keep him in the conversation among the best players at the position.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ATHENS, Ga. -- Over the last two weeks, we reviewed the competition for playing time at each position on Georgia’s depth chart and identified a player to watch at each position.
A defense that lost 12 significant players will be a focal point well into the fall, and it was in our post-spring recaps. Let’s take a look at the defensive positions first:
A defense that lost 12 significant players will be a focal point well into the fall, and it was in our post-spring recaps. Let’s take a look at the defensive positions first:
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Editor’s note: DawgNation's post-spring positional analysis continues this week after focusing on the offense last week. Today we examine the special teams players:
Returning players/stats: K Marshall Morgan, So. (8-14 FG, 63-67 PAT, 87 points); P Collin Barber, So. (60 punts, 2,488 yards, 41.5 yards per punt), P Adam Erickson, Jr. (8-296, 37.0 ypp); KOR Malcolm Mitchell, Jr. (16 returns, 360 yards, 22.5 yards per return); KOR Todd Gurley, So. (7-243, 34.7 ypr, 1 TD); PR Mitchell (11-57, 5.2); PR Rhett McGowan, Sr. (9-75, 8.3); PR Damian Swann, Jr. (5-37, 7.4) S Nathan Theus, So.
Newcomers: Tramel Terry, Fr. (ESPN's No. 89 overall prospect of 2013. No. 9 athlete. Enrolled in January); Reggie Davis, Fr. (No. 45 wide receiver. Expected to enroll this summer); J.J. Green, Fr. (No. 58 CB. Enrolled in January); Rico Johnson, Fr. (No. 122 WR. Expected to enroll this summer)
Returning players/stats: K Marshall Morgan, So. (8-14 FG, 63-67 PAT, 87 points); P Collin Barber, So. (60 punts, 2,488 yards, 41.5 yards per punt), P Adam Erickson, Jr. (8-296, 37.0 ypp); KOR Malcolm Mitchell, Jr. (16 returns, 360 yards, 22.5 yards per return); KOR Todd Gurley, So. (7-243, 34.7 ypr, 1 TD); PR Mitchell (11-57, 5.2); PR Rhett McGowan, Sr. (9-75, 8.3); PR Damian Swann, Jr. (5-37, 7.4) S Nathan Theus, So.
Newcomers: Tramel Terry, Fr. (ESPN's No. 89 overall prospect of 2013. No. 9 athlete. Enrolled in January); Reggie Davis, Fr. (No. 45 wide receiver. Expected to enroll this summer); J.J. Green, Fr. (No. 58 CB. Enrolled in January); Rico Johnson, Fr. (No. 122 WR. Expected to enroll this summer)
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ATHENS, Ga. -- Sheldon Dawson appreciates the attention he has received in some corners as a potential breakout performer on Georgia’s defense this fall. But the rising sophomore cornerback is quick to point out that he hasn’t accomplished anything yet.
That’s exactly the attitude the Bulldogs’ coaching staff seemed to want to emphasize this spring with its young defense, encouraging players like Dawson to work hard this summer and earn a starting spot in the fall.
Although he didn’t play much as a freshman last fall, Dawson certainly has the ability to do it. The multi-position athlete received mixed reviews from the various recruiting services, but was actually listed as the top overall prospect in Tennessee by two of them. That athleticism showed up some last season with Dawson contributing mostly on special teams, but now that he has had time to learn his role in Georgia’s defensive scheme, his playing time should expand significantly on scrimmage downs.
As Dawson reminds us, he hasn’t locked down a starting job by any means, but a strong spring and impressive speed and coverage skills make him a player worth watching in Georgia’s secondary.
2012 review: Dawson appeared in 13 games, mostly on special teams, and won the team’s Newcomer of the Year award. He finished the season with 12 tackles, including a season-high three in the win at Missouri.
2013 preview: As a sophomore, Dawson’s role won’t be limited to special teams play. He’ll be a leading contender for a starting job when the Bulldogs open preseason camp in August, but he’ll have to fend off a number of alternative candidates including Reggie Wilkerson, Devin Bowman and Shaq Wiggins.
Spring prospectus: Dawson seemed to be helping his cause to become a starter prior to injuring his hamstring in the Bulldogs’ second spring scrimmage. He intercepted three passes in the two scrimmages, but did not participate in G-Day or the two practices afterward because of the injury. Nonetheless, Dawson got beaten in coverage a time or two and also made more than his share of plays, which could give him a leg up on the other contenders in the coaches’ estimation.
Career potential: Damian Swann needs somebody to step up and win the starting spot alongside him and Dawson took the biggest step toward doing that this spring. This might be Swann’s final season as a Bulldog, so Dawson could help ease the transition if he begins showing some leadership and performs well on the field like Swann did last fall in his first season as a starter.
That’s exactly the attitude the Bulldogs’ coaching staff seemed to want to emphasize this spring with its young defense, encouraging players like Dawson to work hard this summer and earn a starting spot in the fall.
[+] Enlarge
John Adams/Icon SMISophomore cornerback Sheldon Dawson is a prime candidate for a breakout season in 2013.
As Dawson reminds us, he hasn’t locked down a starting job by any means, but a strong spring and impressive speed and coverage skills make him a player worth watching in Georgia’s secondary.
2012 review: Dawson appeared in 13 games, mostly on special teams, and won the team’s Newcomer of the Year award. He finished the season with 12 tackles, including a season-high three in the win at Missouri.
2013 preview: As a sophomore, Dawson’s role won’t be limited to special teams play. He’ll be a leading contender for a starting job when the Bulldogs open preseason camp in August, but he’ll have to fend off a number of alternative candidates including Reggie Wilkerson, Devin Bowman and Shaq Wiggins.
Spring prospectus: Dawson seemed to be helping his cause to become a starter prior to injuring his hamstring in the Bulldogs’ second spring scrimmage. He intercepted three passes in the two scrimmages, but did not participate in G-Day or the two practices afterward because of the injury. Nonetheless, Dawson got beaten in coverage a time or two and also made more than his share of plays, which could give him a leg up on the other contenders in the coaches’ estimation.
Career potential: Damian Swann needs somebody to step up and win the starting spot alongside him and Dawson took the biggest step toward doing that this spring. This might be Swann’s final season as a Bulldog, so Dawson could help ease the transition if he begins showing some leadership and performs well on the field like Swann did last fall in his first season as a starter.
Editor’s note: Our DawgNation post-spring positional analysis continues this week after focusing on the offense last week. Today we examine the cornerbacks:
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ATHENS, Ga. -- Damian Swann’s hair isn’t thinning and he doesn’t wake up each morning with chronic back pain, but he does feel like the resident old guy in Georgia’s secondary.
The rising junior cornerback spent his first two seasons surrounded by veterans, but entered this spring as the only defensive back in the Bulldogs’ arsenal with any valuable field experience.
It’s a different feeling for Swann, who is going from student to big brother/teacher, but as spring practice winds down, he’s more comfortable with being the guy who is looked up to in this defense.
“It was a challenge [to take on more responsibility this spring], but now it’s going to be even more challenging because I’m kind of the lone defensive back, period, that has established himself in this system,” Swann told ESPN.com Thursday. “A lot of people might look at it as me having to make more plays than I did last year, which is fine because that’s what I want to do.”
He also wants to make sure all the holes left by the departures of corners Sanders Commings and Branden Smith, along with safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams are properly filled. These weren’t run-of-the-mill players, either. These were strong, veteran starters that any SEC team would have loved to have.
Now, the Bulldogs have to replace them with a slew of youngsters, mostly freshmen, and Swann feels somewhat responsible for guiding them this year. He isn’t looking to be a father figure, just the best big brother he can be.
Still, taking on a leadership role and having to teach has felt odd at times considering Swann wasn’t even sure how much playing time he was going to get last season.
After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2011, Swann began 2012 as a starter only due to a rash of suspensions in the secondary. With Commings sitting for two games to start the year, Swann said he wasn’t surprised by his heavy playing time, but when Commings returned, he still found himself in the starting lineup. Then, when the Tennessee game arrived in Week 5, he was named the strong corner starter and would stay there all season.
He expected to move back to the nickel at some point, which was fine, but taking over one of the top corner spots left him a bit speechless. He went from 60-70 plays a game to 80-90, which was a lot for a youngster like Swann.
“That was a big push for me, just being a sophomore playing all those snaps in the SEC,” Swann said with a laugh.
Swann started 14 games last year and led the team with four interceptions and also broke up five passes. He even recorded two sacks, recovered two fumbles and forced two fumbles.
Quietly, Swann played a big part of Georgia’s defense last season, but he’s looking for an even bigger role in 2013.
“I want to be the guy that lives up to the expectations, that wants to be in the spotlight, that wants to cover your best receiver,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge for me, but I’m willing to accept that.”
Swann is actually in an interesting spot. He starts off as the team’s top player in the secondary, but he might not get all the attention he wants this fall. Offenses usually tend to pick on the younger guys, so Swann might not have passes thrown his way as much as he’d like.
That means his teaching skills will have to be that much better as he tries to coach up the pups around him. The good news is after all the time he got last season, Swann thinks he’ll have more time to help than worry about his own game once fall arrives.
“Last season might have been the best thing that could have happened to me and to Georgia because imagine if I wasn’t to play and we graduated all those guys,” he said. “Now, it’s going to a whole entire brand-new secondary with hardly any experience. Me playing as much as I did puts us in a better situation.”
The rising junior cornerback spent his first two seasons surrounded by veterans, but entered this spring as the only defensive back in the Bulldogs’ arsenal with any valuable field experience.
It’s a different feeling for Swann, who is going from student to big brother/teacher, but as spring practice winds down, he’s more comfortable with being the guy who is looked up to in this defense.
[+] Enlarge
Daniel Shirey/USA TODAY SportsDamian Swann broke up five passes and led the team with four interceptions last season.
He also wants to make sure all the holes left by the departures of corners Sanders Commings and Branden Smith, along with safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams are properly filled. These weren’t run-of-the-mill players, either. These were strong, veteran starters that any SEC team would have loved to have.
Now, the Bulldogs have to replace them with a slew of youngsters, mostly freshmen, and Swann feels somewhat responsible for guiding them this year. He isn’t looking to be a father figure, just the best big brother he can be.
Still, taking on a leadership role and having to teach has felt odd at times considering Swann wasn’t even sure how much playing time he was going to get last season.
After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2011, Swann began 2012 as a starter only due to a rash of suspensions in the secondary. With Commings sitting for two games to start the year, Swann said he wasn’t surprised by his heavy playing time, but when Commings returned, he still found himself in the starting lineup. Then, when the Tennessee game arrived in Week 5, he was named the strong corner starter and would stay there all season.
He expected to move back to the nickel at some point, which was fine, but taking over one of the top corner spots left him a bit speechless. He went from 60-70 plays a game to 80-90, which was a lot for a youngster like Swann.
“That was a big push for me, just being a sophomore playing all those snaps in the SEC,” Swann said with a laugh.
Swann started 14 games last year and led the team with four interceptions and also broke up five passes. He even recorded two sacks, recovered two fumbles and forced two fumbles.
Quietly, Swann played a big part of Georgia’s defense last season, but he’s looking for an even bigger role in 2013.
“I want to be the guy that lives up to the expectations, that wants to be in the spotlight, that wants to cover your best receiver,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge for me, but I’m willing to accept that.”
Swann is actually in an interesting spot. He starts off as the team’s top player in the secondary, but he might not get all the attention he wants this fall. Offenses usually tend to pick on the younger guys, so Swann might not have passes thrown his way as much as he’d like.
That means his teaching skills will have to be that much better as he tries to coach up the pups around him. The good news is after all the time he got last season, Swann thinks he’ll have more time to help than worry about his own game once fall arrives.
“Last season might have been the best thing that could have happened to me and to Georgia because imagine if I wasn’t to play and we graduated all those guys,” he said. “Now, it’s going to a whole entire brand-new secondary with hardly any experience. Me playing as much as I did puts us in a better situation.”
Editor’s note: Each day this week, we’ll ask a question that Georgia’s football team faces this spring as it moves toward the 2013 season. Today’s question: Who will supply the pass rush now that two-time All-American Jarvis Jones has entered the NFL draft?
ATHENS, Ga. -- Replacing the nation’s leading sack artist and most effective pass rusher in the Georgia program’s history is not going to be easy. It might be impossible.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Replacing the nation’s leading sack artist and most effective pass rusher in the Georgia program’s history is not going to be easy. It might be impossible.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
UGA spring preview: 5 players to watch
February, 28, 2013
Feb 28
7:30
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- As Georgia prepares to open spring practice on Saturday, the Bulldogs should have considerable competition for available playing time -- particularly on defense.
Here are five players worth watching between now and the G-Day game on April 6:
1. Josh Harvey-Clemons: The rising sophomore will essentially be a rookie when he jumps into the competition at both outside linebacker and safety this spring. He’ll play both positions this fall based on matchups according to coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Harvey-Clemons -- ESPN’s No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2012 signing class -- played almost exclusively in a nickelback role last season, so he has a lot to learn. His athleticism will give him the opportunity to become one of the Bulldogs’ most dynamic playmakers at his new spots.
Here are five players worth watching between now and the G-Day game on April 6:
1. Josh Harvey-Clemons: The rising sophomore will essentially be a rookie when he jumps into the competition at both outside linebacker and safety this spring. He’ll play both positions this fall based on matchups according to coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Harvey-Clemons -- ESPN’s No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2012 signing class -- played almost exclusively in a nickelback role last season, so he has a lot to learn. His athleticism will give him the opportunity to become one of the Bulldogs’ most dynamic playmakers at his new spots.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
UGA spring preview: 5 positions to watch
February, 28, 2013
Feb 28
7:00
AM ET
By
David Ching | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Coaches always emphasize the importance of competition during spring practice, and there will certainly be more than enough at Georgia once the Bulldogs start spring drills on March 2.
The competition on the defensive side of the ball will be the story of the spring, as coordinator Todd Grantham and company work to find replacements for the 12 departed regulars who figured heavily into the Bulldogs’ defensive plans last fall.
Here are five positions that bear close watching this spring:
The competition on the defensive side of the ball will be the story of the spring, as coordinator Todd Grantham and company work to find replacements for the 12 departed regulars who figured heavily into the Bulldogs’ defensive plans last fall.
Here are five positions that bear close watching this spring:
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia’s football program seemed to be on the ropes with two weeks remaining until signing day 2011. Three seasons of declining results, capped by the program’s first losing record under Mark Richt in 2010, left the Bulldogs in an uncertain position.
But when Malcolm Mitchell and Jay Rome elected to join the Bulldogs’ “Dream Team” recruiting class on Jan. 20, 2011, an impressive finishing push for Richt’s coaching staff leading up to signing day was launched. That was a big step toward the on-field resurgence that allowed the Bulldogs to win back-to-back SEC East titles over the last two years.
Another strong signing class followed the “Dream Team” in 2012 and played a role in the Bulldogs’ division championship. And as Richt’s staff attempts to reel in a final batch of blue-chip prospects before national signing day on Wednesday, we can review the successes of the past two seasons and point to that mid-January day -- 13 days before signing day 2011 -- that Valdosta (Ga.) teammates Mitchell and Rome publicly committed to the Bulldogs as the jumping-off point for Richt’s staff to restock their roster with a flood of talent.
But when Malcolm Mitchell and Jay Rome elected to join the Bulldogs’ “Dream Team” recruiting class on Jan. 20, 2011, an impressive finishing push for Richt’s coaching staff leading up to signing day was launched. That was a big step toward the on-field resurgence that allowed the Bulldogs to win back-to-back SEC East titles over the last two years.
Another strong signing class followed the “Dream Team” in 2012 and played a role in the Bulldogs’ division championship. And as Richt’s staff attempts to reel in a final batch of blue-chip prospects before national signing day on Wednesday, we can review the successes of the past two seasons and point to that mid-January day -- 13 days before signing day 2011 -- that Valdosta (Ga.) teammates Mitchell and Rome publicly committed to the Bulldogs as the jumping-off point for Richt’s staff to restock their roster with a flood of talent.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ching
David Ching came to ESPN.com in 2011 after six years covering UGA for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer and Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. He lives in Athens. Email him at davidchingespn@gmail.com.
Radi Nabulsi
Radi Nabulsi joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Rivals.com for four years and for the UGA Athletic Association since 1993. Nabulsi is a graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and lives in Athens. He can be reached at radinabulsiespn@gmail.com.
Kipp Adams
Kipp Adams joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Georgia football and basketball recruiting for five years at Rivals.com. He lives in Sandy Springs, Ga., and enjoys spending time with his two sons. He can be reached at kippadamsespn@gmail.com.