Former Georgia Bulldogs running back D'Andre Swift regularly embarrassed the Kentucky Wildcats. Sure, Swift embarrassed a lot of defenders during a college football career in which he racked up 2,885 rushing yards, ranking him No. 7 on Georgia football's all-time list. The All-SEC selection entered the Heisman Trophy conversation early last year, and while he didn't blow the doors off like everyone thought, Swift closed his three-year career in Athens with a fantastic junior season.
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Now that he's declared for 2020 NFL Draft, Swift's time wearing the red and black is over. But what moment, of all the great ones he accrued, is his favorite? Swift told DawgNation that one play against Kentucky back in 2018 was easily his favorite, and several of his offensive lineman couldn't agree more.
"I don't know how I did what I did, but it was amazing," Swift told DawgNation.
The sixth-ranked Bulldogs were leading the ninth-ranked Wildcats on the road in Lexington, and the winner would claim the SEC East division title and trip to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. Leading 21-3 midway through the third quarter, Georgia flexed its muscle when quarterback Jake Fromm turned and handed to Swift at their own 17-yard line. Behind a double team from Solomon Kindley and Andrew Thomas, Swift emerged from a smattering of white and blue jerseys, and he was gone.
Once Swift hit the second level, there was zero chance of him getting caught en route to an 83-yard scoring run that sealed the deal. Georgia left with a 34-17 win and the SEC East crown.
D'Andre Swift's 83-Yard Touchdown vs. Kentucky
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Swift finished that game with a then-career-high 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns. One year later, he gashed Kentucky once again to the tune of 179 yards — the second-most of his career — and two more scores. Hell, as a freshman, Swift put 66 yards on Kentucky in only seven carries.
Thankfully for the Wildcats and Kentucky coach Mark Stoops (and every other defense in the Southeastern Conference), they won't have to prepare for an elite player like Swift anymore.
The Philadelphia native is headed for pro football. If he returned for his senior season, Swift likely would've passed iconic Georgia playmakers Lars Tate, Garrison Hearst, Todd Gurley and Sony Michel on the school's career rushing list. Swift's legacy is solidified in several electric moments throughout his time playing for head coach Kirby Smart, but this moment in particular stands tall above the rest.
"If you go back watch on the film you can see me and Sol chest bump in the middle of the play," former UGA offense tackle Andrew Thomas said of the iconic run. "It was pretty cool."
This article was originally published February 27, 2020.
