D’Andre Swift is a dynamic freshman running back for the Georgia Bulldogs who has become a big-time weapon for the SEC champions. Swift will look to continue to team up with the rest of Georgia’s talented running backs to lead the Bulldogs to a Rose Bowl win over Oklahoma on New Year’s Day in a College Football Playoff semifinal.
The Rose Bowl kicks off at 5 p.m. ET in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2018.
Here’s everything you need to know about Swift:
1. D’Andre Swift had one of the best commitment videos ever
Swift, from Philadelphia, channeled his inner Rocky Balboa in a phenomenal commitment video to the Bulldogs. Swift also has a Philly connection with another player on Georgia’s roster in wide receiver and return man Ahkil Crumpton. The video has close to a million views on Twitter alone. Watch it below:
2. D’Andre Swift clinched the SEC Championship Game for Georgia
This play has so much happening. Swift runs to his left, which Georgia freshman quarterback Jake Fromm later said was the wrong way. Then, the freshman running back gets a block on the outside. So many young backs would think the path to a big play here is to bounce outside the block to the sideline, but not Swift. He makes an absurdly quick cut inside, and despite an Auburn defensive back having a clear angle, Swift is at full speed and by him in just a couple steps. And his head coach, Kirby Smart, runs nearly all the way to the end zone with him. That touchdown sealed the Bulldogs conference title win.
3. D’Andre Swift earned major postseason honors
Swift shares a backfield with another heralded freshman in Fromm, and both received some great recognition following the SEC Championship Game. They were both named to the SEC All-Freshman team, with Fromm earning Freshman of the Year honors. Swift has 73 carries for 597 yards and 3 touchdowns, and is averaging an astounding 8.2 yards per carry.
4. D’Andre Swift is learning from the best
Swift is part of an incredibly deep backfield in Athens. Georgia has given regular playing time and carries to five different running backs this season — Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Swift, Brian Herrien, and Elijah Holyfield. Chubb and Michel have vaulted up the Georgia record books in their senior seasons to become the second and third-ranked running backs in terms of career rushing yards in school history. Chubb is also second in SEC history in career rushing yards. The player at the top of both of those lists is Georgia legend Herschel Walker.
5. D’Andre Swift can catch it too
Swift has become a significant weapon catching passes out of the backfield for Georgia. The Bulldogs have featured him on quick screens, slants, and go routes, among others. Swift has good hands and is very dangerous in the open field once he makes the catches. He has 15 receptions for 146 yards and 1 touchdown so far in his freshman campaign.