Georgia Bulldog DB Javon Bullard Is A Star In The Making
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ATHENS - After losing a handful of talented starters from last year’s iconic defense, there was plenty of talk around Kirby Smart’s defensive group coming into this season.
Everyone knew we would see a ton of new faces on Georgia’s defense this year, and so far, those players have stepped up and played great football this fall.
One of those players is defensive back, Javon Bullard. A versatile defender who has shined at the STAR position, Bullard was one of Georgia’s lowest-ranked defenders in their fantastic 2021 recruiting class. A three-star prospect out of Baldwin High School in Milledgeville, Bullard has already out-performed his ranking and has become a reliable defender this fall for arguably the best defense in college football.
Bullard didn’t have a giant offer out of high school, but Kirby Smart and his staff knew he had a chance to be special.
"His film showed the toughness”, Smart said of Bullard. “He tackled well. You can tell that people who run through tackles don't fear contact. He was a fearless player, and then he did a lot of work out during COVID. He kept working out more and more, which was indicative of 'I want to be there' and 'It's important to me.' His parents have a military background, and he's a tough kid. We thought he was a good fit for our program and good football player, and he has been that."
Bullard made play after play against Tennessee last weekend and was a big reason why the Bulldogs only gave up 13 points to the top-ranked offense in college football.
He certainly has the toughness, but he’s also a natural in coverage and can get after the quarterback on the blitz. Against Tennessee last weekend, Bullard was easy to notice, making seven tackles, two QB sacks, and one pass breakup.
“Played really hard (against Tennessee), Smart said. “He tackled well. He's physical and he's passionate about playing the game. He didn't play perfect, now. He grabbed and held a couple times and got called. But he played hard. He understood the game plan and he executed it.”
“The great thing about Javon is that he competes”, Smart said about Bullard earlier this season. “He was down there going as hard as anybody, and I think that is very indicative of his character and what he stands for. He practices really hard regardless of what his role is. He has the core values we like of physical toughness. We loved the way he practices every day.”
While the 5-stars are playing like 5-stars this year under Glenn Schumann and Kirby Smart, we’re also seeing other defenders develop at an impressive rate. He may just be a sophomore, but Bullard is making a major impact in the secondary this season.
Expect him to be in a position to make a ton of plays once again against Mississippi State this upcoming weekend.
* Exclusive Event: UGA DB Kelee Ringo Autograph Signing *
Ticket-holders to this exclusive event receive a photo with Ringo; Ringo's signature (which may include one personal inscription per item) on any (3) items; (1) copy of Dawgstruction.
Sunday, November 20, 2022 || @ Red Zone in Athens
