UGA Football DB Javon Bullard On Georgia/Florida "One of the Biggest Rivalries Ever"

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ATHENS - UGA football defensive back Javon Bullard knows how deep the Georgia/Florida rivalry is.

The Milledgeville, Georgia native out of Baldwin High School spoke with the media on Monday about the rivalry with Florida, coming off the bye week, and coming back from his injury. 

On the bye week...

"It was huge. Half the battle is just staying healthy. We practice hard and that comes with it. I don't know anybody who plays football that hasn't gotten banged up at some point. It was huge for us on a recovery level. Now we have to dial back in on the physicality and prepare for this week."

On the Georgia vs. Florida rivalry...

"This is old-fashioned hate. Georgia vs. Florida is one of the biggest rivalries ever. It was that way before I got here, and it's going to continue to be that way after I leave. If this game doesn't get you amped up to play football, I don't know what will. It's special. We have a lot of Florida guys on our team. I know it's special for them as well. Me being a Georgia boy, it's damn sure special for me. We have to do whatever we can to come out with the victory."

On coming back from injuries...

"Right now, I'm ready to go. Last year, I came back for the game against Auburn. It was more mental last year than anything. This year, physically I've been banged up pretty good, but now I feel like I'm back. The coaches think I'm back. I'm ready to attack."

Kirby Smart and UGA football are headed to Jacksonville to take on the Florida Gators later this week in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

***Don’t forget! College Basketball season is right around the corner!!***

Right now, the Tennessee Volunteers have +290 odds to win the SEC this upcoming season according to FanDuel. 

Getting Off the Field

One of the keys to Georgia’s success is its third down defense. The Bulldogs lead the country with opponents converting just 23.6 percent of the time. In the past three SEC games, Georgia opponents are a combined 6-for-32 on third downs (19 percent). The Bulldogs are second nationally in converting third downs (57.1 percent).

About Florida

Florida (5-2, 3-1 SEC) is coming off a 41-39 road win over South Carolina, which featured a 10-point fourth quarter comeback. QB Graham Mertz, who ranks third nationally with a 76.2 completion percent- age, threw for a career-high 423 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The Gators are averaging 29.1 points/game and are giving up 20.0 points/game. They are -2 in turnover margin.

Bulldogs Again Among The Leaders In Scoring Defense

Since the arrival of Kirby Smart in 2016, the Bulldogs have featured talented defenses and twice led the nation in Scoring Defense. This season, Georgia is ranked seventh nationally allowing 14.0 points/ game. The Bulldogs return 12 players who have starting experience from a group that ranked fifth nationally in 2022 allowing opponents only 14.3 points per contest.

Did You Know? 

In the 101-game history of Georgia-Florida, 58 differ- ent QBs have started for the Bulldogs. A total of 15 have started at least three games versus the Gators, and the best record belongs to: Johnny Rauch who went 4-0 from 1945-48. Meanwhile Buck Belue (3-0 from 1979-81), Aaron Murray (3-1 from 2010-13) and Jake Fromm (3-0 from 2017-19) all won at least three games.

More Did You Know? 

The team with the most rushing yards had won 14 straight meetings, but that streak was snapped in 2020 when Georgia outgained UF 165-97 and lost 44-28. A new streak began in 2021 as #1 UGA won 42-20 (UGA- 239 rush to UF’s 100 yards).

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Top Georgia Performances vs. Florida

Rushing Attempts

47 – Herschel Walker, 1981 (192 yards); 37 – Herschel Walker, 1980 (238 yards)

Rushing Yards

239 – Charlie Trippi, 1945 (25 carries); 238 – Herschel Walker, 1980 (37 carries) 

Rushing TDs

4 – Robert Edwards, 1997 (26-124 yards); 3 – multiple, last by Knowshon Moreno, 2007 (33-188 yards)

Longest Rushing TD

89 – Tim Worley, 1985 (school record); 80 – Frank Harvey, 1992 

Receptions

15 – Shannon Mitchell, 1993 (140 yards); 9 – Tony Small, 1998 (138 yards)

Receiving Yards

154 - Brock Bowers, 2022 (5 rec.); 140 – Shannon Mitchell, 1993 (15 rec.); 138 – Tony Small, 1998 (9 rec.)

Receiving TDs

2 – Jeremiah Holloman, 2018 (4-48 yards), Leonard Pope, 2004 (3-90); Her- schel Walker, 1980 (4-55 yards); Ulysses Norris, 1976 (2-14 yards)

Passing Attempts

65 – Eric Zeier, 1993 (36 comp.); 49 – Quincy Carter, 1998 (33 comp.) 

Passing Completions

36 – Eric Zeier, 1993, (65 attt.); 33 – Quincy Carter, 1998 (49 att.)

Passing Yards

386 – Eric Zeier, 1993 (36-for-65); 368 – Quincy Carter, 1998 (33-for-49) 

Passing TDs

3 – Jake Fromm, 2018; Aaron Murray, 2010; Matt Stafford, 2007; Buck Belue, 1979

Longest Passing TD

93 – Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott, 1980; 84 – M. Stafford to M. Massaquoi, 2007

TD Responsibility

5 – Ray Goff, 1976 (3-Rushing, 2-Passing); 4 – Robert Edwards, 1997 (4-R); Herschel Walker, 1981 (2-R, 2-P)

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