Georgia center Lamont Gaillard was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the NFL draft Saturday, the 179th overall pick.
The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Gaillard was a three-year starter on a Georgia offensive line that finished among the top three in the country, as evaluated by the Joe Moore Award committee.
“Lamont gets guys blocked and has a great feel for how to work with guys next to him,” ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic said. “He plays with good leverage and is very quick laterally. He doesn’t have great power, but he understands how to get into position quickly.”
Cubelic, a former center at Auburn and a current Joe Moore Award committee member, ranked Gaillard as the top center in the SEC.
Gaillard started the final 42 games of his career. He was one of four of the Bulldogs’ permanent captains in 2018, universally respected in the locker room.
Originally recruited by former UGA coach Mark Richt as a defensive lineman, Guillard’s flip to center proved pivotal.
In addition to making the line calls, teammates relied on Guillard to help generate energy.
“Lamont, he always had juice, on the sidelines and in the games,” said UGA receiver Riley Ridley, himself drafted in the fourth round Saturday by the Bears. “Regularly, he keeps guys alive with it.”
