SEC Network analyst Chris Doering believes Georgia running back D’Andre Swift will be awarded the Heisman Trophy at the end of the 2019 season.
Doering laid out the case for Swift on SiriusXM as to why he will be the first Georgia player to win the award since Herschel Walker took it home in 1982.
Doering cited how Swift is one of the most explosive players in the country and the fact that he’ll also be playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the country.
But the real difference-maker for Swift, in Doering’s eyes, will come with Swift’s contributions in the passing game.
“I think you’re going to see D’Andre Swift put big numbers in the rushing game, and it’s going to be complemented by what he’s able to do in the passing game,” Doering said.
Swift caught 32 passes a season ago for 297 yards and 3 touchdowns. Swift is Georgia’s leading returning receiver, as the top five pass catchers from the 2018 season are no longer on the team following the June dismissal of wide receiver Jeremiah Holloman. Those numbers come in addition to the 1,049 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns Swift had as a sophomore.
Another point that Doering made is that the change in offensive coordinator will help boost Swift’s numbers. The Bulldogs replaced Jim Chaney with James Coley after the former left to become Tennessee’s offensive coordinator.
“The one thing we’ve heard a lot about what James Coley wants to do with this offense and taking in a little bit of direction than where Jim Chaney had it is that Coley wants running backs to catch more passes out of the backfield,” Doering said.
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