ATHENS -- Georiga senior cornerback Brandon Boykin on Monday beat out Arkansas' Joe Adams, Oregon's LaMichael James and Toledo's Eric Page for the Paul Hornung Award, designed to go to the nation's most versatile college football player, and it was hard to argue against Boykin's selection.
"Brandon's awesome," Georgia coach Mark Richt said of the Fayetteville resident who was a true three-way threat for the Bulldogs.
As a starter on defense, Boykin had 55 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a safety. On special teams, he had 850 kickoff-return yards, 180 punt-return yards and a touchdown. As a part-time running back and receiver on offense, he had 103 yards rushing, an 80-yard TD run, and caught five passes for 71 yards and another touchdown.
For his career, the 5-foot-10, 183-pound Boykin is Georgia’s all-time leader in kickoff-return yardage with 2,663, which ranks second on the SEC’s all-time list. Boykin is also the only player in league history with three 100-yard plays of any kind. He completed his UGA career with 159 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, nine interceptions, four kickoff returns for touchdowns and a punt return for a touchdown.
"It's rare for a modern-day college football player to perform at a high level in all three phases of the game, especially in an elite conference," Paul Hornung said Monday. "From what I've seen of Brandon Boykin, he is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win games. That's how I played the game. Brandon Boykin is a deserving winner."
Boykin saved his best for last. On Jan. 2, he was named Most Valuable Player in the Outback Bowl in Tampa with a spectacular three-pronged effort despite a 33-30 overtime loss to Michigan State. Boykin recorded a safety, had a bowl record-breaking 92-yard punt return for a touchdown and scored on a 13-yard touchdown reception.
“I wish I had three of him because he’d start on offense, and he’d start on defense, and he’d start on every special teams we’ve got,” Richt said.
3 freshmen enroll
Three early enrollees joined the Bulldogs over the weekend and attended their first classes on Monday, including 5-star running back signee Keith Marshall of Raleigh, N.C. Also joining the team were quarterback Faton Bauta of West Palm Beach, Fla., and offensive lineman Mark Beard, a junior college transfer from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
Marshall made a good first impression on Richt at Sunday night’s team meeting.
“He’s very focused,” Richt said. “As a matter of fact, I walked into the meeting last night and he had a playbook in his hand and he was looking over assignments. It just gave me a moment to grin seeing how excited he was about being at Georgia.”
Mason situation unsettled
Backup quarterback Hutson Mason still has not decided whether to continue his career at Georgia. The sophomore from Marietta has admitted he's considering a transfer because of a lack of playing time behind starter Aaron Murray.
“I’ve talked to Hutson a couple of times and I’m not sure he’s 100 percent settled on what he’s going to do at this moment,” Richt said. “But when that time comes, we’ll let everybody know.”
Charles still collegian
Georgia tight end Orson Charles attended the Bulldogs' mandatory team meeting on Sunday night at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, as did the team's other underclassmen considering the NFL draft. Richt took that as a good sign.
“That doesn’t guarantee everybody’s going to stay, but at least they were all there,” Richt said. “I guess it means they aren’t 100 percent sure what they’re going to do.”
Underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare. In addition to Charles, safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams were still considering the draft heading into the bowl game.
Love to transfer
Redshirt sophomore cornerback Jordan Love, who saw limited playing time in 21 games the past two seasons, has left school and is seeking a transfer, Richt said.
“Jordan Love has moved on,” Richt said. “I just want to say that I really appreciate everything Jordan contributed to Georgia.”
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