UGA University of GeorgiaATHENS, Ga. — Georgia made its share of mistakes throughout last Saturday’s 38-35 opening loss at Clemson, including the tackle that wasn’t by junior cornerback Damian Swann.
After the Bulldogs tied the game at 7 on a 75-yard touchdown run by Todd Gurley with 9:17 remaining in the first quarter, the Tigers took over at their 23-yard line. A short pass from Tajh Boyd to Sammy Watkins became an explosive play when Swann allowed Watkins to break free for a 77-yard score.
“The biggest thing was just getting the guy on the ground, which I had the opportunity to do,” Swann said Tuesday. “I think I let one get away, and it is what it is. At first, I don’t even think he knew I was there, and it was one of those things where I tried to hit him and didn’t wrap up.
“Things happen, and I should have just made the tackle.”
Swann, the only member of Georgia’s defense who started all 14 games last season, was joined in the secondary Saturday by former walk-on safety Connor Norman, freshman safety Tray Matthews and freshman cornerback Brendan Langley. This Saturday against South Carolina, sophomore safety Josh Harvey-Clemons will be back from suspension and junior safety Corey Moore is expected back from a knee sprain.