Two Bulldogs make SEC All-Freshman Team
Georgia saw a number of freshmen make significant contributions during the 2019 season. And two of them were recognized for their efforts, as George Pickens and Travon Walker were each named to the Freshman All-SEC team.
Pickens was Georgia’s leading receiver this season, as he caught 37 passes for 552 yards and seven touchdowns, all of which were team highs. The freshman from Hoover, Ala., also had a tendency to make ridiculous catches, such as his touchdown catch against the Missouri Tigers.
W H A T A C A T C H !!!!!!!!
WR George Pickens (@geo_Thagoat)#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/IHXwLQQ5wr
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) November 10, 2019
It wasn’t all great this year though for Pickens, as he had to sit out the first of the SEC championship game after he was ejected from the Georgia Tech game due to fighting. Georgia coach Kirby Smart said he is committed to helping Pickens improve as both a person and player.
Related: George Pickens shows his importance to Georgia football
“We’re going to help George,” Smart said after the Georgia Tech game. “We’re going to help him grow up. We’re going to help him make better decisions do he can help our team.”
In the second half against LSU, Pickens did catch four passes for 54 yards and a touchdown, flashing his potential once again.
Walker finished the season with 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season. He consistently earned Smart’s praise during the course of the season, as the Georgia head coach continued to say Georgia had to find a way to get him on the field.
The biggest play of Walker’s freshman season came against Auburn, when he had the game-ending sack of Auburn quarterback Bo Nix.
Travon Walker (@D1Figure_) with the SAAAAAACCCCCKKKKKK!!!!!!
GEORGIA WINS!!!!!!!!!#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/jDPFswHWeA
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) November 17, 2019
Related: WATCH: Hopeful Travon Walker looks forward to ‘very big’ future as a Bulldog
Other true freshmen who had strong seasons include the likes of Nolan Smith, Dominick Blaylock and Tyrique Stevenson, while redshirt freshman Azeez Ojulari led the team in sacks with 4.5. The Bulldogs the nation’s No. 2 signing class in 2019, and are poised to bring in another talented group of recruits in 2020, highlighted by 5-star prospects such as Mekhail Sherman, Kendall Milton and Broderick Jones.
The Bulldogs return to action on Jan. 1 when they take on the Baylor Bears in the Sugar Bowl.
To see the full 2019 All-Freshman SEC team, see below. Nix was named the SEC Freshman of the Year earlier in the week
2019 SEC All-Freshman Team
TE
Jalen Wydermeyer, Texas A&M
OL
Wanya Morris, Tennessee
Darnell Wright, Tennessee
Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Evan Neal, Alabama
WR
George Pickens, Georgia
Treylon Burks, Arkansas
QB
Bo Nix, Auburn
RB
Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
AP
Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
DEFENSE
DL
Christian Barmore, Alabama
Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
Nathan Pickering, Mississippi State
Travon Walker, Georgia
LB
Shane Lee, Alabama
Christian Harris, Alabama
Henry To’o To’o, Tennessee
DB
Derek Stingley, LSU
Demani Richardson, Texas A&M
Kaiir Elam, Florida
Jammie Robinson, South Carolina
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK
Cade York, LSU P
Ty Perine, Alabama
RS
Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss
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- UGA star knew early in season what type of offense Bulldogs had
- 5 questions about Georgia OL coach Matt Luke with Ole Miss beat writer Neal McCready
- Georgia safeties Richard LeCounte, J.R. Reed both say they’re playing in Sugar Bowl
- Tate Ratledge: Kirby Smart and Matt Luke drop in to check on a priority O-line target
- Georgia football podcast: Matt Luke hire a major win for UGA
