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"It's great to be a Georgia Bulldog," says the chant, especially now and especially if you're a player for the football team.
That's the ride that Baldwin High grad Javon Bullard currently is on following the Dawgs' first national championship since 1980. At some point this year, Bullard will come back home with a giant shiny ring on his finger, something that plenty of his friends, family and fans will want to check out.
Bullard's parents – James and Shonda – attended all but one game this season. The family was in frigid Indianapolis for the national championship game against Alabama, cheering on the Dawgs from the stands and representing Milledgeville. On the field, meanwhile, Bullard got in the game on special teams.
For the season, Bullard played 138 snaps in the defensive secondary for Georgia, according to www.rivals.com. That was the second-most playing time among all of the defensive members of Georgia's 2021 recruiting class. Bullard led the team in tackles against Charleston Southern, catching the eye of one of the Georgia beat writers. Dawgs247 beat writer Jake Rowe recently ranked the 20 members of Georgia's true freshman class "based on 2021 impact," and Bullard came in at No. 3 on the list. Wrote Rowe:
There are freshmen who appeared in more games but none of the other defensive guys were as close to starting as Bullard. He appeared in 12 of 13 games and saw some meaningful snaps in those contests. He was the recipient of regular praise from Kirby Smart, who seems to have high hopes for the Milledgeville native. Bullard has yet to break up a pass or take a man down behind the line of scrimmage but he has piled up 12 total tackles on the year. He's worth keeping an eye on during bowl preparations as the UGA staff will conduct a few, if not several, camp-style practices to evaluate how much the young players have grown. Don't be surprised if he's more of a factor in the playoffs.
Bullard graduated from BHS in December 2020, a semester early, and has been on campus in Athens since last winter. He appeared in 14-out-of-15 games this season. According to NCAA rules, a true freshman is allowed to play in four games without losing their redshirt. Bullard has appeared in 13 games, which means that he'll be a sophomore next season.
Here's a look back on Bullard's journey in Athens so far...
The G-Day scrimmage game on April 17 was the first chance for Bullard to don the red and black for the fans. (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the Bulldogs’ practice on Tuesday, Aug. 31, leading up to the season opener against Clemson (Photo by Mackenzie Miles)
The UAB game on Sept. 11 was Bullard's first regular season game between the Hedges. (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard and Georgia outside linebacker MJ Sherman (8) during the UAB game. (Photo by Mackenzie Miles, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the Bulldogs’ Sept. 18 SEC opener against South Carolina (Photo by Mackenzie Miles, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard celebrating following the Bulldogs’ game against South Carolin (Photo by Mackenzie Miles, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard before the Bulldogs’ game against Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the Bulldogs’ game against Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 25 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard followin the Dawg Walk before the Bulldogs’ game against Kentucky on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 16 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the Bulldogs’ practice session in on Tuesday, Nov. 2 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the Bulldogs’ game against Missouri on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 6 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the Bulldogs’ game against Charleston Southern on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 20 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the Bulldogs’ game against Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field in Atlanta on Saturday, Nov. 27 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard (22) during Georgia’s game against Alabama in the 2021 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Dec. 4 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Capital Orange Bowl against Michigan at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Friday, Dec. 31 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
Bullard during the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship against Alabama at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, Ind., on Monday, Jan. 10 (Photo by Tony Walsh, UGA Sports Information Department)
