Kirby Smart extends immense praise on Javon Bullard, his dedication to football

Georgia cornerback Javon Bullard received a lot of praise from head coach Kirby Smart ahead of the national championship.

Bullard is a key cog to the Bulldogs’ defense and he’ll surely be important Monday night against TCU. That type of player is amazing to have a national championship squad, according to the head coach.

Smart opened up about Bullard’s development throughout his college career.

“Just a great kid,” Smart said. “He loves football. When you start combing our state, I wouldn’t say there’s kids as talented as Javon everywhere but there’s just a lot of kids in our state that love football. That’s what we found during the COVID year. He never got to come to campus, he never got to come to camp. 

“But he sent in at least 100 videotapes of him working out in his backyard and putting out calls, and I said this guy is different. Kids aren’t doing this in COVID times where they’re going out to work out and making sure they get scene. And we just kind of fell in love with the culture and the toughness of the kid.”

In 13 games this season, Bullard has 45 total tackles, 32 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three pass deflections.

“And he’s become — he makes our team tougher,” Smart said. “He’s had injury after injury. He’s had some shoulders. He won’t put on a black shirt. He creates a dynamic on our team of, if you think you’re hurt, look at Javon. He’ll go out there and practice every day and he’ll have contact and play with toughness.

“I think in this day and age that’s different in football, and it creates a little bit of an attitude for our team that makes us better. It permeates the special teams. And even receivers see it. They’re, like, man, if he can go, then I can go. So I think that’s the biggest thing he brings to our team.”

As a member of the Class of 2021, Bullard was a three-star prospect out of Milledgeville (Ga.) Baldwin, according to the On3 Consensus. He was the No. 45 overall prospect in the state, the No. 43 cornerback in the class and the No. 524 overall prospect in the class.

No. 1 Georgia (14-0) takes on No. 3 TCU (13-1) in the College Football Playoff national championship Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.