Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff: 70 Days
In looking for the number 70 in the Georgia Football history books, I came across Mecole Hardman. Yes, Mecole wore No. 4 for the Bulldogs so it’s not that. He didn’t catch 70 passes in his career. The reason the number 70 ties into Hardman would be his ability as a kick and punt returner where he earned All-SEC and All-American honors in 2018. That season, Hardman returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown against Middle Tennessee State, the last time that Georgia has housed one in the return game.
First of all, it’s a throwback to see some of the names that are on that punt return team. Deandre Walker, Riley Ridley, Tyler Simmons, Jayson Stanley, Trey Blount, Prather Hudson. Even a young Channing Tindall made his way onto the field as a freshman – a lesson on the importance of special teams for all the youngsters out there. Furthermore, it feels like a throwback for myself as that Georgia-MTSU game was my first from the press box.
Hardman averaged 20.1 yards per return that season, and while that fell short of the minimum qualification standards, he would have been second nationally and first in the SEC with that number. Aside from his 70-yard return against the Blue Raiders, Hardman had a 65-yard punt return against Kentucky with the SEC East’s spot in the conference championship on the line. That led to the game’s first score. He had a season-long 41-yard kickoff return against Auburn just a year after his career-long kickoff return against the Tigers. Five times during the season did Hardman total over 100 all-purpose yards as he won Georgia’s special teams award at the postseason gala, his second straight season taking home the honor.
Recent Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff Stories
No. 72 – 72 passing yards in a top-10 win, 72 tackles for Butkus Award winner
No. 73 – Stetson gets comfortable with 73 yard touchdown, Lewis leads the defense with 73 tackles
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