Gilliard And Walsh Honored

FOOTBALL

Georgia junior inside linebacker Mike Gilliard and senior place-kicker Blair Walsh have been awarded weekly honors following their performances during the 20-12 victory at Tennessee.

Gilliard was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week as well as the College Football Performance Awards National Linebacker of the Week for the first time in his career. Walsh was awarded the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance versus the Volunteers.

Gilliard, a 6-2, 220-pound native of Valdosta finished with a game-high and career-high 12 tackles, including a sack for -14 yards and 2.5 tackles for loss of 20 yards, a forced fumble, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup during the Dawgs’ win. This marked the fourth straight game that Gilliard has led Georgia in tackles as he tops the team with 40 stops.

Thanks in part to Gilliard’s contributions in the middle, the Dawg defense held Tennessee to -20 yards rushing, which is the lowest output for a Dawg opponent since 1999. Georgia has allowed just two touchdowns in the past four games and is now third in the SEC in total defense, rushing defense and pass defense.

Walsh, a 5-10, 192-pound native of Boca Raton, Florida, was 2-for-2 in field goals and hit a pair of PATs to pace the Dawgs during their 20-12 win. He drilled a 35 yarder to put Georgia up 3-0 in the opening period before connecting on a 23 yarder to give the Dawgs a 6-3 edge in the second quarter.

The SEC’s active leader with 63 field goals, Walsh is now eighth in the league’s record books for points scored in a career (350) and has the eighth most field goals of any kicker in league history. Walsh is also third in UGA history in most points scored behind SEC record holder Billy Bennett (409) and former All-American Kevin Butler (353).