Forgotten Sports Heroes

deandre swift georgia bulldogs

Former Georgia Bulldog D’Andre Swift Had One of the Most Ridiculous TD Catches and Runs of the NFL Season in Detroit

 

Running back D’Andre Swift is a guy who’s been on the radar screen of football fans league-wide ever since his rookie campaign with the Detroit Lions, during which the former Georgia Bulldogs star recorded a rushing average of 4.6 yards to go along with 521 yards on the ground.

He also had 46 catches for 357 yards, and racked up more than 1,000 total yards in his sophomore season.

Now part of a more talented Lions team that features number two overall pick Aidan Hutchinson out of Michigan, who had three sacks in the first half, Swift has free reign to become the player he’s capable of being in Motown under second-year Head Coach Dan Campbell.

Prior to the season, Swift made a prediction that he would finish the season with a Marshall Faulk-like stat total: 1,000-plus yards in both rushing and receiving.

While the lightning quick, versatile and powerful Swift may never reach those lofty goals, he has shown the potential to become a top-flight NFL running back as both a rusher and a pass catcher this season.

Swift turned in a highlight reel play in game two against the Washington Commanders, a game that saw Detroit jump out to a 22-0 first half lead before hanging on for the 36-27 victory, their first of the season.

Swift showed off his incredible awareness and ability to make something out of nothing, as shown in the video highlight of his 23-yard touchdown catch at Ford Field in Detroit below:

Swift has also shown promise running behind a young, talented and powerful offensive line for the Lion that features Frank Ragnow, an All-Pro center who missed the game due to injury, sophomore tackle Penei Sewell, tackle Taylor Decker and others.

He took a hand off from Jared Goff from behind center in the first quarter and nearly got loose for a 57-yard touchdown before being dragged down from behind.

Swift has showed improved patience as a runner, while still bringing his incredible pass catching and run-after-the-catch skills to the table for the Lions.

They are the same skills that made him a big-time performer at Georgia despite having to wait his turn behind future NFL pros Sony Michel and Nick Chubb in the Bulldogs’ crowded backfield.

Swift finished with 56 yards on just five carries on the ground during the day, along with two receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.

Next up for Detroit is a road matchup against Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings, in what should be yet another test of Swift’s immense talent. In the meantime, Swift is hoping that more fans and pundits take notice — including the John Madden NFL video game team, whom Swift says has underrated him for the last two seasons, as shown in the video clip below.