Best Of UGA - Vol. 1 - "The Players"

As promised, the first of a 4 part series leading up to the start of the UGA football season. Once again, the only criteria I am using is the fact that I personally had to witness the subject/person listed. Without further adieu, my favorite players of the past 15 years (1994-2008):

10. TIE - Matthew Stafford QB (2006-8) / Eric Zeier QB (1994)
A fitting tie since both were highly skilled QB's who led UGA to some impressive wins through the air, yet both left without winning an SEC title. Had he been in Spurrier's offensive system, I bet Zeier would have passed for 5,000 yards and 35 touchdowns his senior year. And now I have a reason to watch the Lions other than on Thanksgiving while prepping the turkey for frying.

9. Robert Edwards RB (1995-7)
Originally signed as a defensive back, one of the last wise decisions Coach Goff made was to convert Edwards to RB just before the start of the 1995 season due to depth issues. All he did was rip off 4 rushing TD's in his first game against SCAR. The next week, he suffered a year ending injury, had a solid 1996, and returned to top form in 1997. Without a doubt his highlight was his dominating performance against FLA in the Cocktail Party, sealing the win with a beautiful 30 yard TD in the 4th quarter. Great bookends to his career.

8. Boss Bailey LB (1998-2002)
While his play at LB was solid, his uncanny knack for reaching Superman height in blocking field goals was his calling card. He blew out his knee on the opening kickoff of the 2000 season, earning a medical redshirt. Good thing for us come 2002 when he leaned on his defensive leadership to win the SEC for the first time since 1982.

7. Billy Bennett K (2000-3)
The tiny southpaw kicker from right in Athens was clutch all throughout his career, including a huge game winning kick against Bama in 2002.

6. Knowshown Moreno RB (2007-8)
Oh how Coach Richt wishes he didn't redshirt him in 2006. Just an unbeleiveable ball of energy, which I know rubbed other teams the wrong way, but I loved it. It's how you should play every down. Wasn't afraid to deliver a blow heading out of bounds, was great in the screen game, and could outrun more people than he was given credit for.

5. Thomas Davis S (2001-4)
I've seen alot of UGA football in the past decade and a half, and without a doubt the hardest hits I have witnessed were delivered courtesy of Mr. Davis. From our seats in 123, we could see receivers going across the middle and there was Davis lurking, ready to strike. And boy did he.

4. Champ Bailey CB (1996-8)
It's not often that college coaches gameplan against one player, like you see in the NFL, but Boss' older brother was so fast, quick, and skilled as a cornerback that he could take away half the field with his coverage skills. Coach Donnan rightly figured that he was too valuable not on the field, so Champ got some spot duty on offense too, and made a huge catch and run in the comeback against Tech in 1997.

3. Hines Ward QB/RB/WR (1994-1997)
Our seatmate Jimmy's hometown hero (go Forest Park, GA) Ward might have been the best pure athlete I've seen don the red & black. He held his own when pressed into emergency QB duty in 1995, and developed into a skilled pass catcher and deadly blocker (ask any NFL team to verify that and they will). He also had a huge game against FLA in 1997, making throws off of reverses and racking up huge receiving yardage.

2. David Greene QB (2001-4)
He wasn't the fastest on his feet, but he did enough to avoid the sack. He didn't have the strongest arm, but could put a 40 yard bomb on a dime. He wasn't fiery or in your face, but he led by example and holds the record for most wins by a starting quarterback in NCAA D-1 history. All David Greene did was won, and looked like he knew he would the whole time. Cool under pressure, knowledgeable of the offense, and smart enough to take what the defense gave him. A winner, in the truest sense.

1. David Pollack DE (2001-4)
Easily the hardest working player I've ever seen play at UGA, and that holds true even today. Pollack was a smart, feisty, and relentless pass rusher. He made athletic plays that someone of his size/dimensons had no business making. You could almost feel the bliss he had playing football, along with his enduring love for Georgia. UGA should honor Pollack for his outstanding play, but in a unique way. His #47 should be reserved for a player voted on by his peers as having the desire, work ethic, and heart that David Pollack embodied as a member of the Dawgs. I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate the best individual player I've seen in the past 15 years.

HONORABLE MENTION
Thomas Brown - RB
Mike Bobo - QB
Rennie Curran - LB
Leonard Pope - TE
Brandon Sutherland - FB