Georgia Football: How Brandon Boykin Was a Casualty of Graduating in 2008

Brandon Boykin probably thought that he was on top of the world in 2008, as a true freshman on the No. 1-ranked college football team in the nation.  After the Alabama game in his freshman year, it seemed as if UGA had settled.  They went on to lose to the eventual national champion, Florida Gators, and also to bitter in-state rival Georgia Tech.

In 2008, the Bulldogs finished 10-3, after beginning the season at the top of the polls.  Things had to be looking really good for Boykin as he was only going to get better. Oh if he only knew...

Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno entered the 2009 NFL draft and things started to just snowball from there.  Georgia finished 8-5, during Boykin's sophomore season, and 6-7 when he was a junior. 

In 2009, Boykin became the first player in SEC history to return two kickoffs of 100 yards or more in a single season.  In the Independence Bowl against Texas A&M, he set a school record and tied an SEC record with his third kickoff return for a TD on the season (81 yards).

2010 was a relatively quiet year for Boykin and the rest of the Bulldogs, as they finished 6-7, giving the football program its first losing season since 1996.

2011 opened the way every Georgia fan feared...0-2.  Could it be worse than 2010?  Not if No. 2 had anything to do about it.  Boykin was all-everything for the Bulldogs and was rewarded with the Paul Hornung Award for the most versatile player in the country.

It seemed throughout his career it was one thing after another.  Head coach Mark Richt was seemingly always on the hot seat and after his sophomore year, the Bulldogs fired defensive coordinator Willie Martinez and hired Todd Grantham.  Grantham brought his 3-4 defense to Athens and the 2010 season was one of learning.  The Bulldogs finally had stability this year and the defense seemed to respond, as it was one of the best in the country.

So for a minute let's pretend that he was from the Class of 2010 along with Alec Ogletree.  He would have two more years to play for Grantham's defense.  Aaron Murray has two more years of eligibility.  Isiah Crowell (if he stays) is just a freshman.  One of the top running backs in the country Keith Marshall would be arriving in time for the G-Day game.  

Recap: Four years with the same defensive coordinator, stability at quarterback (Boykin played with three different quarterbacks Matthew Stafford, Joe Cox and Aaron Murray) and what looks to be a budding running back corps that the Bulldogs used to be known for.

Ahh, what might have been.  If Boykins was two years younger then he could have been apart of teams that would have tasted much more success on the field.

Unfortunately he played for two Georgia football teams that ended in mediocrity, or dare I say pathetic, in 2010.

Instead of playing at a time when the Bulldogs were stable, Boykin was a victim of the revolving door that best describes Georgia football in 2009 and 2010.

He deserved better...