Georgia Football 2011: Handing out Midseason Awards

With the Bulldogs off this week, it’s a good time to take a look back at the first half of the 2011 season. Currently, the Bulldogs stand at 5-2, 4-1 in the SEC, and have put themselves in position to win the SEC East title.

So the Bulldogs have had a solid first half to the season and, because of that, the fans are excited for the next five games. The media likes to give out awards at the midway point of the season, and I’m going to continue that trend.

Here’s a list of awards for the Bulldogs at the halfway mark of the season.

Top Offensive Player: Aaron Murray

This is no surprise because Murray has been very steady at quarterback. He had a big freshman year and is on pace to be the top quarterback in the SEC this season.

He currently leads the conference with 16 touchdown passes and is third in the conference in passing yards. He is the leader of the team and the Bulldogs will go as far as Murray as takes them.

Top Defensive Player: Jarvis Jones

There is plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball, but Jones has been the most consistent player as well as the most dominant. Jones is second in the conference in tackles for loss and third in the conference in sacks.

He is one of the reasons the Bulldogs are ranked eighth in the country in total defense.

Top Freshman: Malcolm Mitchell

This one was tough because Isaiah Crowell has been a key element in the running game for the Bulldogs. But Mitchell has burst onto the scene and could put up better numbers than A.J. Green when his career is said and done.

He leads all freshmen in the conference in yards per game, yards and touchdowns, and he’s on pace to have a 1,000-yard season.

MVP: Aaron Murray

Again, this was no contest because without Murray, the Bulldogs would not be in the position they are in right now. It’s not so much that he has won games for the Bulldogs, but his play has kept the Bulldogs out of trouble.

The more snaps he gets, the better he becomes, and if he continues to get better, this team will be dangerous towards the end of the season.

Best Game: Georgia vs. South Carolina

I know this game was a loss for the Bulldogs, but it was a game that went back and forth and also displayed some great talent on both sides of the football.

From Melvin Ingram, a defensive lineman, scoring twice for the Gamecocks, to Crowell rushing for his first collegiate touchdown, the game featured non-stop action and it really made experts believe Georgia could contend for the SEC title if it plays like it did against the Gamecocks all season long.