Georgia football's 5 best players in the SEC Championship Game

ATLANTA — The Georgia Bulldogs are SEC Champions and Rose Bowl bound. But before we get into the month-long buildup to the College Football Playoff semifinal against Oklahoma, let’s take a moment to bask in the 28-7 beatdown Georgia handed Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. Here are the five best Bulldogs from the title game victory on Saturday.

5. The offensive line — The line gets a collective spot on this list for its performance, because each and every one of those guys stepped up huge, especially considering how they played the first time against Auburn. They plowed the way for a 238-yard day on the ground and gave quarterback Jake Fromm much more time to pass and only took 2 sacks.

4. Deandre Baker — With Malkom Parrish out the lineup, there was a lot of pressure on Baker step up, and he didn't disappoint. The Auburn passing game was shut down, in large part because of his efforts. Receivers he covered were targeted 6 times and got 3 catches for 30 yards and allowed just 7 yards after catches. Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham had a 64.6 passer rating when throwing at Baker.

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3. D'Andre Swift — He didn't do much outside of one big run. The vast majority of his 88 rushing yards came on the 64-yard touchdown dash in the fourth quarter, but that play alone was good enough to earn him a spot on this list. In fact, I think I'll watch it again right now.

2. Jake Fromm — I think it's safe to say Fromm is a freshman in name only now, because few freshman quarterbacks have 13 games and an SEC title under their belt. Fromm got into a rhythm early and finished with 183 yards and 2 touchdowns. In the fourth quarter, he played with the poise of a senior, confidently orchestrating the offense and eating clock. Soon the time will come when Kirby Smart and Jim Chaney take the leash off and let him do more than manage games. I'm excited to see what he can do when that moment comes.

1. Roquan Smith — Thirteen total tackles, 10 solo, a sack, 2 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles in the rematch with Auburn. SEC Championship Game MVP. Butkus Award winner. The best defender in college football, maybe the best player in college football. Georgia football legend. Damn good Dawg.

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