Dawn of the Dawg
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Georgia Football Awards for the 2017 team

By Alistair Penny

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs is presented the trophy after the Bulldogs beat the Oklahoma Sooners 54-48 in double overtime in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs is presented the trophy after the Bulldogs beat the Oklahoma Sooners 54-48 in double overtime in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Tyler Clark
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Tyler Clark /

Most Improved Defensive Player

Tyler Clark: Sophomore Defensive Tackle

Does any defensive player excite you more for 2018 more than Tyler Clark? That would have sounded like a crazy question to ask when the season started. It’s not so crazy anymore.

Clark has made an impact since he arrived in Athens and he looked like a contributor in his freshman season. When the season started, he had become the backup to Trenton Thompson. By the time we got to the postseason, the former number 1 recruit in the country couldn’t get his job back. Clark was THAT good.

His level of play down the stretch was stunning. His quickness off the snap has always been good, but he’s taken it to a whole new level. Clark has also added strength this past season and by the way, did I mention that he’s just so damn quick. He’s become a complete nightmare for offensive guards who can barely seem to get their hands on him.

Time and again in the second half of this season we saw Clark break down a pocket from the inside. He only had 2.5 sacks, but he seemed to endlessly put pressure on the opposing QB. In short, this guy is now a certified terror.

I can’t wait to see how good Clark becomes next season. Having already taken his game to a new level, I’m so excited to see how another year’s development helps him. He could be the best defensive lineman we have seen in some time and considering the talent we’ve had over the years, that’s saying something.

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