Georgia and Clemson name honorary captains for Alfac Kickoff Game

Georgia and Clemson will rekindle their college football rivalry in Week 1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, meeting for the 66th time since their very first matchup back in 1897, a 24-0 Georgia win. With such a long history, both teams have gone back into their past to name an honorary captain for the contest on August 31. 

Clemson will be represented by former Tiger and current Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, who played for Dabo Swinney from 2017-19 and was a key piece of the 2018 national championship team. Clemson went 29-1 in Terrell’s two seasons as a starting cornerback before he was selected with the 16th pick of the first round in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

Georgia’s representative, instead, comes from much deeper in its past with former placekicker Kevin Butler. Butler kicked 77 field goals from 1981-84, including the longest made field goal in program history, a 60-yarder against the Tigers in 1984. Butler was a consensus All-American at Georgia before playing 11 years in the NFL. 

The two representatives won’t be alone at midfield for the pregame coin toss ahead of the noon ET kickoff. According to the Aflac Kickoff Game’s official press release, “In honor of the Aflac Kickoff Game’s “Kickoff for a Cause” initiative and in anticipation of September as National Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the honorary captains will be joined by two current college students from each respective school, both of whom have their own inspiring pediatric cancer stories.”

Clemson sophomore Grayson Gentz will join Terrell and Georgia Georgia freshman Ethan Daniels will take the field with Butler. Fans are encouraged to participate in the mascot challenge to support children’s hospitals.