Post by Free Agent Fan on Jun 10, 2009 15:02:33 GMT -5
C RANDALL SWOOPES #78
In the spring of 2004, University of Georgia sophomore offensive lineman Randall Swoopes took a long walk “between the hedges” and just kept on going. The former Clarke Central High School (Athens) & Georgia Military College standout opted to sit out UGA’s spring practices; leading Coach Mark Richt to state, “Swoopes has decided he doesn't want to be a Georgia Bulldog anymore."
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Swoopes, (who ran a 4.8 / 40 and bench pressed close to 500 lbs) had been rated as the eighth-best junior college OL recruit by College Football News & was the son of former Georgia All-SEC defensive tackle Ronnie Swoopes. Called by Coach Richt “a fine football player, a nice kid too…”, Swoopes had been expected to contend for a starting job in 2004 and beyond, where – had he stayed with the Dawgs - he would have snapped balls to the likes of Quarterbacks David Greene, D.J. Shockley & Matt Safford. However, like many teenagers, Randall “The Beast” Swoopes had some serious maturing to do first.
That said (five years later) an older, wiser Randall Swoopes will resume his promising football career with the Augusta Colts. In fact, Swoopes is projected to be the Colts’ starting center in 2010; most likely lining up between OL Courtney Safford (6‘5, 305, Shaw University) and NFL prospect OL James Thompson (6’4, 315, USC). Now talk about your “Border Wars”! Who would have thought that a Bulldog & a Gamecock would stand together as they anchor the 2010 Augusta Colts offensive line!
In the spring of 2004, University of Georgia sophomore offensive lineman Randall Swoopes took a long walk “between the hedges” and just kept on going. The former Clarke Central High School (Athens) & Georgia Military College standout opted to sit out UGA’s spring practices; leading Coach Mark Richt to state, “Swoopes has decided he doesn't want to be a Georgia Bulldog anymore."
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Swoopes, (who ran a 4.8 / 40 and bench pressed close to 500 lbs) had been rated as the eighth-best junior college OL recruit by College Football News & was the son of former Georgia All-SEC defensive tackle Ronnie Swoopes. Called by Coach Richt “a fine football player, a nice kid too…”, Swoopes had been expected to contend for a starting job in 2004 and beyond, where – had he stayed with the Dawgs - he would have snapped balls to the likes of Quarterbacks David Greene, D.J. Shockley & Matt Safford. However, like many teenagers, Randall “The Beast” Swoopes had some serious maturing to do first.
That said (five years later) an older, wiser Randall Swoopes will resume his promising football career with the Augusta Colts. In fact, Swoopes is projected to be the Colts’ starting center in 2010; most likely lining up between OL Courtney Safford (6‘5, 305, Shaw University) and NFL prospect OL James Thompson (6’4, 315, USC). Now talk about your “Border Wars”! Who would have thought that a Bulldog & a Gamecock would stand together as they anchor the 2010 Augusta Colts offensive line!