University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Swift Selected by Lions in NFL Draft’s Second Round
April 25, 2020 | Football
BRISTOL, Conn. – Junior running back D'Andre Swift was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft Friday evening.
Swift was the second running back selected in the draft, following Clyde Edwards-Helaire of LSU, who was selected 32nd overall Thursday evening by the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also the 34th Georgia running back to be selected in the draft.
Swift learned of his selection from his family home in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pa. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the draft is being located at ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn.
Swift was a Maxwell Award semifinalist after eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing for the second consecutive season. After piling up 1,218 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in 2019 to earn All-SEC Coaches First Team honors, he became just the fifth Bulldog in history to have at least 1,000 yards in two seasons. Swift finished his career seventh on Georgia's all-time rushing list with 2,885 yards.
For his career, Swift started 17 games, including 11 in 2019. One of the Bulldogs' permanent captains last season, he owns the Georgia record for highest average gain per rush (minimum 400 attempts) at 6.56 yards. His career mark ranks second in SEC history, trailing only Auburn's Bo Jackson at 6.62 (1982-85).
Swift is the 15th Georgia player drafted by the Lions and second in as many years, joining tight end Isaac Nauta, who was selected in the seventh round last season. Nauta is one of three former Bulldogs on the Lions' active roster, including 2009 first-overall pick Matthew Stafford and defensive tackle John Atkins, a 2018 undrafted free agent. Coincidentally, Swift's draft position (35th overall) is the same slot where former teammate Nick Chubb was selected by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
The NFL Draft will conclude Saturday afternoon with the final four rounds, beginning at 12 p.m. Live coverage of the draft will be available on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network.
LIONS RB D'ANDRE SWIFT CONFERENCE CALL QUOTE SHEET
On his reaction when he knew he would be selected by the Lions: "Just relieved, excited, happy, blessed, everything all in one. Just so many emotions going through my head – just to get that phone call. I'm just blessed, happy to be a Lion."
On what he knows about RB Kerryon Johnson and how the two of them will be in the backfield together: "I know a lot about him. He had a great career in college – him and Bo Scarbrough. I've seen them first hand. He's done great in the NFL, too. So just to go in there and build a relationship with them type of guys – I'm just looking to compete for whatever role is fit for me. I'm looking forward to meeting all my teammates."
On the Lions' having multiple SEC running backs and what that says about the conference: "It's amazing – that just speaks volumes to the conference. I think some of the best players come through the SEC. I think it's one of the higher conferences in college football. Just to have an all SEC backfield, that's just a blessing."
On if he had much conversation with the Lions before the Draft: "I have. It was one of the teams I talked with a little bit more than others. I didn't know it was going to be them. I didn't know who it was going to be, that's the most crazy, exciting part about it."
On what he knows about QB Matthew Stafford: "I have definitely seen him play, coming from Georgia – great quarterback. Looking forward to meeting him as week and build that relationship."
On why Georgia has produced so many good NFL running backs: "Just how they prepare, how they prepare their backs and every position. Keep them ready for the next level no matter what is thrown at them – prepared mentally, physically. So it's preparation."
On what it means to be a part of the Georgia running back lineage in the pros: "Amazing. Just to have my name mentioned with those guys – they're legends. I just have to do my part, so I can be talked about with them further down the line."
On if he takes pride in his pass-protection: "Yeah, I think you have to. I think I was put in more of a position last year to kind of solidify it and kind of help complete my game so that teams can see that. That's something you can definitely always work on and get better at."
On what he knows about the Lions: "The first thing that came to my mind was Barry Sanders, he's my favorite back of all-time. I didn't really know too much about them. I don't have a favorite football team, I just like watching football in general. Now that I'm a Lion, I'm going to definitely do my history."
On if there's something about his game he didn't show at Georgia but can in the NFL: "I think just getting into space a lot more, but at the running routes in the slot versus whoever. Just being able to use my abilities to really showcase my talents, I think I can do that a lot more as far as getting in space and just getting mismatches and stuff like that."
On how he was able to watch and learn from Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders: "Well, everyone would always talk about him. I started watching film and highlights and just looking at his stats. (It's) kind of unbelievable. As I got older, I tried to emulate my game to be like his in any way possible. I just love watching him."
On if he thinks he can be the Lions' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2013: "That sounds good whenever it comes down to it. Right now, I'm just looking forward to meeting the team and just competing for whatever role they think is best for me right now."
Swift was the second running back selected in the draft, following Clyde Edwards-Helaire of LSU, who was selected 32nd overall Thursday evening by the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also the 34th Georgia running back to be selected in the draft.
Swift learned of his selection from his family home in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pa. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the draft is being located at ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn.
Swift was a Maxwell Award semifinalist after eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing for the second consecutive season. After piling up 1,218 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in 2019 to earn All-SEC Coaches First Team honors, he became just the fifth Bulldog in history to have at least 1,000 yards in two seasons. Swift finished his career seventh on Georgia's all-time rushing list with 2,885 yards.
For his career, Swift started 17 games, including 11 in 2019. One of the Bulldogs' permanent captains last season, he owns the Georgia record for highest average gain per rush (minimum 400 attempts) at 6.56 yards. His career mark ranks second in SEC history, trailing only Auburn's Bo Jackson at 6.62 (1982-85).
Swift is the 15th Georgia player drafted by the Lions and second in as many years, joining tight end Isaac Nauta, who was selected in the seventh round last season. Nauta is one of three former Bulldogs on the Lions' active roster, including 2009 first-overall pick Matthew Stafford and defensive tackle John Atkins, a 2018 undrafted free agent. Coincidentally, Swift's draft position (35th overall) is the same slot where former teammate Nick Chubb was selected by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
The NFL Draft will conclude Saturday afternoon with the final four rounds, beginning at 12 p.m. Live coverage of the draft will be available on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network.
The #Se7enEra heads to Detroit — Congrats, @DAndreSwift‼️ (Also, can't wait for Stafford X Swift 🤯)
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) April 24, 2020
📺 LIVE: @ESPN, @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/hGSRNLBr4K
LIONS RB D'ANDRE SWIFT CONFERENCE CALL QUOTE SHEET
On his reaction when he knew he would be selected by the Lions: "Just relieved, excited, happy, blessed, everything all in one. Just so many emotions going through my head – just to get that phone call. I'm just blessed, happy to be a Lion."
On what he knows about RB Kerryon Johnson and how the two of them will be in the backfield together: "I know a lot about him. He had a great career in college – him and Bo Scarbrough. I've seen them first hand. He's done great in the NFL, too. So just to go in there and build a relationship with them type of guys – I'm just looking to compete for whatever role is fit for me. I'm looking forward to meeting all my teammates."
On the Lions' having multiple SEC running backs and what that says about the conference: "It's amazing – that just speaks volumes to the conference. I think some of the best players come through the SEC. I think it's one of the higher conferences in college football. Just to have an all SEC backfield, that's just a blessing."
On if he had much conversation with the Lions before the Draft: "I have. It was one of the teams I talked with a little bit more than others. I didn't know it was going to be them. I didn't know who it was going to be, that's the most crazy, exciting part about it."
On what he knows about QB Matthew Stafford: "I have definitely seen him play, coming from Georgia – great quarterback. Looking forward to meeting him as week and build that relationship."
On why Georgia has produced so many good NFL running backs: "Just how they prepare, how they prepare their backs and every position. Keep them ready for the next level no matter what is thrown at them – prepared mentally, physically. So it's preparation."
On what it means to be a part of the Georgia running back lineage in the pros: "Amazing. Just to have my name mentioned with those guys – they're legends. I just have to do my part, so I can be talked about with them further down the line."
On if he takes pride in his pass-protection: "Yeah, I think you have to. I think I was put in more of a position last year to kind of solidify it and kind of help complete my game so that teams can see that. That's something you can definitely always work on and get better at."
On what he knows about the Lions: "The first thing that came to my mind was Barry Sanders, he's my favorite back of all-time. I didn't really know too much about them. I don't have a favorite football team, I just like watching football in general. Now that I'm a Lion, I'm going to definitely do my history."
On if there's something about his game he didn't show at Georgia but can in the NFL: "I think just getting into space a lot more, but at the running routes in the slot versus whoever. Just being able to use my abilities to really showcase my talents, I think I can do that a lot more as far as getting in space and just getting mismatches and stuff like that."
On how he was able to watch and learn from Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders: "Well, everyone would always talk about him. I started watching film and highlights and just looking at his stats. (It's) kind of unbelievable. As I got older, I tried to emulate my game to be like his in any way possible. I just love watching him."
On if he thinks he can be the Lions' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2013: "That sounds good whenever it comes down to it. Right now, I'm just looking forward to meeting the team and just competing for whatever role they think is best for me right now."
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