Georgia LB Juwan Taylor explains touchdown-saving play against South Carolina
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Instincts and awareness saved a touchdown for Georgia against South Carolina last Saturday — and saved Deandre Baker from plenty of embarrassment.
The Bulldogs’ defensive back appeared to take an early interception back for a score, though replay showed Baker dropped the ball just short of the goal line. Luckily for him and for Georgia, linebacker Juwan Taylor quickly grabbed the loose ball in the end zone, officially scoring the touchdown.
Taylor told reporters Monday that his heads-up play didn’t require much thinking.
“It was an immediate reaction,” Taylor said. “It looked like (Baker) dropped the ball behind the goal line, so I just scooped it up just in case.”
Thanks to Taylor’s gut feeling, the No. 3 Bulldogs made South Carolina pay for the turnover en route to a 41-17 win. Though it all worked out for Georgia in the end, coach Kirby Smart said Baker would spend some extra time working on such situations in practice.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
