Georgia Tech legend Pat Swilling’s time as a Yellow Jackets football dad will likely come to a close this year. But he’s hopeful for what looks like the final seasons for his sons, cornerback Tre Swilling and running back Bruce Jordan-Swilling.
“I’m excited about this year,” Swilling told the AJC. “I think we’re going to turn the corner. I really do.”
His goal is seven wins and a bowl game. Swilling called the defense, which includes Tre, a three-year starter, “loaded.” That includes 11 players who started four or more games and transfers such as linebacker Ayinde Eley, defensive end Keion White and cornerback Kenyatta Watson.
“I know, knowing coach (Geoff) Collins, this is probably the most physical and athletic group he’s had,” Swilling said. “If you look at what he’s recruiting, it’s only getting better. But this is a good group of kids he’s got. They look like a football team.”
That includes his sons. Tre has been getting practice time at the nickel corner spot, lining up across slot receivers.
“He loves it,” said Pat Swilling, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. “You know why? It’s action, it’s nonstop action. I think he understands it’s one play at a time. I told him you’re going to play some (talented) guys in that slot, so you’ve got to play your butt off.”
He was hopeful that Bruce can play as a special-teamer as he is fighting for playing time within perhaps the deepest running-back group in the conference. He made one of the more significant plays of the 2020 season on special teams, forcing and recovering a fumble on a Louisville kickoff return to turn the game in the Jackets’ favor in their 46-27 win over the Cardinals.
“With the players we have on that football team, he’ll probably be a backup, but hopefully play all the special teams and do a great job doing that because there’s an opportunity playing special teams at the next level,” said Swilling, who played 12 seasons in the NFL. “That’s one thing he can do. He’s fast, and he can run.”
Former Jacket Nathan Cottrell, who made the Jaguars roster last year as a special-teams player, showed it’s possible. Jaytlin Askew is trying to do likewise with the Dolphins.
Bruce missed the first week of the preseason as he was handling academic obligations, Swilling said, but could return to practice in the next several days.
Both could use the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of COVID-19, but this likely is the last year for both.
“We’ve come a long way,” Swilling said. “These five years are about up. It’s been tough, but they love being a part of coach Collins’ team and what they’re doing, so it’s going to be fine.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
