Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to present the first annual JP McDonough Awards for Excellence, recognizing the players, plays, and coaches who best defined and excelled during the 2025 season. The criteria is simple, there isn’t one, it’s based on pure opinion and some stats, but mostly opinion, and you’re free to debate. In fact, I encourage it. Here goes nothing…
The Mike Bobo Award for Plays That Don’t Work So Good: The Screen Pass (Offensive MVP Award)
If there was ever a time where you’d find yourself begging for Bobo to call another screen, you’d have checked the bottle to make sure you hadn’t hit number two for the evening. But thanks to the Offensive MVP Zachariah Branch, we found ourselves doing just that.
Thanks to Branch, who caught 81 passes for 811 yards and six TDs, which surpassed Brice Hunter’s 76 to go into the record books as the all-time receptions leader at UGA, Bobo’s screens turned magical at least six times that we can recall. And more. It’s hard to argue that there’s a more valuable offensive player out there than Branch in 2025.
The Ron Courson Karate Kid Revival Player of the Year – Colbie Young
He left in the Ole Miss game, and came back in the Ole Miss game, just several weeks apart. Despite what looked to be a season-ending injury, he made a comeback and also contributed in Georgia’s Sugar Bowl loss.
I wished they could’ve done the same with Drew Bobo, who could be the runner-up to Offensive MVP. No telling what we could’ve achieved with a healthy offensive line late in the year.
The “Who That?” Offensive Breakout Player of the Year: Malachi Toliver or Chauncey Bowens
I didn’t know much about Bowens before Frazier spent some extended time in timeout after his fumbilitis, but Bowens stepped up in a big way. While Frazier nearly eclipsed 1000 yards, Bowens carried the ball for 5.1 yards per carry and racked up over 500 yards rushing and 6 TDs even though he carried the ball 76 fewer times than Frazier, who also had six touchdowns.
I joyfully add Toliver here because I thought we were DOA against Alabama in the SECCG, but Toliver played great as we roadgraded the Tide en route to another SEC Championship.
The Erk Russell Junkyard Dawg Award – CJ Allen
Let’s face it, we’re going to miss Allen. With a team leading 88 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, and two incredibly important forced fumbles, Allen was the rock of the defense.
Looking forward to seeing Raylen Wilson and Chris Cole step into his shoes in 2026, but Allen will be missed on defense.
The Dammit, Son to DAMN, SON Player of the Year – Ellis Robinson
From the gaffe in the Alabama game of jumping on top of the pile to being consider one of the best shutdown secondary players on defense, Ellis’s evolution in a season should be studied. A little touch of consistency and some off-season development, and he could be the next in a long line of Georgia NFL secondary players.
The “Who That” Breakout Player of the Year on Defense – Quintavius Johnson
Although he didn’t have any blowaway stats, Johnson quietly became an every Saturday name. A neck roll and a physically imposing specimen, he will likely be causing a little more havoc in 2026.
The Glad We Had You, Glad We Didn’t Have to Use You Much Special Teams Player of the Year – Brett Thorson
Gonna miss the Aussie. Brett was a punting highlight reel and who can ever forget him bringing the wood against Tennessee, only to give out pointers in the film room about tackling.
Damn Good Dawg Award – Cash Jones
3rd and Cash frustrated us, but let’s take a moment to pay homage to what might be the last great walk-on story for Georgia in the new NIL era. Cash worked his tail off, and found himself in highlights during his scattered playing time while at Georgia.
Nothing like a Texas kid doing that to Texas. Horns Down.
The “That’s Entertainment” Game of the Year: Georgia versus Tennessee
Close time would be both the Ole Miss games, but the Tennessee game was pivotal. Lose it, and the season goes in a very different direction. Between the drama of a comeback, a missed kick, and a reviewed run to give Georgia the win and watch the Hillbillies enjoy a slow death, who can argue with this game, that also gave us…
The “I Started Drinking Even More After that Play” Play of the Year: Stockton to Humphreys on 4th Down
Pure cinema.
That was the play that announced Stockton as a worthy heir to the QB throne at UGA. Although he could be maddeningly quick to tuck and run, the pass and TD showed what Stockton was made of, and we were all glad to see it.
Non-Speeding or Traffic Violations Freshman of the Year Award: Dontrell Glover
What could’ve been a huge liability at the right guard position turned out to be a huge nod to Searels’ recruiting prowess. Glover came in and played like a seasoned offensive lineman, and shored up a huge gap across the line. Not far behind Glover would be Elijah Griffin and Bowens, who I already mentioned above. Other glimmers of hope – Bo Walker, when he’s not in Wal Mart. Same for Glover, stay out of the self checkout lanes, boys.
The You’re an Ass. Coach of the Year Award: Stacy Searels
It took a while for the defense to gel, the offense was likewise inconsistent to start the year, but the offensive line remained a steady strength all year long, even with rotations and injuries. All in all, given the complaints on the blog last year with Searels’ name attached to it compared to this year, I’d say he did alright. While we’re on the subject, I think given the relative talent across the defensive line, the defense did a good job stopping the run although not getting a lot of backfield pressure, but, again, the talent wasn’t on par with 21-22, either, so Tray Scott did well here, too.
Social Media Team Victory Highlight Reel of the Year: The Tennessee Game
I like them all, and I’d day that the Mississippi State game was a good one for a blowout, and the Texas and Alabama (Part II) ones were great, but man nothing beats reliving any heartache we can bring to Knoxville, Tennessee.
The “God I Needed That” Moment of the Year: Beating Alabama in the SECCG
Look up catharsis, and you’ll find two entries involving the Bulldogs: the 2021 National Championship victory over Alabama and the Ringo Pick Six, and the 2025 SECCG throttling of Alabama. Hard to believe that in between the 2021 National Championship and the 2025 SECCG, Georgia would go 0 for against the Tide. It hurt us. It hurt the team. 2023 and the fumble, and a missed opportunity for three in a row. 2024 and Ryan Williams and a cavalcade of Beck interceptions. 2025 and the bungled red zone play with Cash Jones.
Ugh. But the 2025 SECCG was an epic beating from start to finish. Unlike the National Championship in 2021, it wasn’t even a close contest. The Dawgs came out with a bloodlust and it showed, imposing its will on the Tide for four full quarters. Maybe it’s turned the Tide. Maybe. We can damn sure hope. But, you know, Ty Simpson was “hurt”…even though he’s opting for the Combine walking in to it with broken bones and body parts to take his change in the League. Am I doing this right?
I don’t think it was respectful. I heard Kirby told him don’t touch our f*cking hedhes ever again. Rightfully so.
Agree or disagree, that’s my first attempt at a season awards post. Have at it in the comments.
The 2 things I picked up on – you hate Tennessee and Simpson is a lot shorter than I thought.
There should be another award for the Kirby “clap”.
I loved how SEC Shorts made fun of that in their video that week.
Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative…..well done!
JP, you forgot to mention that in addition to Simpson being hurt, Bama was also missing Metchie and Williams.
Enjoyed that very much!
Thanks!
(What are the odds that the first play the offense runs next season is a screen pass?)
Play of the year for me is a toss up between 4th and ball game against Tennessee and the goal line forced fumble against auburn. Seems like if either one of those go the other way our season ends very differently
Bravo! Just needs red carpet pics of supermodels.
Soooooooo loooooking forward to the upcoming, 1st annual J.P. edition of “I never watch those Hoops Dogs” and their eventual elimination in the round of 32 in this years invitational tournament…GO DAWGS!!
Very well done, JP!
Very nice and very clever……a shame that on our three most important plays of the year at the end of the Ole Miss game, none went to Zachariah or Colby.
I love Donnie but how was Juan Gaston not ROY? He had to play 3 different positions, sometimes in the same game! And might be our LT next year.