With the No. 35 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected Georgia Bulldogs running back D'Andre Swift.
Swift, a 21-year-old junior at 5'8″ and 212 pounds from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, starred for the Bulldogs during their 2019 campaign a year removed from sharing the backfield with eventual undrafted running back for the Philadelphia Eagles Elijah Holyfield. This past college football season, Swift rushed for 1,218 yards, averaging 6.2 and scoring seven touchdowns on the ground. Additionally, Swift caught 24 passes in 2019 for 216 receiving yards, scoring once.
Swift ran an unofficial 4.48-second 40-yard dash and is projected to be an NFL starter upon arrival.
Article Continues BelowPer Lance Zierlein in NFL.com:
Swift possesses the play traits and running style of a skillful NFL veteran and is the latest in an avalanche of talented Georgia backs. Tempo and decisiveness are his calling cards, making him a highly talented inside/outside zone runner. He's a cerebral runner who understands block timing and uses quick-cut agility and rare spatial awareness to read and react to defenses beyond the second level. Swift isn't overly explosive as a home-run hitter and doesn't run with the violence of last year's top running back, Josh Jacobs. He can step right in and provide early stability and production as an efficient, every-down back with Offensive Rookie of the Year potential.
Swift has also been compared to veteran running back Frank Gore, the NFL's third-most all-time career rushing yards leader. A first-team All-SEC selection in 2019, Swift is poised to be a well-positioned running back in the pros in short order, especially after playing at Georgia where he witnessed a carousel of eventual NFL rushers like Nick Chubb and Sony Michel come through the program.