Milledgeville native and former Georgia Bulldog safety Javon Bullard is off to the NFL after being selected by the Green Bay Packers as the 58th overall pick in the second round of this year’s draft.
Bullard played prep football at Baldwin High School before earning a scholarship at Georgia and winning two national titles with the Bulldogs. Now he’s off to play with the pros in Green Bay.
Bullard thanked the city of Milledgeville for helping mold him into the “man he is today,” he said in March during Georgia’s Pro Day.
“My city is me, and I am my city,” Bullard told The Baldwin Bulletin. “I wear my city on my sleeve. The city has stood behind me through thick and thin. They’ve been with me every step of the way. Even through my adversity, they’ve always had my back. I love my city, and I know they love me.”
Bullard, a three-star prospect in high school, developed into one of Georgia’s best defenders. Throughout the past three seasons, he became a key part of the Bulldogs’ dominant defense during their national championship runs.
Bullard started at the star position for Georgia but shifted to safety this past season and excelled.
“(Javon) is a really good blitzer, he’s a really good star, he’s really one of these naturally good football players,” Georgia head coach Smart said in April 2023.
As a junior last season, the former Baldwin defender recorded a career-high 56 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, a team-high seven pass deflections, and a fumble recovery for Georgia.
Bullard really bounced onto the scene in his sophomore season. His iconic hit on Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. helped the Bulldogs knock off the Buckeyes to advance to the College Football Playoff final against TCU. Bullard earned Defensive MVP honors in both playoff games.
At Georgia’s Pro Day, Bullard thanked Smart and his staff for helping develop him on and off the field.
After winning back-to-back national championships at Georgia, the city of Milledgeville honored him with two “Javon Bullard Days.” But now, after being drafted, will Bullard be honored again soon?
“I don’t know, man. I’ve got to talk to the mayor,” he said. “I really don’t know, though. It was smooth when they had it. It was nice to have my own day. My city is a true blessing to me, so I hope so.”
“I wouldn’t be standing in front of y’all today if it wasn’t for Georgia and the people that brought this program up, man,” Bullard said. “Coach Smart, Coach (Will) Muschamp, and Coach (Glenn) Schumann, Coach (Dan) Lanning, and Coach Fran (Brown); all of these past coaches molded me into not just a football player, but the man I am today. And I appreciate them immensely for that.”