Georgia Bulldogs: 81 yards for The Human Joystick

We are 81 days away from the start of the college football season, and today we remember one of the most dynamic return men in the history of the SEC.

There are three phases of football: offense, defense, and special teams. But the third phase is the one that often gets overlooked. But when you have a dynamic player in the return game, it’s the quickest way to change a game, and thats what the Georgia Bulldogs had for the last three years.

And that leads us to no. 81 on the Southbound and Down College Football Countdown.

Georgia’s Isaiah McKenzie’s 81-yard punt return touchdown against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2016.

Must Read: 82 yards for one of the SEC's best

The touchdown against Louisiana-Lafayette was the fifth punt return touchdown of Isaiah McKenzie’s career, and sixth return touchdown overall. Brandon Boykin previously owned the Georgia school record with five return touchdown (4 kicks, 1 punt).

And McKenzie’s five punt return touchdowns are tied with Arkansas’ Joe Adams and Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk for the third most in SEC history.

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Going into his junior year last season, McKenzie was basically just a return specialist and had little impact on the offensive side of the ball. In his first two years in Athens, McKenzie had just 16 career receptions, and zero receiving touchdowns, although he did have two career rushing touchdowns.

But 2016 was the coming out party for “The Human Joystick.” Last season he led the Bulldogs with 44 receptions for 633 yards and 7 touchdowns through the air. And he also had 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, giving him 17 career total touchdowns.

McKenzie surprised some people by foregoing his senior season and entering this year’s NFL Draft. At 5’7, 173 pounds, he is not exactly a prototype NFL wide receiver, but he is sure to make an impact on special teams. The Denver Broncos selected McKenzie in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, 172 overall.

The Georgia Bulldogs relied on McKenzie a lot in the passing game and the return game last season, so it will be interesting to see if they can find a replacement for The Human Joystick.