SEC Football
Sophomore Spotlight
No. 35-Rennie Curran
University of Georgia, Linebacker, 5-11, 228
Former Saints and Panthers linebacker Sam Mills played 12 seasons in the NFL. At 5-foot-9, 225 pounds, Mills was a five-time Pro Bowler who played much bigger than his size indicated. He played his college football at Montclair State and forged an NFL career even though most thought he was too small.
Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran can't be compared to Mills yet, but if last Saturday's performance was an indication of his talent and big-play ability, don't be too surprised if Curran has a long NFL career just like Mills.
The sophomore out of Brookwood H.S., Snellville, Ga., made three gargantuan plays for the Dawgs in their victory over South Carolina. It was Curran's seventh straight start for UGA.
Leading 14-7 early in the fourth quarter, Georgia desperately needed to stop a USC drive. On 3rd-and-five at the Dawgs' 32-yard-line, Curran blitzed and sacked 'Cocks quarterback Chris Smelley tossing him for a nine-yard loss and forced a USC punt rather than a long field-goal attempt by steady placekicker Ryan Succop.
A few minutes later, Curran made an even bigger play. With Carolina knocking on the door at the Dawgs' two-yard line, Curran found a seam in the Gamecocks' offensive line and knocked the ball loose from Mike Davis who was attempting to thrust his way into the end zone on second down. Cornerback Asher Allen recovered for UGA and preserved the Dawgs' 14-7 advantage.
Later in the fourth with USC driving in another attempt to tie the score, Curran sacked Stephen Garcia at the USC 39-yard-line for a loss of six yards.
It was the second time in the Dawgs' last four games that the diminuitive linebacker had two sacks in one game. The other was during UGA's romp over Hawaii in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. He had a career high of 13 tackles against Kentucky last season.
When asked why Curran has a penchant for making big plays for the Dwags' defensive unit, Allen said he believes its attitude.
“Most definitely, a guy like him is somebody you need on your defense, and he showed it with his play on the goal line," Allen said. "A lot of teams let up on the goal line. But I think Rennie did a good job of setting the tempo on the goal line for our team.”
Fellow linebacker Dannell Ellerbe said he's glad Curran is on his team.
"Rennie gives a 100 percent all of the time. He has a motor and I am just glad to have him on my side," Ellerbe said. "He’s quick, he’s small but he’s a strong guy."
Head coach Mark Richt said that Curran has been voted team captain twice this season because of his strong play.
"It is amazing to watch him play. His switch has been on since he has been born," Richt said. "He started for us as a true freshman by about midseason. It was a matter of teaching him the whole package and feeling comfortable throwing him out there in the type of games we have to play.”
Curran has proven that he is plenty comfortable in big games for the Dawgs. He was named the SEC's defensive player of the week for his efforts at South Carolina, and when UGA lines up against Arizona State Sat. night in Tempe, there's an excellent chance you'll see No. 35 making more big plays.-Carl Danbury
Author's note: Curran's parents moved to the Atlanta area after escaping war-torn Liberia before Rennie was born. Often, the Currans provided shelter for as many as 12 refugees in their Gwinnett County home. Teammate Mohamed Massaquoi's family also is from Liberia.
Curran may be listed at 5-11, but in my opinion he's a bit shorter than that.