When the University of Georgia’s reigning National Championship football team takes to the field this season, two players familiar to Cherokee County fans will be part of the returning UGA powerhouse: David Daniel-Sisavanh and Drew Sheehan.
Defensive back David Daniel-Sisavanh, a returning UGA letterman and former Woodstock High School player who saw action in the National Championship Game with two tackles against Texas Christian University, is among the players looking for increased roles this fall.
Tight end Drew Sheehan, who led his Woodstock High team to the playoffs his sophomore and junior years, says he is excited about what the new season will hold for the Georgia Bulldogs.
The six-foot-two-inch, 215-pound fifth-year senior says that being a part of what happened in 2022 was a memorable experience when UGA took its first National Championship in forty years, but this year will have its share of excitement as the team builds on that success. “There are going to be a lot of new faces this year, because a lot of last year’s players have gone on to the NFL. Now it is going to be exciting to see how other guys do out there. Quarterback Drew Carson—it is his turn this year to make something happen,” Drew Sheehan says.
Drew Sheehan
Carson was the primary backup quarterback last year, completing twenty-five of thirty-six passes for four touchdowns. He has big shoes to fill, left by departing quarterback Stetson Bennett.
Drew Sheehan plans to make the most of any opportunities that come his way in his final year with Georgia. “I am a walk-on tight end, but hopefully I will get to come in for a few games to help Lawson Luckie and Pearce Spurlin,” Sheehan says of two of the highly touted tight ends added to the roster as early enrollees. “And whatever opportunities come my way, I am ready to make the most of them.”
The former Woodstock player also says he looks forward to another season led by All-American Brock Bowers, the top tight end in the nation. UGA has boasted one of the deepest tight end benches in the nation, and that fact is not expected to change this year.
Drew credits his Woodstock High head football coach Brent Budde with his chances of success at UGA, as well as his dad, Tom Sheehan. Tom played baseball at Merrimack College and Holyoke Community College and now is offensive coordinator at Lassiter High School in neighboring Cobb County. Drew is also grateful to his mother, Lisa, for all her support, as well as all his friends and family in his hometown of Woodstock.
Drew Sheehan (Photo Credit: Tony Walsh/University of Georgia Athletic Association)
Following this year of football, Drew will still have one year of eligibility to play, but he is already looking to a future that he hopes will lead to a collegiate or NFL coaching position.
David Daniel-Sisavanh, also coached in high school by Brent Budde, ranked as the number-fourteen high school prospect overall in Georgia and was named a 2020 Sports Illustrated All-American Football candidate from the state after totaling 123 tackles—including ninety-four solo tackles and one sack—two interceptions, and causing three fumbles in his high school career. He was the first SEC recruit from Woodstock High since Tripp Chandler signed as a Bulldog in 2005. David enrolled at UGA in January 2021 and received the David C. Cooper Family Football Scholarship.
David Daniel-Sisavanh
David shares of his time on the field in the UGA National Championship win,
“It was a blessing; it was good to get the team over there with the win. As a team to get to win, all the work we put in, it was good.”
He says he is glad the team could reach that goal, and he looks forward to repeating it this year.
As a reserve defensive back in fourteen games last season, David logged fourteen total stops, including two for lost yardage and a pass breakup and had four tackles, including one stop for lost yardage in the season-opening win over No. 11 Oregon. He also made two tackles in the SEC Championship Game versus Louisiana State University.
“We are going to try to give everyone a show just like we did the last couple of years. We took it one day at a time during practice this summer,” David, who is in his junior year, explained. “I am hoping to help the team with another National Championship win. As a defensive back, you know you are not going to win every play, but you have to concentrate on making the most of the next play.”
David Daniel-Sisavanh (Photo Credit: Tony Walsh/University of Georgia Athletic Association)
University of Georgia 2023 Football Schedule
Sep 2 (Sat) 6:00 p.m. Home UT Martin Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)
Sep 9 (Sat) 12:00 p.m. Home Ball State Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)
Sep 16 (Sat) 3:30 p.m. Home South Carolina Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)
Sep 23 (Sat) TBD Home UAB Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)
Sep 30 (Sat) TBD Away Auburn Auburn, Ala.
Oct 7 (Sat) TBD Home Kentucky Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)
Oct 14 (Sat) TBD Away Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn.
Oct 28 (Sat) 3:30 p.m. Neutral Florida Jacksonville, Fla.
Nov 4 (Sat) TBD Home Missouri Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)
Nov 11 (Sat) TBD Home Ole Miss Athens, Ga. (Sanford Stadium)
Nov 18 (Sat) TBD Away Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn.
Nov 25 (Sat) TBD Away Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga.
Dec 2 (Sat) TBA Neutral SEC Championship Atlanta, Ga. (Mercedes Benz Stadium)
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Canton writer Rebecca Johnston is a Cherokee County native and graduate of Cherokee High School and the University of Georgia. Rebecca has won several Georgia Press Association awards for her writing, including the 2007 First Place Award for Serious Columnist. She currently writes for Enjoy Cherokee Magazine.