Georgia student drills $800K field goal on College GameDay… but doesn’t take full prize in touching gesture
If the Georgia Bulldogs find themselves in need of a new kicker this season, they won’t have to look far.
Henry Silver scored an incredible field goal attempt – and a staggering payday – on Saturday’s College GameDay.
As the ESPN show rolled into Athens for the Bulldogs clash with Tennessee, the Georgia student found himself called up to take on Pat McAfee’s weekly kicking challenge with $800,000 on the line.
But Silver from Fishers, Indiana wasn’t just kicking for himself. Hurricane relief and fellow student Belle Sessions were also set to receive a windfall if he drilled the ball between the posts.
Yet, if Silver felt the pressure he didn’t show it. The soccer player calmly stepped up and blasted the ball through the uprights from 33 yards out.
It was a mammoth kick that would have easily been good from at least 45 yards away, leaving an ecstatic McAfee in awe.
Henry Silver drilled a 33-yard kick on College GameDay for a massive payday Saturday
The Georgia student (L) split the $400,000 prize with Belle Sessions who drew the ticket
The stunned college crowd erupted as Silver collected his check from former-punter-turned-presenter McAfee.
With the kick, Silver banked $400,000 for hurricane relief and another $400,000 for himself.
But there was another twist. It was revealed that he would be splitting his fortune with Sessions after he stepped up in her place.
College GameDay’s kickers are chosen on a lottery basis but when Sessions’ ticket was drawn the student, who had arrived at the temporary studio at 3am, insisted she wouldn’t be able to do it.
That’s when she turned to Silver next to her who promised that he’d securely deliver the ball between the posts and land them $200,000 each.
The day took another surprising, heartwarming turn when Silver revealed that his favorite NFL team was the Indianapolis Colts.
It was fitting given McAfee was a Pro Bowl and All-Pro punter with the Colts from 2009 to 2016.
The ESPN presenter layer took to social media to share a childhood photo of Silver getting his photo taken with McAfee at what appeared to be a Colts training camp. The image reportedly served as Silver’s Instagram profile picture.
The No. 11 Bulldogs will look to replicate Silver’s success when they take on No. 6 Tennessee at 7:30pm ET Saturday.
