ATLANTA – Five University of Georgia student-athletes have been chosen to participate in a meeting of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council, being held Thursday and Friday at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta.  
 
Football’s CJ Allen, men’s basketball’s Blue Cain, women’s basketball’s Savannah Henderson, softball’s Destin Howard, and track & field and cross country’s Ryan Olree will represent the University of Georgia at the joint meeting of the SEC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Football Leadership Council, and Men’s and Women’s Basketball Leadership Council.
 
The SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council provides an opportunity for SEC student-athletes to engage with campus leaders and conference office staff. Leadership Councils for football and men’s and women’s basketball, along with SAAC, provide a conduit of communication to the conference office on issues related to student-athlete experience, student-athlete wellness, and playing rules.
 
During the two-day meeting, the Council will hear presentations from DeLaina Sarden of Parker Executive Search Firm and representatives of Akin Gump. Sarden will share insights on how student-athletes can use their current opportunities to intentionally prepare for success beyond their playing careers. An update will also be provided to the group on legislation and how SEC student-athletes can ensure their voices are heard.
 
Additionally, the agenda includes conversations with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, SEC Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Katie O’Neal, and other members of the SEC staff. The group will participate in breakout sessions for their respective leadership council.
 
CJ Allen, a native of Barnesville, Georgia, represented the Bulldogs at the SEC’s Football Leadership Council earlier this year and was one of Georgia’s three players to be selected for the annual SEC Media Days earlier this week.  He has been one of the team’s most active players in the community and has been a member of the UGA Athletic Association’s Student-Athlete Leadership Academy (LEAD).  Allen was the team’s second-leading tackler last year with 76 stops, including three tackles for loss, and had an interception.  For his two-year career, he has 117 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 28 games played, including 17 starts.
 
Blue Cain, a rising junior from Knoxville, Tennessee, has started 42 of 72 games played in two seasons at Georgia. He helped the Bulldogs reach the semifinals of the 2024 NIT and earn an NCAA Tournament bid in 2025. Cain has recorded 29 double-figure scoring outputs while at Georgia and led the Bulldogs in free throw percentage last season (84.1 percent). He has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll during each of his two years at Georgia, as a member of the First-Year ledger in 2024 and the Winter version in 2025.
 
A consensus top 40 prospect and McDonald’s All-America nominee, Savannah Henderson is entering her third season at Georgia. She had a stellar redshirt-freshman campaign, seeing action in 15 games as one of the team’s best 3-point shooters. She tallied a season-high nine points in a near-upset of No. 1 South Carolina and finished with 11 made 3-pointers – the third-highest total on the team. A native of Orlando, Florida, Henderson was also placed on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
 
Macon, Georgia, native Destin Howard is a rising senior on the softball squad. She has made 35 appearances in the circle for the Bulldogs in three seasons, racking up four victories and a save in 45 innings of work. Off the field, Howard has been a star in the community. She served as SAAC President for the 2024-25 academic year and was a member of the 2025 SEC Softball Community Service Team. She was honored with the Clifford Lewis Leadership Award at the 2025 Dawgs Choice Awards, as voted on by her peers. In the classroom, she’s earned a spot on the 2022-23 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll and the 2024 and 2025 SEC Spring Academic Honor Rolls.
 
Ryan Olree, who hails from Denver, Colorado, has been both a member of LEAD and SAAC during his first two years in Athens.  Olree earned All-Region honors for his top-20 finish at the 2024 NCAA South Regional and was the Bulldogs’ top finisher in all five cross country meets last fall.  On the track, he set the school record in the 10,000 meters (28:38.98) at the 2025 Raleigh Relays and moved to No. 5 on UGA’s all-time top 10 list in the 5000m at this past season’s SEC Outdoor Championships.  In addition, Olree rocketed to No. 4 and No. 5 on the school’s indoor lists in the 5000m and 3000m, respectively, earlier this year.