The Georgia Bulldogs will open spring football practice Tuesday. Each day between now and then, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will break down the various position groups, analyze the personnel and examine their spring-practice objectives. G-Day, the annual spring intrasquad scrimmage, is scheduled for April 17 at Sanford Stadium.
SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW – TODAY: SECONDARY
ATHENS – Eric Stokes drew national attention when he ran a 4.25-second 40-yard dash a week ago at a combine-type event in Florida. NFL scouts expect Tyson Campbell to record a sub-4.4 time when he runs at Georgia’s Pro Day on Wednesday.
To say that the Bulldogs lost some speed in their secondary is an understatement. We’re talking about Usain Bolt-type acceleration.
In addition to speed, a bunch of experience also is out the door with those two players. Between them, Campbell and Stokes played in 69 games for the Bulldogs the past three seasons.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they’re not the only corners who left town. Tyrique Stevenson (24 games) and DJ Daniel (21) also are gone.
And, of course, we can’t forget about safety. Richard LeCounte played 44 games at UGA. And star/nickel back Mark Webb played in 49.
So, what’s that mean? It’s means the most extensive overhaul of the secondary in the Kirby Smart era.
No wonder DBs coach Charlton Warren decided this would be a good year to leave Georgia. He’s now the defensive coordinator at Indiana.
The Bulldogs hired Jahmile Addae from West Virginia as a replacement. There might never have been a position coach facing a greater challenge in a first year at a Power 5 program.
Meanwhile, Clemson and the ACC’s best wide receiver corps awaits in the season opener.
RETURNING STARTERS (2): Free safety Lewis Cine, strong safety Christopher Smith
OTHERS: Daran Branch, Latavious Brini, Major Burns, Javon Bullard, David Daniel, Nyland Green, Jalen Kimber, Kamari Lassiter, William Poole, Kelee Ringo, Ameer Speed,
ALL EYES ON: Speed, Kimber, Ringo, Derion Kendrick
OUTLOOK: The harsh reality here is the Bulldogs are not going to be as good in the secondary as they were last season -- and they really weren’t that great then. Georgia ranked 88th in the nation in pass defense in 2020, allowing 248.7 yards per game and 15 TDs overall. Opponents completion percentage of 65.7% ranked 109th in the country. Where the Bulldogs were decent was limiting explosive plays. The 6.9 yard per attempt allowed by Georgia’s defense was 38th in FBS. … The Bulldogs appear to be in good shape at safety as Cine and Smith are back after performing well in all 10 games last season. Only Alabama and Florida were able to exploit Georgia deep, and the Gators’ success came mostly after Cine was out of the game for targeting. Cine is an all-conference candidate – at least. ... Meanwhile, the cornerback and star positions are as unsettled as they have been since Smart arrived as head coach in 2016. He brought in Maurice “Mo” Smith as a graduate transfer to play the star that first season, and Smith was able to improve overall play considerably. Georgia is seriously involved with Clemson’s Derion Kendrick as a solution to the cornerback dilemma. The rising senior was dismissed by Clemson because of what’s best described as “responsibility issues” and is in the transfer portal. Word is that Georgia has thoroughly vetted Kendrick and would take him. However, South Carolina, FSU and a host of other teams are also in line for his help. …
If no transfers come to the rescue, the Bulldogs have recruited extremely well at cornerback. They’re just young. The problem is only quarterback is a harder position to master as a first-year player. That makes returning players such as rising senior Ameer Speed and redshirt freshmen Jalen Kimber and Kelee Ringo better options than incoming freshmen. Ringo’s not likely to be available in spring as he continues to recover from labrum surgery. The Bulldogs won a huge recruiting battle to land Nyland Green out of Rockdale County and he’ll be given an opportunity to win the position. … With Webb opting out for the bowl game, rising senior Latavious Brini got his first career at star and played very well against Cincinnati, especially in underneath coverage. But he is deficient as a downfield pass defender, and that’s a scary proposition with news that Clemson’s Justyn Ross will be back this season and is expected to move into the slot. Georgia will seek to develop a pass-coverage specialist at the position.
PREVIOUSLY: Offensive line, quarterback, running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, special teams, defensive line, inside linebackers, outside linebackers.
About the Author
