Will The Georgia Bulldog Secondary Be Even Better In 2022?
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ATHENS - Even after losing two starting defensive backs from last year’s national championship team, safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Derion Kendrick, it doesn’t appear that Georgia’s secondary will have a giant drop off from last year.
The Bulldogs lost three starting defensive backs from the 2020 team, and you could make the case they were even better last fall in 2021.
Could the same happen this year?
As young and talented as Georgia’s secondary is, there are still plenty of veterans who will lead an experienced group into the season. Cornerback Kelee Ringo is a rising star with 1st-round potential. Safety Chris Smith will be a multi-year starter and will be in his 5th year in the program. William Poole is a versatile defensive back who can play cornerback, STAR, and some safety if possible. Tykee Smith is a veteran who made a big impact for West Virginia during the 2020 season. Dan Jackson is another versatile defender who the staff can rely on this fall.
“Those guys are really -- Chris Smith, Dan Jackson, Kelee, those guys are great competitors”, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said after G-Day.
So obviously, it’s an experience group.
Then there’s the young pups. The young defenders are talented, and we got a glimpse of what some of them bring to the table during last weekend’s G-Day scrimmage.
“Kamari Lassiter didn't get to play” Smart added. “He got a little bit sick last night and he didn't get to play, but he had a good spring. He got to work and play a lot for us.”
“(Javon) “Bull” Bullard is one of the toughest guys in the secondary,” Smart added. “I think he dinged his shoulder a little bit. Don't have an update on him, but he came out right there at the end.”
Smart also added that former 4-star cornerback signee Nyland Green also showed competitiveness, and the 2nd year cornerback came down with an impressive INT during the scrimmage.
It’s hard to make an early impact as a true freshman, especially in the secondary, but it’s clear former 5-star Daylen Everette is starting to impress early on.
“The thing about Daylen Everette, we learned in the spring he can tackle you”, Smart said. “He's not afraid of contact. He's going to be a good football player.”
Overall, Smart knows he has a talented group in the secondary. He’s the one who helped recruit them, after all. For now, Smart said his job is to coach the young players up as much as he can, because in 2023, some of these younger players will need to be ready to compete for jobs.
“We've got to get better in the secondary to go where we're going to go, and we've got some guys coming, but we've got to get the guys that are here to go to here, and that's our job as coaches.”
