About the Time Kelee Ringo Wanted to Meet With Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart
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ATHENS - Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart saw that one of his best players, Kelee Ringo, messaged him.
“He wanted to meet,” Kirby said.
It was the week leading up to Georgia’s huge showdown with the No. 1 Vols. A lot was riding on how Ringo played during the game against the high-flying Vols.
Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt was on fire - he had 45 catches and was closing in on nearly 1,000 yards only eight games into the season. Hyatt was a problem. That he had five touchdowns against Alabama in the Vols’ wild win over the Tide was another thing to keep track of.
Ringo had a message for Kirby.
“He said he wanted No. 11,” the head coach remembered - Ringo was ready to cover the Vols’ most productive receiver all day.
Ringo had yet to have a breakout game in 2022. Certain to be long remembered for his pick six to close the 2021 National Championship Game against No. 1 Alabama last season, Ringo was having a nondescript 2022.
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For the most part opposing teams were steering clear of him. But that was impossible against Tennessee - Ringo and his teammates in the secondary would be challenged each snap during the rare matchup between teams ranked No. 1
Kirby, for his part, wasn’t ready to have Ringo track Hyatt all game.
“I told him that I appreciated his input, but that we had a plan. And Kelee bought in and executed it,” Kirby said.
Part of that execution included an interception by Ringo on Hendon Hooker in the end zone. Georgia ran away with a 27-13 win over the Vols. The game was Ringo’s most productive of the year.
He finished the win over the Vols with seven total tackles and the pick. Two weeks later Ringo had another pick in the end zone - this one he returned 45 yards against Kentucky. Ringo enters the NFL Draft this week as one of the highest-rated defensive back prospects in the draft.
That comes after completing his career in Athens with two years of starting at defensive back, and both of those seasons ending with national title rings. Ringo ended 2022 with 76 tackles, one forced fumble, one sack and four interceptions - one of which was the memorable pick six against Alabama.
The Georgia legend has +210 odds to be a first-round selection in the draft according to FanDuel.
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