UGA Football DB Kamari Lassiter Selected No. 42 Overall By The Houston Texans
Real Georgia Fans Don’t Miss the Dawg Post Newsletter - Sign up now!
ATHENS - UGA Football DB Kamari Lassiter was picked No. 42 overall to the Houston Texans in the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.
Lassiter entered the draft after three years at Georgia, with two of those as one of the starting cornerbacks on stingy Bulldog defenses. He was a reserve in 2021 when Georgia won its first national title in over 40 years, but then burst onto the scene as a starter in 2022 alongside now Philadelphia Eagles corner Kelee Ringo. He served as Georgia’s top corner in 2023.
Lassiter’s measurements are ultimately what held him back from being a first round pick. He does not have freaky size or athleticism. At 5’11” and 186 lbs., he doesn’t have prototypical size, and reportedly ran in the 4.6 range at UGA’s pro day after he elected to opt out of the extremely popular workout at the NFL scouting combine.
Those were the things working against him in this process. What he had going for him is what you see when you watch the game tape.
Lassiter is a high energy and high effort player who will rock a player with the ball in their hands. He is one of the better tacklers out of all of the corners coming out and only allowed one touchdown pass in his career.
A lot of players have high energy. What makes Lassiter special in that area?
Go back and watch the Georgia-Ole Miss game from last season. Lassiter got hurt in the second half and was on the ground for a couple of minutes while the training staff tended to him. When he finally got up, he took his hands and started pounding them on the sides of his helmet like he does when he recorded a big tackle.
He celebrated getting up from an injury and the crowd erupted. That’s what the NFL is getting from Lassiter.
He was one of the leaders of Georgia’s 2023 squad and made choices that surprised even Kirby Smart. Smart told Lassiter not to play in the Orange Bowl against Florida StYe. He had a top-2 round NFL draft grade and Smart advised him to sit out. Lassiter wanted to play one last game with his teammates and for Georgia.
“All these teams that go shopping, this dude right here wants to play football. That’s all he cares about is playing football and his teammates. He ain’t worried about the next thing and all that. He said, I want to play football, and he played football for the University of Georgia. He did it when he didn’t have to do it, and that’s what’s different at this place than a lot of other places,” Smart said.
***GET YOUR FANDUEL BETS IN***
According to FanDuel, the Houston Texans have +105 odds to win the AFC South season.
The Georgia Bulldogs go Back to Back!
Reserve Your Copy of DOUBLE DAWGS NOW!
Kamari Lassiter’s profile from UGA Athletics:
2023: Coaches All-SEC Second Team selection...named to Preseason Media Days All-SEC First Team...started at DB in every contest this season…led the team with eight pass breakups…tallied 37 total tackles, including 3.5 stops for a loss of 11 yards…posted four tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of five yards, with a pair of pass breakups in win over South Carolina to open conference play...had four tackles, including two solo stops, in win over UAB...tallied four tackles, including half a sack for a loss of six yards, and two pass breakups in win over Kentucky...had five tackles with three solo stops, including 0.5 for loss, in win at Vanderbilt...notched five tackles, including four solo stops, in road win over Florida in Jacksonville, Fla...credited with two tackles and a pair of pass breakups in win against Missouri...posted five stops and a pass breakup in home win over Ole Miss...had one tackle coupled with a pass breakup in win over Tennessee.
2022: Started at DB in all 15 games...had 38 total stops...had three tackles, including a tackle for loss against TCU in the CFP National Championship Game...season-high five tackles in win over Tennessee...also had a pass breakup vs. the Vols...had four tackles, one for lost yardage, and a pass breakup in SEC Championship Game vs. LSU...four tackles in win at South Carolina...also had four stops in win at Missouri...two tackles in win at Kentucky...both stops against the Cats went for lost yardage...had three tackles season-opening win over No. 11 Oregon...three tackles in win at Mississippi State included a stop for a 3-yard loss and a fourth-down tackle for no gain.
2021: Played in all 15 games as a reserve DB and on special teams...finished with 11 total stops...season-high four tackles in win over Charleston Southern...also had a pass breakup vs. the Buccaneers...had two tackles and a pass breakup in win over Missouri...had two tackles in win over South Carolina...had one tackle and his first career interception in win at Vanderbilt...had one tackle in punt coverage in Capital One Orange Bowl vs. Michigan.
High School: American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, Ala., coached by Chris Smelley…257Sports.com four-star composite prospect…ranked the #250 prospect nationally, the #18 defensive back prospect, and the #8 prospect in Alabama… PrepStar Magazine four-star prospect, Top 350 All-American…ranked as the #25 DB prospect, #10 prospect in Alabama, and #344 prospect nationally… rivals.com four-star prospect…ranked #212 nationally, #21 defensive back prospect and the #7 prospect in Alabama …ESPN.com four-star prospect…ranked the #24 defensive back prospect and the #13 prospect in Alabama …helped American Christian to a 12-1 record a state championship runner-up title…totaled 210 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, 22 pass break ups and four forced fumbles…also played wide receiver for American Christian, finished his career with 103 receptions for 2,488 yards and 35 touchdowns…named a 2020 Sports Illustrated All-American Football candidate from the state of Alabama…part of Al.com’s “A-List” ranking the top 15 recruits from the state of Alabama.
EXCLUSIVE: Champion Retro P.E. Class Natty Sweatshirt
Check out This Exclusive Sweatshirt NOW!