Kirby Smart and the Georgia secondary will have to replace five star defensive backs who have declared for the 2021 NFL Draft following the 2020 season.
The Georgia Bulldogs will miss cornerback Eric Stokes the most of all defensive backs who declared for the NFL Draft. Stokes was the Dawgs’ top cornerback in 2019 and 2020. The Covington, GA native is going to be difficult to replace and is expected to be an early NFL Draft selection.
Joining Stokes leaving for the draft is cornerback Tyson Campbell, safety Richard LeCounte, defensive back Mark Webb and defensive back DJ Daniel. Other than Kelee Ringo who has been recovering from injury, this was basically the entire UGA secondary for the 2020 season.
Georgia’s G-Day spring game this Saturday will have a big spotlight on the Dawgs’ defensive secondary.
Kirby Smart has already begun addressing the situation, hiring Jahmile Addae who spent the past two seasons coaching cornerbacks at West Virginia, which is also where he played from 2001-2005. Addae helped West Virginia become No. 1 in the country in pass defense last season, only allowing 159.6 passing yards per game. That is a massive difference from the Bulldogs 248.7 passing yards allowed per game in 2020.
Along with this coaching addition, Smart has also landed West Virginia defensive back transfer Tykee Smith. Smith earned third-team All-American honors in 2020 after putting up 61 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 8 tackles for loss. He played a big role in the Mountaineers secondary last year and will now reunite with his coach at WVU.
G-Day will be a big test for Smith, as well as the rest of the Georgia secondary to prove they can fill some pretty big shoes that have been left vacant in the offseason.
Second-year cornerback Jalen Kimber has impressed coaches in spring ball and the former top cornerback recruit Kelee Ringo is still coming off of labrum surgery from the fall. Ameer Speed will likely get time this Saturday as well.