Eric Stokes is coming off an impressive 2019 season, where he was among the best corners in the SEC. Stokes will have his work cut out for him in to be All-SEC in 2020. In order to be the SEC’s best corner in 2020, Stokes will have to outplay LSU’s all-world cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., so Stokes may have to settle for All-SEC.
Stingley Jr. put together an impressive freshman campaign and only got better as the season went on. Stingley is the SEC’s highest graded corner returning according to PFF:
#SEC Highest-graded returning CBs (min. 250 snaps)
Derek Stingley Jr., LSU – 91.9
Kaiir Elam, UF – 87.8
Patrick Surtain II, Bama – 83.5
Eric Stokes, UGA – 82.5
Brandin Echols, UK – 78.0
Roger McCreary, Auburn – 78.0
Tyson Campbell, UGA – 76.4
DJ Daniel, UGA – 75.3@PFF_College— Brent Rollins (@PFF_Brent) February 24, 2020
Georgia’s Eric Stokes Jr. checks in at number four on the list. Stokes will be looking for either D.J. Daniel or former five-star recruit Tyson Campbell to step up on the other side of the field to totally lock down opposing passing attacks. Campbell (7th) and Daniel (8th) are two of the top eight returning corners in the SEC according to PFF.
Georgia additionally adds talented 2020 corner recruits in Kelee Ringo and Jalen Kimber. Both of these players have the skills to step into a starting role should they be called to action.
Eric Stokes will have a chance to make All-SEC because of his ability to limit the big-play:
Which SEC cornerbacks were best at shutting down the most dangerous routes?
✅ @_jamane_
✅ @matayo_echols
✅ @MJW_era
✅ @__KCINCO
✅ @JrStingley pic.twitter.com/lbDT4EPz1Y— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) February 13, 2020
Stokes will have more great safety play behind him in Richard LeCounte and Lewis Cine this year. Look for him to be targeted sparingly in 2020.
Next page (sorry – didn’t want to slow down browsers): Eric Stokes is putting in off-season work and may be aided by another area of Georgia’s elite defense.