Tag: eric stokes uga

Packers star Davante Adams praises rookie Eric Stokes

Packers star WR Davante Adams praises former Georgia Bulldog DB and NFL rookie Eric Stokes

Green Bay Packers star wide receiver Davante Adams dominated NFL cornerbacks last season. Adams caught 115 passes for 1,374 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 2020.

Now, Davante Adams is praising Green Bay’s 2021 NFL draft first-round pick, Eric Stokes. Stokes attended the University of Georgia and intercepted four passes in 2020 before entering the NFL draft. Adams compares Stokes to Green Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander.

Jaire Alexander is one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. Alexander was recently rated as the No. 41 player in the entire league, so it is high praise to compare Stokes to Alexander.

The Green Bay Packers drafted Eric Stokes to complement Jaire Alexander. Packers fans saw their weakness at the No. 2 cornerback position exposed in the NFC Championship Game against Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Eric Stokes was dominant in the SEC in 2020. Can he contribute in the NFL? Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

First-team All-Pro (2020) wide receiver Davante Adams certainly considers Eric Stokes to be a potential solution to Green Bay’s issues at the cornerback position behind Jaire Alexander.

“He’s the closest thing to Jaire (Alexander) as far as mentality and ability, from what I’ve seen so far. The kid is fast as hell. He can get beat and recover kind of like how Sam Shields would do,” said Adams.

NFL rookies can’t expect to win every battle against top wide receivers in the league, but Stokes’ ability to recover and contest a catch has stood out to Davante Adams. Adams additionally compared Stokes to former Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields, who helped the Packers win a Super Bowl and made a Pro Bowl.

Adams and Stokes have faced off several times in practice. Stokes has held his own a few times, which contributed to Adams’ respect for Stokes.

“I like what I see from him… he really can go,” claimed Adams.

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Former Georgia CB Eric Stokes gives grandma new home

Former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback and Green Bay Packers 2021 first-round draft pick Eric Stokes has bought his grandma a house

Former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback and Green Bay Packers 2021 first-round draft pick Eric Stokes has bought his grandma a house. Stokes came through on his promise to get his grandma a home.

Eric Stokes shared a video of his emotional surprise to his grandma via his Instagram account:

You always love to see a great story like this.

Eric Stokes became a first-round pick, All-American, All-SEC cornerback after being ranked as a three-star running back recruit out of Covington, Georgia. Stokes had humble beginnings, but now he’s giving his grandma her dream house.

Stokes captioned his video on Instagram: “Since I’ve been 14 years old I promised my grandma id get her out of the projects, where she’s lived for over 30 years, and into her dream home. Words can’t describe how good it feels to finally check this off the list!! Forever luv grandma”

Eric Stokes was selected with the No. 29 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. His four-year rookie contract is reportedly worth almost $12 million guaranteed.

Stokes is a great player and person to represent the “G” in college and in the NFL.

May 14, 2021; Defensive backs Eric Stokes (21) and Shemar Jean-Charles are shown during the first day of Green Bay Packers rookie minicamp Friday, May 14, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

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Georgia CB Eric Stokes laughs at NFL draft ranking

Pro Football Focus ranked their top-10 corners in the draft and Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes had something to say. Details here.

Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes is less than a month away from hearing his name called in the 2021 NFL Draft. The junior chose to leave Athens early after a great season as an anchor in the Bulldogs secondary.

Stokes led the SEC in interceptions (4) and returned two of those for touchdowns while racking up 20 tackles, four pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. All which helped the Covington, Ga., native to CBS All-America First-Team and All-SEC First Team honors.

We can’t forget Stokes’ incredible workouts this offseason leading up to the draft. He was clocked at 4.25 in the forty yard dash at Brandon Marshall’s combine event and then ran a 4.28 at Georgia’s pro day in March. Add his size and length (6’1, 185) and all signs point to a top-10 corner prospect.

Well, Pro Football Focus doesn’t think so…

Stokes responded…

Stokes was a 3-star running back at Eastside High School and knows all about being labeled as an underdog.

All things considered, Stokes draft stock has risen with his performances in workouts this season from a second day grade. NFL.com has Stokes going to the New Orlean Saints at pick No. 28 in the first-round in their latest mock draft. 

 

 

A new episode of “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” podcast is streaming now! This week, J.C. talks Georgia spring practice news, new scheduling additions and Dawgs in the NFL free agency updates. Listen here:

Georgia CB Eric Stokes attending former NFL receiver’s combine event

Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes will attend former NFL receiver Brandon Marshall’s combine event. Details here

Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes is just one of hundreds of NFL draft prospects who won’t get to preform in the annual NFL Combine.

The event, meant to help showcase athletes to all 32 NFL teams, was cancelled earlier this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Typically, collegiate football players who declare for the draft, especially those without high draft grades, took the combine opportunity to showcase their skill and athletic ability to help boost their draft stock.

To vill the void this year, former NFL Pro-Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall introduced his own combine experience at his athlete training facility House of Athlete in Weston, Fla.

Stokes is among those who will be attending Marshall’s event, which is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. this Friday, March 5 and will be aired live on FoxSports.com.

Stokes was a lockdown corner during his time at Georgia, especially in 2020 when Stokes finished 2nd in the SEC and fourth in the nation in interceptions. He was named CBS Sports All-America First Team and earned First Team All-SEC honors after being named Second Team All-SEC the year prior in 2019.

In 36 games played in Athens, Stokes racked up 78 tackles, four interceptions, including three returned for a touchdown, along with 26 pass breakups.

Check out some of Stokes’ top plays as a Georgia Bulldog here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqjvw7k7PCg

 

Stokes will be desperately missed in Georgia’s secondary, but he should find no trouble in transitioning to the next level with his talent.

 

 

 

 

Georgia All-American CB Eric Stokes thanks DawgNation, declares for the 2021 NFL Draft

Georgia defensive back Eric Stokes announced on Monday that he will forego his senior season at UGA and enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

Georgia defensive back Eric Stokes announced on Monday via Twitter that he will forego his senior season at UGA and enter the 2021 NFL Draft in a heartfelt post thanking DawgNation and the Georgia football family.

Stokes has been a lockdown corner for the Bulldogs since 2018 and especially this season, as the junior was named a first-team All-American by CBS Sports and 247 Sports. 

This season Stokes recorded 20 tackles, eight passes defended and a team-leading four interceptions, including two returned for a touchdown.

Stokes has always been a class act in his time in Athens. A three-star prospect out of Covington, Georgia, he worked his way from an unheralded young corner that played running back at Eastside High School to a projected first-round NFL Draft pick in just three seasons as a Bulldog.

“So with that being said, and after so much prayer and conversation with my family and mentors, I will forego my final year at UGA and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft.”

We would love to see the junior wear the Red and Black another season, but just as Stokes holds DawgNation in a special place, so will we remember the humility and strong work ethic that he showed in his time in Athens.

I will remember Stokes most for his community efforts like this one.

Eric, thank you for representing Georgia football with respect and dignity on and off the field. – DawgNation

Georgia football play of the day – Georgia versus Missouri (2018)

Watch the Georgia football play of the day here!

It’s Tuesday, August 11 and today’s play of the day comes from Georgia at Missouri in 2018.

The Bulldogs came into this early-season SEC East match up undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country, while Missouri, led by star quarterback Drew Lock, was also undefeated and looking to upset Georgia in Columbia for their first SEC win of the year.

It was Missouri’s ball from their own 25-yard-line and the score was 13-7, Georgia, with 5:45 left in the second quarter.

Watch what happened next here:

The Bulldogs went on to win 43-29, behind a great performance by the special teams and defensive unit, as both contributed points with a score of their own.

Just one highlight from Georgia defensive back Eric Stokes’ solid 2018 red-shirt freshman season. Now, in 2020, he is one of the top defensive backs in the country and has every bit of future first-round NFL Draft pick potential.

 

 

 

 

Who are UGA’s next CB targets in the class of 2021?

The Georgia Bulldogs are looking to add another cornerback recruit in the class of 2021 after the commitment of Tony Grimes.

Five-star 2021 cornerback Tony Grimes recently committed to North Carolina Tar Heels. Grimes was Georgia’s top target at the position in the class. Georgia was considered second-best in the running for his commitment

Grimes, out of Virginia Beach, ranks as the nation’s No. 1 cornerback in the 2021 class. He is also America’s No. 7 player overall and the best player in the state of Virginia.

Now that he’s committed to UNC, where does Georgia go from here? The Bulldogs currently have a commitment from David Daniel, a four-star defensive back/athlete, but Georgia could lose both Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes to the 2021 NFL Draft. That means Kirby Smart and Georgia will likely be looking for a pair of cornerback recruits in the class of 2021.

First of all, it starts with the class of 2020. Georgia secured a commitment and signing from five-star corner Kelee Ringo. Additionally, Jalen Kimber, a four-star cornerback from Texas, figures to be a contender to start at corner in 2021.

Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning, and the Georgia Bulldog defense will find an elite talent at cornerback. The main question is who? Nyland Green hails from Eric Stokes’ hometown of Covington, Georgia and is a four-star recruit. He’s considered the top in-state cornerback.

Kamari Lassiter put the Bulldogs in his top schools recently.He’s a three star recruit from Alabama.

De’Jahn Warren, a top 2021 community college recruit, is strongly considering UGA as well. Warren visited Athens back in December, but is favored to stay local and attend Penn State.

Lastly, Georgia is in the race for the best recruit in West Virginia in Isaiah Johnson. John is a four-star cornerback from Bluefield High School.

We’ll continue to update you throughout Georgia’s recruiting efforts. The NCAA has extended the dead period for recruiting.

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