Tag: georgia bulldogs secondary

Georgia football DB returning for another season

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tykee Smith joins Christopher Smith as key secondary players to return for another season.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tykee Smith is returning for another season. Smith suffered a torn ACL in October and and was forced to miss  the rest of the 2021 college football season. Smith additionally battled a foot injury to start the season.

Smith transferred to the University of Georgia from West Virginia this offseason. He was just getting healthy before he tore his ACL in practice.

Former West Virginia Mountaineers safety Tykee Smith will be an important player for Georgia in 2022. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Smith, a junior, recorded three tackles against Auburn and will be able to redshirt this year. Smith is putting his NFL aspirations on hold. With a healthy 2022 season Smith will boost his NFL draft stock.

Smith entered the season ranked one of the top safeties in the country. He transferred to UGA partially to be reunited with Georgia defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae, who was his former position coach at West Virginia.

Tykee Smith will counted on to start at safety or nickel for the Bulldogs in 2022 alongside Christopher Smith. Tykee Smith, Dan Jackson, David Daniel, Javon Bullard, and Kamari Lassiter are some of Georgia’s key returning players in the secondary. The Dawgs lost a few key pieces in the secondary to the transfer portal.

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Georgia football DB Lovasea Carroll enters transfer portal

Georgia Bulldogs freshman defensive back Lovasea Carroll has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Georgia Bulldogs freshman defensive back Lovasea Carroll has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Carroll changed positions during his first year on campus with Georgia.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound product from Warrenton, Georgia, enrolled early at Georgia after being ranked as four-star running back recruit out of high school powerhouse IMG Academy.

Lovasea Carroll played in four games as a freshman this season, so he will be able use this year as a redshirt season. Carroll will have four years of college football eligibility wherever he elects to play next.  Carroll finished with three tackles and a pass deflection in 2021.

Will Lovasea Carroll play running back at his new college football home? Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Kirby Smart and UGA felt that Carroll had a better chance to make an impact as a freshman defensive back. Carroll converted to the position during spring drills.

Georgia entered the season no longer as desperate at the defensive back position, but the Bulldogs did not play Carroll at running back.

Carroll played Warren County High School before attending IMG Academy.

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Key Georgia football DB tears ACL

Key Georgia football DB Tykee Smith tears ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season.

The Georgia Bulldogs will be without defensive back Tykee Smith for the rest of the 2021 college football season. Smith transferred to the University of Georgia from West Virginia this offseason.

Tykee Smith has battled a foot injury to start the season. He was just getting healthy and then tore his ACL. Smith, a junior, recorded three tackles against Auburn and will be able to redshirt this year. Smith’s NFL aspirations may have to wait another season following his injury.

Smith entered the season ranked one of the top safeties in the country. He transferred to UGA partially to be reunited with Georgia defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae, his former position coach at West Virginia.

Smith was counted on to start at safety or nickel for the Bulldogs in 2021 alongside Christopher Smith and Lewis Cine. Christopher Smith suffered a separated shoulder last week against Auburn.

Dan Jackson, David Daniel, William Poole, Javon Bullard, Kamari Lassiter, and Lovasea Carrol are among the players Kirby Smart will turn to in the absence of Tykee Smith and Christopher Smith.

Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Tykee Smith had the difficult task of guarding explosive passing attack in the Big 12 last season, but he helped the Mountaineers have the top passing defense in the country.

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Georgia football player card: DB Latavious Brini

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Latavious Brini had 11 tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss last season

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Latavious Brini, defensive back (No. 36):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-2

Weight: 210 pounds

Hometown: Miami Gardens, Florida

High School: Mater Academy Charter

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Latavious Brini had the best year of his career in 2020. Brini finished the 2020 season with 11 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. Brini had a career-high five tackles against Cincinnati in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which was his first career start.

Brini came to the University of Georgia as a three-star recruit. Brini played in five games in 2019, when he intercepted a pass against Murray State.

Brini is another example of Georgia football’s increased recruiting in Florida. Florida, Florida State and Miami have been losing a lot of talent to Clemson, Georgia and Alabama over the past decade.

Georgia’s defense is projected to be great once again next season. Brini brings 17 games of experience to the secondary, which is important for the Dawgs, who lost Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, Mark Webb and Richard LeCounte to the 2021 NFL draft.

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Georgia football player card: DB William Poole

Georgia Bulldogs senior defensive back William Poole saw action in six of Georgia’s ten games in 2020.

William Poole, Defensive Back (No. 31):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

High School: Hapeville Charter High School

Georgia Bulldogs senior defensive back William Poole saw action in six of Georgia’s ten games in 2020. The Atlanta, Georgia, native has played in 22 total games throughout his Georgia career and has accumulated 13 career tackles.

Poole came to the University of Georgia as a four-star recruit. Poole redshirted in 2019 when he played against Murray State, Arkansas State, and Georgia Tech and recorded three tackles.

He saw a good amount playing time a sophomore in 2018. That season he played in eight games and secured ten total tackles.

Poole and fellow Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith were teammates at Hapeville Charter.

Georgia is looking less thin in the secondary following the additions of West Virginia transfer Tykee Smith and Clemson transfer Derion Kendrick.

The Dawgs have Kelee Ringo, Ameer Speed, Jalen Kimber, and more returning at cornerback. Georgia’s defensive front is expected to be elite once again next season.

Sep 8, 2018; Columbia, SC, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back William Poole (31) brings down South Carolina Gamecocks running back Ty’Son Williams (27) in the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

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Georgia football player card: DB Tykee Smith

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tykee Smith is considered one of the top safeties in the country

Tykee Smith, Defensive Back (No. 23):

Class: Junior

Height: 5-10

Weight: 200 pounds

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

High School: Imhotep Institute

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tykee Smith transferred to the University of Georgia from West Virginia this offseason. Smith is considered one of the top safeties in the country. He is reunited with Georgia defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae, his former position coach at West Virginia.

Smith will be counted on to start at safety or nickel for the Bulldogs in 2021 alongside Christopher Smith and Lewis Cine.

Nov. 14, 2020; Morgantown, West Virginia; West Virginia Mountaineers safety Tykee Smith (23) breaks up a pass intended for TCU Horned Frogs running back Zach Evans (6) during the first quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Tykee Smith had the difficult task of guarding explosive passing attack in the Big 12 last season, but he helped the Mountaineers have the top passing defense in the country.

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Georgia football player card: DB David Daniel

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back David Daniel was one of Kirby Smart’s first commitments in the class of 2021.

David Daniel, Defensive Back (No. 14):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 185 pounds

Hometown: Woodstock, Georgia

High School: Woodstock High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back David Daniel was one of Kirby Smart’s first commitments in the class of 2021. Daniel enrolled early at the University of Georgia and competed throughout spring drills and the spring game.

Daniel is the first player from Woodstock High School to sign with Georgia in a long time. He came to Athens as a four-star athlete. Daniel played both wide receiver and cornerback during his time at Woodstock.

Georgia started cornerbacks Ameer Speed and Jalen Kimber in the spring game, but the secondary will look much different to open the season.

Kirby Smart brought in additional talent at defensive back, including Clemson transfer Derion Kendrick, Alabama transfer Brandon Turnage and West Virgnia transfer Tykee Smith. Former five-star recruit Kelee Ringo, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, will compete for playing time at cornerback as well.

At safety, Christopher Smith and Lewis Cine are projected to retain their starting roles. Georgia lost a bunch of talent in the secondary to the 2021 NFL draft.

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Georgia football player card: DB Lovasea Carroll

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Lovasea Carroll changed positions during his first year on campus with Georgia

Lovasea Carroll, Defensive Back (No. 12):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-1

Weight: 195 pounds

Hometown: Warrenton, Georgia

High School: IMG Academy

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Lovasea Carroll changed positions during his first year on campus with Georgia. Carroll enrolled early at Georgia after being a highly touted four-star running back recruit out of high school powerhouse IMG Academy.

IMG Academy’s Xavier Terrell (5) runs in a touchdown against Ravenwood next to Lovasea Carroll (6) during the second half at Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Carroll will have a good mentor to help him with the difficulties he will face with his position change. Incoming Clemson transfer Derion Kendrick is a former five-star recruit that began his college football career at wide receiver. Kendrick seamlessly transitioned to cornerback as a sophomore at Clemson and is a top prospect for the 2022 NFL draft.

Georgia started Ameer Speed and Jalen Kimber in the spring game, but the secondary will look much different to open the season.

Kirby Smart brought in additional competition at defensive back, including Clemson transfer Derion Kendrick, Alabama transfer Brandon Turnage, and West Virgnia transfer Tykee Smith. Former five-star recruit Kelee Ringo figures to compete for playing time as well.

Georgia is no longer as desperate at the defensive back position. The Bulldogs could play Carroll at running back in the future. It will be a storyline to watch over Carroll’s career

The Warrenton, Georgia, product played Warren County High School before attending IMG Academy.

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Georgia football player card: DB Derion Kendrick

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Derion Kendrick is projected to start as the No. 1 cornerback in Dan Lanning’s defensive scheme this season

Derion Kendrick, Defensive Back (No. 11):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190 pounds

Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina

High School: South Pointe High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Derion Kendrick is projected to start as the No. 1 cornerback in Dan Lanning’s defensive scheme this season. Kendrick transferred to Georgia from Clemson this offseason. He will face his former team to open the season.

Kendrick is a former five-star recruit who began his college football career at wide receiver. Kendrick transitioned to cornerback as a sophomore.

Nov. 16, 2019; Clemson, South Carolina; Clemson Tigers Derion Kendrick (1) returns the ball during the first half of the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia started Ameer Speed and Jalen Kimber in the spring game, but the secondary will look much different to open the season.

Kirby Smart brought in more competition at defensive back, including Alabama transfer Brandon Turnage and West Virgnia transfer Tykee Smith. Former five-star recruit Kelee Ringo will compete for playing time.

Kendrick’s big-game experience will be critical for the secondary. He is considered a top cornerback prospect for the 2022 NFL draft, but there are concerns about his character.

Kendrick proved himself as a top cornerback during his time at Clemson. He finished the 2020 season as an All-ACC performer. The former South Pointe High School star deflected six passes, recorded a sack and intercepted one pass last season for the Tigers.

Kendrick has 23 career starts at cornerback. He has played in five career College Football Playoff games.

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Watch: Highlights of Georgia football DB Christopher Smith

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Christopher Smith stepped up into the starting safety role last season

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Christopher Smith stepped up into the starting safety role last season after Richard LeCounte was involved in an accident following the Kentucky game. Smith finished the 2020 season with 26 tackles and a pass deflection.

Smith came to Athens as a four-star recruit and has played in every game during the last two seasons.

This upcoming season is presumed to be Christopher Smith’s most important year in Athens. He’s expected to start at safety alongside Lewis Cine. Georgia has a thin defensive backfield, so it’s key that both starting safeties stay healthy next season.

Additionally, Christopher Smith will look to force more turnovers. Someone will need to step up to replace Richard LeCounte’s production. LeCounte averaged four combined interceptions and forced fumbles per season as a starter.

Before coming to Georgia, Christopher Smith helped Hapeville Charter win a GHSA state title in 2017. Smith and fellow University of Georgia defensive back William Poole were teammates at Hapeville Charter.

Check out Christopher Smith’s highlights here:

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