Tag: georgia defensive backs

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 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 DB Major Burns enters transfer portal

Georgia football defensive back Major Burns has announced a decision to enter the transfer portal. Details here

Georgia sophomore defensive back Major Burns has entered the transfer portal. The former four-star recruit announced the decision in a Twitter post on Monday afternoon.

Burns was rated as the No. 11 safety in the 2020 recruiting class.

The Baton Rouge, La., native was selected to play in the 2020 Under Armor All-American game, which hosts the top high school prospects each year. In his one season for the Bulldogs, Burns saw action in six of 10 games and recorded five tackles with a career-best three stops versus Florida.

With Burns’ decision, Georgia football’s carousel at defensive back continues. Georgia had four defensive backs drafted to the NFL last weekend, including Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, Richard LeCounte and Mark Webb. And we can’t forget about Tyrique Stevenson, who transferred to Miami earlier this year.

That leaves quite a large hole in the secondary of a team who looks to compete for a national title in 2021. Georgia did add West Virginia corner Tykee Smith but the Bulldogs will have to rely on talented but inexperienced guys to help fill the void. Here are the Dawgs’ current options in the secondary headed into the season.

  • Christopher Smith – senior defensive back
  • Lewis Cine – senior defensive back
  • Ameer Speed – senior cornerback
  • Latavious Brini – senior defensive back
  • William Poole – senior defensive back
  • Javon Bullard – freshman defensive back
  • Jalen Kimber – redshirt freshman cornerback
  • Kelee Ringo – redshirt freshman cornerback
  • Nyland Green – freshman cornerback

Georgia football player card: DB Kelee Ringo

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Kelee Ringo comes to Athens after having offseason shoulder surgery.

Kelee Ringo, defensive back (No. 5):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 205 pounds

Hometown: Tacoma, Washington

High School: Saguaro (Arizona)

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Kelee Ringo comes to Athens after being rated as a five-star recruit. Most scouting services considered Ringo to be the top cornerback recruit in the class of 2020.

Ringo played in the 2020 All-American Bowl and committed to the University of Georgia during the game.

He played both defensive back and running back at Saguaro High School. As a junior, Ringo ran a 10.4 one-hundred meters. He has elite size and speed for a cornerback. Georgia football was pursuing a four-star defensive end (Quintin Somerville), who is a member of the class of 2021 at Saguaro High School.

Ringo underwent offseason shoulder surgery and is expected to miss a portion of the 2020 college football season.

Daran Branch, Kelee Ringo, Jalen Kimber and Major Burns are Georgia’s four scholarship defensive backs in the class of 2020. These four have a lot of talent.

Georgia’s secondary is deep this season with Eric Stokes, D.J. Daniel, Tyson Campbell, Richard LeCounte, Lewis Cine and more. Daniel and LeCounte are both seniors, so there could be a large contingent of new faces in the 2021 Georgia secondary. Campbell and Stokes have NFL potential and could leave following their junior season this year.

Ringo will be exciting to watch when he gets healthy.

Saguaro’s Kelee Ringo wins heat of the 200 meters during the 2019 Arizona State Track and Field Championship at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, May 03, 2019.

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Georgia football player card: DB Jalen Kimber

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Jalen Kimber played elite high school competition at Mansfield Timberview in Texas.

Jalen Kimber, defensive back (No. 6):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-0

Weight: 170 pounds

Hometown: Mansfield, Texas

High School: Mansfield Timberview

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Jalen Kimber is yet another example of Kirby Smart going beyond Georgia’s typical recruiting sphere in order to secure the nation’s top talent. Kimber is a four-star cornerback and was a member of the class of 2020.

Kimber brings incredible athleticism to Athens. He runs a 4.4 forty yard dash and has a 42 inch vertical jump. He was selected to the 2020 All-American Bowl.

He played against stout high school competition in Texas. Additionally, Kimber enrolled early in Athens, so he should be quite prepared for college football’s high level of competition.

Daran Branch, Kelee Ringo (who recently underwent shoulder surgery), Jalen Kimber, and Major Burns make up Georgia’s four scholarship defensive backs in the class of 2020. The four have a lot of talent.

Georgia’s secondary is deep this season with the likes of Eric Stokes, DJ Daniel, Tyson Campbell, Richard LeCounte, Lewis Cine and more. Daniel and LeCounte are both seniors, so there could be a large contingent of new faces in the 2021 Georgia secondary.

Throwback to the day Kimber signed with the Georgia Bulldogs:

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Georgia football player card: DB Major Burns

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Major Burns committed to UGA after being rated as a four-star recruit.

Major Burns, defensive back (No. 20):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 175 pounds

Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

High School: Madison Prep Academy

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Major Burns committed to UGA despite playing high school football in LSU’s backyard. Burns enrolled early at the University of Georgia.

He came to Athens as a four-star recruit. He was quite a versatile athlete in high school, where he played several different positions.

Daran Branch, Kelee Ringo (who recently underwent shoulder surgery), Jalen Kimber, and Major Burns make up Georgia’s four scholarship defensive backs in the class of 2020. The four should all have a bright future.

Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart, and the Georgia defense are looking to replace the safety spot opposite Richard LeCounte this year. Lewis Cine is projected to start at safety, but Burns has the talent to compete with Cine and possibly play as a true freshman.

Burns will add weight to his lengthy frame over the years in Athens. He’s ready for the 2020 college football season:

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Georgia football player card: DB Daran Branch

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Daran Branch comes to Athens after being a three-star recruit in the class of 2020.

Daran Branch, defensive back (No. 26):

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-2

Weight: 178 pounds

Hometown: Amite, Louisiana

High School: Amite High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Daran Branch comes to Athens after being a three-star recruit in the class of 2020. Branch has excellent length for a cornerback.

Before committing to the University of Georgia, Branch was committed to the Ole Miss Rebels. Kirby Smart and the Dawgs were able to get him to flip on signing day in 2020.

Daran Branch, Kelee Ringo (who recently underwent shoulder surgery), Jalen Kimber, and Major Burns make up Georgia’s four scholarship defensive backs in the class of 2020. Branch is the only player of the group who isn’t rated as a four or five-star prospect. That being said, three-star recruits commonly make impacts at both the college and pro football levels.

Dan Lanning and the Georgia Bulldogs defense has a loaded defensive backfield for 2020 and beyond. Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell are projected to be UGA’s starting cornerbacks next season.

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Georgia Bulldogs football player card: DB Lewis Cine

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Lewis Cine is expected to start at safety opposite Richard LeCounte in 2020.

Lewis Cine, defensive back (#16):

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6-1

Weight: 185 pounds

Hometown: Cedar Hill, Texas

High School: Trinity Christian High School

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Lewis Cine had the difficult task of guarding LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the SEC Championship Game. Cine flashed his versatility in containing the Kansas City Chiefs first round pick.

Now, Cine is anticipated to start at safety opposite Richard LeCounte. Cine has the versatility to play nickel defensive back as well, but he’s needed to replace JR Reed at starting safety.

Cine finished last season with 20 tackles. he played in every game and started the final two contests. He recorded six tackles in both of his starts (against LSU and Baylor). Cine, who enrolled early, broke out immediately in the G-Day game last season. His freshman season was excellent, but Dawg fans can expect more in 2020.

He can make an impact as a blitzer from the secondary:

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