Tag: kirby smart uga

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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Former Georgia football WR picks transfer destination

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Matt Landers entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2020 season. Now, he’s headed to Toledo.

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Matt Landers entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2020 season. Now, the St. Petersburg High School product is transferring to the Toledo Rockets football program.

Matt Landers will join Toledo as a member of the junior class. He will be immediately eligible for the Rockets. We wish him luck as he looks for a larger role with his new team.

Landers came to Athens, Georgia, as a three-star recruit. He is an excellent blocker. Improved consistency would go a long way for Landers. He played in nine regular season games during the 2020 season, but ultimately he fell belowGeorge Pickens, Kearis Jackson, Arian Smith, Jermaine Burton, and Demetris Robertson on the wide receiver depth chart at Georgia.

Matt Landers will be a mid-year enrollee for the Toledo Rockets. Toledo announced the move via their official Twitter account:

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Former South Carolina coach Will Muschamp working as analyst at UGA

Former South Carolina and Florida head coach Will Muschamp has been working with Georgia football in recent weeks

Former South Carolina and Florida head coach Will Muschamp has been working with Georgia football in recent weeks. Now, Kirby Smart has confirmed Muchamp’s role with the University of Georgia.

Muschamp played safety at Georgia and has coached defensive backs multiple times over his coaching career. He’ll be a defensive analyst at Georgia and is scheduled to make $300,000. Muschamp will also receive a buyout nearing $15 million from South Carolina.

The UGA alum (1991-1994) was fired by the Gamecocks before the end of the 2020 college football season. At South Carolina, Muschamp ended his career with a record of 28-30 overall.

Before coaching at South Carolina, Muschamp spent time as Auburn’s defensive coordinator in 2015 and was the head coach of the Florida Gators.

Coach Kirby Smart and Muschamp are friends, who both played together at UGA. They have coached together multiple times including stints with Valdosta State, LSU and the Miami Dolphins. Muschamp’s son, Jackson Muschamp, joined the Georgia program as a walk-on quarterback.

Muschamp played safety at Georgia and has coached defensive backs multiple times over his coaching career. His experience against Clemson, the SEC East, and more will be an asset for Georgia next season.

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https://twitter.com/marcweiszer/status/1357050395642707968?s=20

Indiana hires Georgia DB coach as defensive coordinator

The Indiana Hoosiers have hired former Georgia Bulldogs defensive backs coach Charlton Warren to be their defensive coordinator.

The Indiana Hoosiers have hired former Georgia Bulldogs defensive backs coach Charlton Warren to be their defensive coordinator. Indiana is coming off an impressive 6-2 season where they challenged Ohio State, defeated Penn State, but lost in their bowl game to Ole Miss.

Indiana is an excellent job for Warren, an Atlanta native. The Hoosiers secondary and defense was very impressive in 2020 under former defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and head coach Tom Allen. Wommack left for the head coaching job at South Alabama.

Charlton Warren deserves a chance to run a defense after previously being a defensive backs coach at Nebraska, UNC, Tennessee, and Florida.

Now, Kirby Smart and Georgia must look for a replacement for Warren. The Bulldogs have a lot of talent in the secondary, but they lack in returning experience at the cornerback position.

In fact, Georgia’s new defensive backs coach must replace the top four corners and top safety from last season. The University of Georgia is losing Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes, Richard LeCounte, and DJ Daniel to the 2021 NFL Draft. Additionally, Tyrique Stevenson is transferring to Miami and is no longer with the program.

Who will Georgia hire to replace Charlton Warren? The position should be a sought after role and Kirby Smart has a background as a former defensive back at Georgia, so he knows the position well and should hire the right guy.

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Georgia Bulldogs RB James Cook returning for another season

Georgia Bulldogs running back Jame Cook is returning to Athens for another season and will not enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

Georgia Bulldogs running back Jame Cook is returning to Athens for another season and will not enter the 2021 NFL Draft. James Cook, the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, missed the Peach Bowl to mourn the loss of his father.

2021 will be Cook’s fourth season with the University of Georgia, but he’ll be a junior, since nobody lost eligibility in 2020. James Cook came to Georgia as a highly touted recruit from Miami Central High School.

James Cook is projected to start as the third down back for Todd Monken and UGA’s offense next season. Cook is a dangerous receiver and is Georgia’s best receiving back. He could take over as lead running back if Zamir White declares for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Look for James Cook to get more touches next season. He’s averaged 6.6 yards per carry in his career and 11.2 yards per reception. Cook never had more than seven carries in a game during the 2020 season.

The Miami Central graduate gained 320 yards on 47 total touches in 2019. He totaled 61 touches in 2020.

Cook’s best play of the season came when he burned the Alabama defense for an explosive touchdown.

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Georgia football WR enters NCAA transfer portal

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Matt Landers has entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2020 season.

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Matt Landers has entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2020 season. The St. Petersburg High School product had an up and down season in 2019.

Matt Landers enters the portal as a junior. He will be immediately eligible if he chooses to transfer. We wish him luck at his new school, should he prefer to transfer.

Landers came to Athens as a three-star recruit and is an excellent blocker. Improved consistency would go a long way for Landers. He played in nine regular season games during the 2020 season. He fell behind George Pickens, Kearis Jackson, Arian Smith, Jermaine Burton, and Demetris Robertson on the wide receiver depth chart at Georgia.

He played his best game in 2019 against the Baylor Bears in the Sugar Bowl. Landers caught three passes for 25 yards and scored a touchdown:

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Watch: Georgia football coach Kirby Smart evades Gatorade bath

Georgia Bulldogs football coach Kirby Smart evaded a Gatorade bath from his players following Georgia’s Peach Bowl victory over Cincinnati.

Georgia Bulldogs football coach Kirby Smart used some of his speed from his playing days to evade a Gatorade bath from his players following Georgia’s Peach Bowl victory. Georgia defeated Cincinnati 24-21 in a comeback victory.

Kicker Jack Podlesny was the hero on the day when he nailed a game-winning field goal. Georgia and Kirby Smart overcame numerous opt outs and beat a motivated Cincinnati Bearcats team.

Watch Kirby Smart escape the Gatorade bath here:

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Georgia football’s JC Vega no longer looking to transfer

Georgia Bulldogs long snapper JC Vega entered into the transfer portal earlier this offseason, but now he is no longer looking to transfer.

Georgia Bulldogs long snapper JC Vega entered into the transfer portal earlier this offseason, but now he is no longer looking to transfer. He redshirted last season as a freshman.

The Buford High School graduate came to the University of Georgia as a four-star long snapper recruit and the No. 21 long snapper in his class. Vega helped the Buford Wolves win four straight regional championships, including a couple of state championship appearances. Vega also wrestled in high school in addition to playing football.

Vega’s decision is a reminder that not all players who enter the portal are guaranteed to leave UGA. Although, former Georgia Bulldogs Kolby Wyatt and Makiya Tongue have both already found new homes this offseason.

That being said, all players who do transfer this offseason will be immediately eligible at their new schools. This offseason should see a ton of roster management between players going pro, other players potentially transferring, or seniors returning for one more year.

The Buford High School product announced his decision to stay at Georgia via Twitter:

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Georgia football’s JC Vega no longer looking to transfer

Georgia Bulldogs long snapper JC Vega entered into the transfer portal earlier this offseason, but now he is no longer looking to transfer.

Georgia Bulldogs long snapper JC Vega entered into the transfer portal earlier this offseason, but now he is no longer looking to transfer. He redshirted last season as a freshman.

The Buford High School graduate came to the University of Georgia as a four-star long snapper recruit and the No. 21 long snapper in his class. Vega helped the Buford Wolves win four straight regional championships, including a couple of state championship appearances. Vega also wrestled in high school in addition to playing football.

Vega’s decision is a reminder that not all players who enter the portal are guaranteed to leave UGA. Although, former Georgia Bulldogs Kolby Wyatt and Makiya Tongue have both already found new homes this offseason.

That being said, all players who do transfer this offseason will be immediately eligible at their new schools. This offseason should see a ton of roster management between players going pro, other players potentially transferring, or seniors returning for one more year.

The Buford High School product announced his decision to stay at Georgia via Twitter:

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Flip alert: No. 4 JUCO recruit De’Jahn Warren decommits from UGA

Four-star class of 2021 JUCO defensive back De’Jahn Warren has flipped his commitment from the University of Georgia to Jackson State.

The Georgia Bulldogs and head coach Kirby Smart landed another defensive back commitment in De’Jahn Warren earlier this year. Unfortunately, Georgia’s defensive class has taken a hit and Warren has committed to Jackson State. Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders helped recruit Warren to their program.

De’Jahn Warren is a junior college prospect and will enter the major college football world as a member of the junior class. He will look to make an instant impact at Jackson State.

Warren plays for Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. 247Sports rates Warren as a four-star prospect and as the second highest rated JUCO cornerback prospect in the class of 2021.

Warren originally picked the Georgia Bulldogs over Penn State, Alabama, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida State and Oklahoma. Now, Warren is going a different route entirely.

With Warren’s experience and skill, he was anticipated to compete for a starting cornerback role right away. Georgia has several other elite cornerback commitments who should help ease the pain of this one.

Top-rated JUCO prospects are often ready to plug and play, so Warren could make an impact at Jackson State next season. The University of Georgia found a great deal of success and experience in former JUCO cornerback D.J. Daniel back in 2019.

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