Tag: Richard LeCounte news

PFF ranks Georgia football S Richard LeCounte ridiculously low on NFL Draft board

Pro Football Focus has the 2020 First Team All-SEC safety ranked as the No. 15 safety on their 2021 NFL Draft board. Details here

Georgia’s Richard LeCounte is headed to the NFL after a storied four-year career in Athens and surprisingly, Pro Football Focus has the 2020 First Team All-SEC safety ranked as the No. 15 safety on their 2021 NFL Draft board. 

LeCounte, the unquestioned leader of the Bulldogs defense for the last two seasons, reacted to PFF’s rankings via Twitter.

Those ranked ahead of LeCounte are:

  • Trevon Moehrig, TCU
  • Ar’Darius Washington, TCU
  • Hamsah Nasirildeen, FSU
  • Elijah Molden, Washington
  • Andre Cisco, Syracuse
  • Parris Ford, Pittsburgh
  • Richie Grant, UCF
  • Caden Sterns, Texas
  • Tyree Gillespie, Missouri
  • Jamien Sherwood, Auburn
  • Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech
  • Kolby Harvell-Peel, Oklahoma State
  • Talanoa Hufanga, USC
  • James Wiggins, Cincinnati

In 44 games played at Georgia, LeCounte racked up 176 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 18 passes defended, four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and eight interceptions, one of the most productive defensive back careers in Georgia football history.

The former five-star recruit was named 2020 Preseason All-American, but his season was derailed after only five games when he was in a motorcycle accident on Halloween night. LeCounte went on to miss the rest of the Bulldogs season, except a one-play appearance in the Peach Bowl win versus Cincinnati.

Through only five games played, LeCounte recorded 26 tackles, including a career high 13 stops in a win versus Kentucky, a tackle for a loss, fumble recovery, three interceptions and four pass breakups.

At least the SEC realized LeCounte’s prowess by recognizing him as 2020 First Team All-SEC, but PFF needs to take a step back here.

See what Georgia coach Kirby Smart and 2021 signee Kamari Lassiter said about LeCounte here.

 

Make sure and check out UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton. I sit down with UGA great Aaron Murray to talk college football, the Dawgs and his time in Kansas City with the Chiefs. Listen here:

Richard LeCounte is back practicing following motorbike injury

Georgia football DB Richard LeCounte returns to the practice field following a scary motorbiking accident suffered earlier this season.

Following a road win at Kentucky, Georgia defensive back Richard LeCounte was involved in a motorbiking accident that same night after the team made it back to Athens.

LeCounte luckily suffered only bruised ribs and a shoulder injury, as the wreck could’ve been much worse than it was.

Now, less than two months after the injury, LeCounte has been spotted back on the practice field.

LeCounte is returning to practice just in time for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Cincinnati, should he play.  Georgia has a number of players opting out in preparation for the 2021 NFL Draft but the addition of LeCounte could be massive for the Dawgs odds.

The 2021 Peach Bowl kicks off New Years Day at 12:00 P.M. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and will be aired on ESPN.  Georgia is favored by seven points over the undefeated Bearcats in the matchup.

Two Bulldogs make Bednarik Award watch list

Georgia football CB Eric Stokes and S Richard LeCounte have been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list for the 2020 season.

The Chuck Bednarik Award, named after the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagles great, is awarded annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.

Prior to the college football season, there are 90 defensive players named to the watch list.  This year’s watch list features two Georgia defenders, including cornerback Eric Stokes as well as senior safety Richard LeCounte.

Stokes had 38 total tackles in 2019 and led the Dawgs’ defense in pass breakups with a total of nine.  He is now entering his second season as a starter at the cornerback position.

LeCounte, entering his senior season, is a vital piece to Georgia’s secondary.  He is entering his third season as a starting safety with five interceptions, six pass breakups, five fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles in his career so far.

Both Stokes and LeCounte could have easily been selected in this year’s NFL Draft, but decided to return to UGA with unfinished business and to work on their craft to up their draft stock.

The two helped the Bulldogs allow fewer points than any other team in 2019, ranking No. 1 in the country in scoring defense and allowing only 12.6 points per game. Georgia ranked No. 2 in rush defense, No. 2 in pass defense and No. 2 in total offense. On top of that, Georgia’s defense allowed only two rushing touchdowns for the whole year.

Past recipients of the award include Charles Woodson, Julius Peppers, David Pollack, Ndamukong Suh, Patrick Peterson, Aaron Donald, Chase Young and many other legendary defensive players.  Former Georgia safety J.R. Reed was named a semifinalist in 2019 and former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith was named a finalist in 2017.

Semifinalists of the Bednarik Award are to be announced on November 3rd, while finalists will be decided on November 23. The winner of the award will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 10th, followed by a presentation on March 12th, 2021 in Atlantic City, N.J.