Tag: richard lecounte nfl draft

NFL Draft: SEC coaches name Georgia S Richard LeCounte most underrated prospect

A group of SEC coaches named Georgia safety Richard LeCounte as one of the most underrated prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. Details here

We are just a few days away from the 2021 NFL Draft which kicks off on Thursday night. For months we’ve seen mock drafts and prospect rankings swarm the media in preparation, bringing up some serious questions regarding UGA’s Richard LeCounte and his weirdly low draft stock.

LeCounte is hard to find on most draft boards and Pro Football Focus has the All-SEC first team safety out of their top-10 rankings at the position.

But why? Some will point to his speed. LeCounte averaged a 4.79 forty yard dash during Georgia’s pro day in March. Others point to his coverage skills, saying the lack of quickness will translate to matchup problems at the next level.

If we’re being honest here, these claims are unsubstantiated and in reality, just guesses.

LeCounte is one of the most productive defensive backs in Georgia football history. And at a defensive prowess like UGA, that’s saying something.

Before LeCounte’s motorcyle accident that kept him out for the latter part of 2020, the Riceboro, Ga., native racked up 26 tackles, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and four pass breakups in just five games played as the unquestioned leader of one of the top defenses in the country.

Matt Zenitz of AL.com spoke to 15 coaches that worked in the SEC last season and asked the question: Outside of the players widely projected to go in the first round, which SEC draft prospects would you most want on your team if you were an NFL general manager?

No surprise here, LeCounte finished tied for first place with five votes.

Zenitz quoted one of the responses,

“I thought he was lights out the best safety in the conference — his range, versatility, just his ability to command it back there,” a head coach said. “Not only was he skilled but he knew what was coming. He was prepared. He’s a vocal, physical, contact player who can get the ball out of the air. Can match in coverage. He’s got NFL three-dimensional versatility where he can play on the roof, can match in coverage and can fit the box. And if you have a fourth category, he can blitz from anywhere on the field. I thought he was dynamic. Did he play with a great supporting cast? Yeah. But I thought he led that supporting cast.”

LeCounte finished his career at UGA with 44 games played, racking up 165 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions, 18 passes defended, four forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.

LeCounte knows just how good his tape is…

 

 

 

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:

Georgia star safety Richard LeCounte thanks UGA family, declares for 2021 NFL Draft

Georgia safety Richard LeCounte thanked DawgNation and declared for the 2021 NFL Draft in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon. Details here.

Georgia safety Richard LeCounte thanked DawgNation and declared for the 2021 NFL Draft in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon.

LeCounte missed most of Georgia’s 2020 season after suffering multiple injuries in a motorcycle accident on Halloween night, but he was still named 2020 All-SEC first team by conference coaches and will go down as one of the best safeties to ever wear the Red and Black.

In his four-year career at Georgia, LeCounte totaled 44 games played, 106 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 8 interceptions, 18 passed defended, 4 forced fumbles and 6 fumble recoveries.

From the time of his commitment in 2015, to his final play as a Georgia Bulldog in this year’s Peach Bowl win, LeCounte was a Dawg through and through.

“He (LeCounte) has been so loyal to Georgia in an era when that’s not normal. It’s normal to de-commit, move here, decide late, Georgia coach Kirby Smart told reporters in December. “He committed early, he was a great player and he stayed an extra year for his senior year.”

Four Bulldogs picked in first two round 2021 mock draft

Four Georgia Bulldogs go in the first two rounds of a 2021 NFL mock draft. Including: Richard LeCounte, Jamie Newman, and more.

The 2020 NFL Draft featured the selection of seven Georgia Bulldogs: Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson, D’Andre Swift, Solomon Kindley, Jake Fromm, Charlie Woerner, and Tae Crowder. Will more Georgia Bulldogs be picked in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Georgia fans should expect much more than one defender to be drafted in 2021. In fact, more Dawgs are projected to be drafted in the first two rounds of 2021 compared with the 2020 NFL Draft (per Draft Wire). Three Georgia Bulldogs were picked in the first two rounds of 2020.

Where the Georgia Bulldogs are projected to go in the first 64 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft:

Quarterback Jamie Newman: 14th Overall

Nov 23, 2019; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Jamie Newman (12) carries the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during the second quarter at BB&T Field.  Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Back Richard LeCounte: 15th Overall

Oct 27, 2018; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Richard LeCounte (2) works out prior to the game at TIAA Bank Field. Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Pro Football Network ranks top-10 safety prospects for 2021 NFL Draft – Georgia’s Richard LeCounte too low

Georgia football senior Richard LeCounte ranked in the top-ten of PFN’s safety prospects for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Pro Football Network recently ranked the top-ten safety prospects for the 2021 NFL Draft.

The site included Georgia senior Richard LeCounte, but in my opinion has the Riceboro native too low.

LeCounte checked in at No. 8 on the list.

From PFN:

“One of the most well-rounded players in the class, Richard LeCounte has arguably the highest floor of any safety in this class. Consistently productive for the Bulldogs, he projects as a quality starter in the NFL. LeCounte has decent size, decent athletic ability, and a decent skill-set all around. Unfortunately, that can be both a pro and a con, as it lowers his ceiling in the NFL. Will LeCounte ever be an impact playmaker? Potentially, but I wouldn’t bet on it. However, he can be a consistent and quality starter for a long time.”

Through three seasons, two of which saw him as a full-time starter, LeCounte has racked up 150 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, six pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, and four forced fumbles.

LeCounte ranked as the second best prospect in the SEC, according to PFN, behind only LSU’s JaCoby Stevens.

LeCounte has established himself as a playmaker on Georgia’s elite defense. Georgia had the top-ranked scoring defense in the nation last season. LeCounte does lose his partner in crime at the safety position, J.R. Reed, though. He’ll miss Reed, but now he’s ready to run the back-end of UGA’s defense.

The former five-star recruit has forced a combined nine turnovers over the last two seasons. LeCounte recorded the second most interceptions in the SEC last season with four. He recovered the most fumbles (three) in the league as well. It’ll be a pleasure to watch his last season between the hedges.

Two Georgia football players go in first round of 2021 NFL mock draft

Two Georgia Bulldogs are projected to be first round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft., which will be held in Cleveland, Ohio.

Two Georgia Bulldogs are projected to be first round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The 2021 NFL Draft will be held in Cleveland, Ohio. A lot will change before then, but Walter Football projects that a pair of Bulldogs will go in the first round: safety Richard LeCounte and quarterback Jamie Newman.

This fall will mark the final season of eligibility for LeCounte and Newman, so expect for both of them (barring redshirt, etc.) to enter into the 2021 NFL Draft.

Richard LeCounte is projected as the 11th overall pick.

Nov 16, 2019; Auburn, AL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Richard LeCounte (2) celebrates after the Auburn Tigers failed to covert a fourth down late in the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium.Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Wake Forest transfer quarterback Jamie Newman is projected as the 23rd overall pick.

Nov 16, 2019; Clemson, SC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Jamie Newman looks to pass the ball against the Clemson Tigers. Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Do you anticipate more Dawgs will be selected in the first round of 2020? Ben Cleveland, Monty Rice and Malik Herring headline UGA’s talented seniors who aren’t mentioned above.

Additionally, Jordan Davis, Jamaree Salyer, Trey Hill, Eric Stokes, James Cook, and Tyson Campbell are among  Georgia’s most likely juniors to declare for the NFL Draft early. Redshirt sophomores can also declare for the Draft as underclassmen.

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Georgia football player profile: DB Richard LeCounte

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Richard LeCounte will be the leader of the Bulldog defense in 2020.

Safety Richard LeCounte (#2):

Class: Senior

Height: 5-11

Weight: 190 lbs

Hometown: Riceboro, Georgia

High School: Liberty County High School

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: Richard LeCounte of the Georgia Bulldogs intercepts a pass against the Baylor Bears during the Allstate Sugar Bowl. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Richard LeCounte will be the leader of the Bulldog defense in 2020. He returned to Athens for his senior season instead of entering his name into the NFL Draft. He’ll have another shot at the college football playoffs in his final year.

LeCounte has been playing since he was a freshman, but he began starting as a sophomore. In 2018, LeCounte was the University of Georgia’s leading tackler with 74 total stops.

LeCounte has established himself as a playmaker on Georgia’s elite defense. Georgia had the top-ranked scoring defense in the nation last season. LeCounte does lose his partner in crime at the safety position, J.R. Reed. LeCounte will miss Reed, but now he’s ready to run the back-end of UGA’s defense.

Riceboro, Georgia product has forced a combined nine turnovers over the last two seasons. LeCounte recorded the second most interceptions in the SEC last season with four. He recovered the most fumbles (three) in the league as well. It’ll be a pleasure to watch his last season between the hedges.

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