Fall Camp Preview: Georgia Looking for Answers in the Secondary
With the departures of cornerback Kelee Ringo and safety Chris Smith - both multi-year starters in the Georgia defense - to the NFL, Georgia is looking for answers in the secondary as the Bulldogs are set to open fall camp this week.
At cornerback, Georgia returns junior Kamari Lassiter whose play in his first year as a starter was strong enough to earn him preseason first-team All-SEC honors. However, with two-year starter Kelee Ringo moving on to the NFL, finding an option to compliment Lassiter at the other cornerback spot is a priority for Georgia entering fall camp. Fortunately, for the Bulldogs, they are not short on talented options.
Junior Kamari Lassiter started every game at CB for Georgia in 2022 and returns as the Bulldogs' most experienced player in the secondary in 2023.
Sophomore Daylan Everette - a former 5-star recruit -received the most snaps behind Ringo and Lassiter last season, but throughout the spring he faced fierce competition from the rest of Georgia's corners, particularly redshirt sophomore Nyland Greene and redshirt freshman Julian Humphrey. In fact, Greene started at corner opposite Lassiter in Georgia's spring game and was in the thick of the competition for the cornerback spot that Lassiter ultimately won in Georgia's 2022 fall camp. After enrolling early and participating in Georgia's spring practice, 5-star freshman A.J. Harris also cannot be discounted in Georgia's corner competition, as he flashed elite athleticism and strong playmaking ability throughout the spring. If the Phenix City, Alabama native can accelerate his learning of Georgia's defense and gain the trust of the staff, he could very well make a significant move during camp.
Georgia's safety position does not feature near as much intrigue as corner does entering fall camp. With sophomore Malaki Starks back after starting 14 games as a freshman in 2022 and Javon Bullard, who was named the Defensive MVP of both the Peach Bowl and CFP National Championship game, making the move to safety from the STAR position he manned last season, Georgia's starting safety duo is practically set in stone. Bullard was an impact player for the Bulldogs a year ago at the STAR position, particularly against the run, making his transition to a new position one that merits watching, but with his ball skills and strong tackling ability, he is a natural fit at safety.
Javon Bullard (22) delivers a devastating blow to Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2022 Peach Bowl. Bullard is making the transition from STAR to safety this season.
If there is any intrigue at safety for Georgia entering fall camp, it is in the competition to back-up Starks and Bullard and find a role in Georgia's third-down Dime package. Senior Dan Jackson is fully cleared to open fall camp after an injury cost him a large chunk of the 2022 season. However, Jackson is an underrated athlete who brings extensive experience to the competition. The Gainesville, Georgia native has five starts to his name and was a valuable fixture in the Georgia defense throughout its 2021 national championship run. But Jackson will have to fend off junior David Daniel who took over for an injured Jackson in Georgia's Dime package last season. Daniel-Sisavanh, a former blue-chip recruit, brings length and range to the position and the experience he gained a year ago in relief of Jackson could prove extremely valuable in the competition.
Bullard's transition to safety leaves a gaping hole at Georgia's STAR position. The Bulldogs will likely to turn to senior Tykee Smith to replace Bullard's production. After being named an AP Third Team All-American at West Virginia in 2020, Smith transferred to Georgia prior to the 2021 season with much fanfare. Unfortunately, a preseason foot injury and, later, an ACL tear derailed his 2021 season. By the time the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native recovered from the ACL tear, Bullard had staked his claim to the STAR position. Smith did start four games for the Bulldogs a year ago and brings invaluable experience and proven production to the position, making him the odds on favorite to win the competition at STAR coming out of fall camp. However, while Smith may be the likely choice to open the season as Georgia's starter at STAR, 5-star freshman Joenel Aguero will be a looming threat to eat into his playing time all season. With his abundance of physical tools and his extremely physical style of play, Aguero is likely the future of the STAR position at Georgia. Like Harris at corner, if the freshman from Massachusetts can accelerate his learning process, it will be difficult to keep his talent off of the field.
With fall camp set to open this week, Georgia still has a number of questions in its secondary that need to be answered. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, the answers to those questions will be found within an immensely talented pool of players.
