Elite 2023 DB Kayin Lee: "Georgia is the place to be"
Kayin Lee is one of the most coveted cornerbacks in the 2023 class. The 6-foot, 165-pound junior is the no. 8 cornerback and no. 51 player in the 2023 On3 Top 100.
Over 20 schools offered Lee, but it came down to Georgia and Ohio State. The in-state school won out for the four-star.
“Ohio State is a great school, but Georgia is the perfect fit for me,” Lee said. “Georgia is close to home. They have a great support staff. They have a great coaching staff.
“Georgia flies around the ball. It is the place I can be me and Georgia is the place to be.”
Georgia’s style of play mirrors Lee’s
Kirby Smart is a defensive-minded head coach. He is all about effort, physicality, and speed when recruiting defensive players.
Lee loves what he sees in the Bulldog’s defense.
“When I see Georgia play, I see me. Georgia’s defense plays fast, physical, intense, aggressive, and hard-nosed. They are all about accountability.
“That is how I play. It is a defense I will fit into perfectly.”
Bulldogs made their move over the summer
Georgia offered late in 2020. As the Bulldogs were signing players in December, they offered Lee. He has been a priority for them since.
Entering the summer, Lee knew he had an interest in the in-state school, but it was mid-June when Georgia shot to the top.
“When I was there with my team for a 7-on-7 in June, I felt it,” Lee said. “I met Kirby for the first time and I knew then that I was going to Georgia.
“It was just something I felt. Georgia has been no. 1 in my mind since that visit. It felt like home and I knew I found the fit.”
He gave Georgia the news of his commitment Tuesday September 14.
“I called coach Coop (David Cooper, director of relations), then coach (Jahmile) Addae (defensive backs) and coach Smart to give them the news.
“The whole coaching staff welcomed me. It was a great feeling.”
Smart let Lee know he was confident in the Bulldogs keeping him home. He wasn’t surprised at the commitment.
“Coach Smart told me he knew he was going to get me. He didn’t know if it was now, next year, or when, but he knew he would get me. He wanted me that bad.”
Lee can’t wait to play for coach Smart.
“He is just a great guy. Coach Smart is a coach I can talk to about anything. He is a man of his word, he is always upfront, and he is honest.
“Playing for coach Smart is something I am excited about.”
Lee is already recruiting for Georgia
It is still well over a year before the 2023 class will sign, but Lee is 6th player in that class to commit to Georgia.
He is already recruiting others to join him.
“Georgia is the move for these top recruits,” Lee said. “I am already talking to a lot of recruits about Georgia.
“I am working Caleb Downs, Michael Daugherty, Raul Aguirre, and some others.
“Georgia is a great program now, but we are going to be even better in the future. We need to stay together, and that will make the team even better.
“So many of us in Georgia know each other, and have played with each other, so us having the connection could be big at Georgia. I am going to get us some more top players.”
On3’s take on Lee
National Director of Scouting Charles Power has taken a long, hard look at Lee, and he thinks the Bulldogs got a good one.
“Kayin Lee is a well-rounded, highly skilled corner,” Power said. “He’s a fantastic high school football player who consistently impacts games from his corner spot – which isn’t something we always see.
“Lee plays fast. He has strong recognition skills and closes ground quickly. He’s a physical tackler and striker. Lee also has strong ball skill with his ability to locate, track and come down with interceptions.
“Georgia is landing one of the more skilled cornerbacks in the 2023 cycle, who happens to be in their back yard.”