LOOK: Kirby Smart personally wishes Kelee Ringo happy birthday

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart made sure to wish one of his brightest young stars, Kelee Ringo, a happy birthday on Monday. Ringo, a redshirt sophomore this season, was one of the highest ranked recruits to join Smart’s roster and was a big part of their national championship win over Alabama last season.

Happy birthday, @KeleeRingo !!#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/PSHVEYHUWs

— Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) June 27, 2022

Kirby Smart wishes Kelee Ringo happy birthday

Ringo joined Georgia as a Five Star Plus+ recruit according to the On3 Consensus Rankings, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. He was the fourth-highest ranked prospect in the nation, and the highest rated cornerback of his class.

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It didn’t take long for him to become a key feature of the Georgia defense as he played 15 games last season as a redshirt freshman and started in the last 12. He finished the season receiving Freshman All-SEC Team honors with 34 total stops, eight pass breakups and two interceptions — including one he returned for a touchdown in the National Championship Game against Alabama to seal the win.

A gift-wrapped defensive touchdown to win a national title might be an impossible gift to top, but Smart made sure he paid tribute to the young star all the same.

Ringo’s efforts on the field did not go unnoticed heading into the new season either, as he has been named second team on The 76th Annual Birmingham News/AL.com All-SEC Team. Additionally, On3 ranks him as the highest valued cornerback in college football NIL estimates, at $668,000.

Ringo will partner with fellow defensive back Christopher Smith to lead a secondary that loses Lewis Cine and Derion Kendrick this year. The standout defensive players began and ended the season with touchdowns — with Smith scoring the only touchdown for Georgia in their season-opener against Clemson.