Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff: Day 25
We’re just one quarter of a hundred days away from Georgia football kickoff, and the Bulldogs are likely already chomping at the bit even though they’re just in the early stages of fall camp.
Speaking of, you should check out Palmer’s insider notes from how the camp has been going if you haven’t yet.
But today, we’re looking at a guy we’re just thankful is along for the ride, and that’s No. 25 on the roster this year — EJ Lightsey.
It’s particularly fun for me to talk about freshman, because they’re the recruits I just covered.
And Lightsey was a late-emerging name in the Class of 2022, at least where the Bulldogs were concerned.
He was a longtime Florida commit, having locked in with the Gators in late August of 2021.
You probably remember what happened to the Gators in that timeframe, as well.
There were losses and, ultimately, a coaching regime change with the program in Gainesville showing Dan Mullen the door.
That led to a mass exodus of commits from Florida and led to Lightsey opening up his recruitment and beginning to explore his other options.
Ultimately, it seemed there were two considerations that came heavily into focus, with the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks of South Carolina battling it out down the line.
The two programs went back and forth throughout the months of December and January, and in the end, Georgia won out on National Signing Day in February earlier this year.
Everything felt very normal.
Kirby Smart was very complimentary of the pickup.
“He’s a kid we had in camp. He’s a kid we never stopped recruiting. We felt very strongly about him,” Smart said of Lightsey. “He ran really well at our camp, and we put a lot of value on camp evaluations. It’s the only thing we see with our eyes. Once the character checks out, academics check out, play tape checks out, everything goes to the camp. This guy did a great job at our camp and is not afraid to work in this day and age of speed and space play, covering people. He’s a tremendous athlete.”
Soon after came near tragedy.
Lightsey suffered multiple gunshot wounds as a bystander in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
The future was unclear for a moment, but he’s since bounced back.
“E.J.’s been dealing with a little bit of a knee issue, not related to anything from when he got here, but he’s cleared, he’s working with us now. He’s missed some summer training and conditioning time. But he’s with us now and cleared to go,” Smart said at the opening of training camp.
That’s something everyone can be happy about, and we’re just glad No. 25 will be between the hedges this season in any capacity.
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