Georgia returnees take two spots for PFF top corners
Georgia cornerbacks have built a strong tradition of success over the last few years. Derion Kendrick transferred in from Clemson and was drafted in 2022. The year before two Bulldog cornerbacks were taken – Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell. Deandre Baker was a first round pick in 2019 and Kelee Ringo has a chance to be selected in the same round this year. Needless to say, Georgia’s cornerback play has been strong.
Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus seems to believe that excellence will continue in 2023. According to Chadwick, Georgia has two of the top 10 returning cornerbacks in College Football for next season, the only school with multiple players listed.
STAR Javon Bullard is listed at No. 7 and the only slot corner to make the cut for Chadwick. Bullard finished the 2022 season strong by earning Defensive MVP honors in both of Georgia’s College Football Playoff contests with a pair of interceptions in the National Championship Game win over TCU.
The only slot corner on this list, Bullard was an honorable mention All-American for PFF this past season. The sophomore’s 79.3 grade ranked third among Power Five slot corners this season. He only surrendered 0.88 yards per coverage snap from the slot, sixth in that same group. Bullard’s 82.6 grade in zone coverage ranked fourth among all Power Five corners as well. – Chadwick
In total, Bullard had 46 tackles in 2022 including seven for loss. Half of those were sacks including a pair in the big home victory over Tennessee – plus another in the Peach Bowl versus Ohio State. On top of his interceptions, Bullard also recovered a fumble in the first half to have a hand in all three forced turnovers against the Horned Frogs.
Kamari Lassiter is Georgia’s other returning cornerback, and he comes in at No. 10 on Chadwick’s countdown. Lassiter earned the starting spot opposite of Kelee Ringo in 2022 and totaled 38 stops including five tackles for loss. He deflected four passes.
Georgia tends to leave their corners on islands, making it very easy to see whether or not they’re up to snuff. Lassiter’s 190 snaps in single-coverage were sixth among Power Five corners this season. Of the sophomore’s 34 targets in single coverage, he only allowed 13 catches. He’ll be the reigning back-to-back champs’ top outside corner this season with Kelee Ringo off to the NFL. – Chadwick
Considered by some to be one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, Lassiter will quickly become the top option for Georgia defending on the outside next season.
Bullard and Lassiter are just two of the names that’ll make up Georgia’s secondary in 2023. With Ringo gone, a starting spot on the outside is open. Daylen Everette and Nyland Green are expected to compete for that spot starting this spring. Furthermore, Tykee Smith is back at STAR while the Bulldogs brought in Texas A&M transfer Deyon “Smoke” Bouie, a four-star in the Class of 2022 that’s capable of contributing either at STAR or safety.
