Skip to main content
Georgia

Kamari Lassiter announces intentions to enter NFL Draft

Palmber-Thombsby: Palmer Thombs12/31/23palmerthombs
Kamari Lassiter Georgia
Tony Walsh/UGA Sports Comm

Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter is three and out, announcing his intentions to enter into the 2024 NFL Draft after just his junior season on Sunday. He took to social media to do so.

“Dawg Nation, man what a ride it’s been. Three years, two natties, one SEC Championship. I couldn’t ask for much more,” Lassiter said in a video he shared. For everybody who’s been along this journey with me, I appreciate y’all. Thank you for the memories and support and everything. With that being said, I’ll be entering the NFL Draft. But once a Dawg, always a Dawg. DGD for life!”

The Savannah, Ga. native is projected by many to be one of the first players at his position off the board, coming in highly on ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s list of cornerbacks.

Lassiter’s Georgia career was like those of many before him. He watched and learned as a freshman before moving into a major role as a sophomore and one of a leader as a junior. He played in 15 games as a freshman, primarily on special teams, and earned himself a starting spot the next season. Lassiter’s lone interception during his collegiate career did come as a freshman however, picking off a pass versus Vanderbilt.

In 2022, Lassiter started all 15 games for the 15-0 Georgia Bulldogs, winners of the National Championship Game over TCU. He had a season-high (and career-high) five tackles against Tennessee that season, helping the Bulldogs beat the top-ranked Volunteers in Athens. He also had a pass breakup in the win, starting a streak of three straight games (Tennessee, Mississippi State, Kentucky) with one on his way to four on the season. In total, Lassiter came up with 38 tackles including five for loss.

Lassiter’s presence was even bigger for the Bulldogs in 2023. While he wasn’t targeted as often as the team’s top cornerback, he helped Georgia to the SEC’s best pass defense. His solo stops number went down, but Lassiter seemed to find himself near the ball more often, averaging more in each outing as he totaled 37 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, in just 14 games.

Lassiter joins his secondary running mate Javon Bullard in having declared for the NFL Draft. While many decisions are still to come, the announced return for quarterback Carson Beck and linebacker Smael Mondon certainly give Georgia great momentum headed into 2024.

More on Georgia and the NFL Draft…

Georgia has led the country in NFL Draft selections over the last three seasons with 34 in total. The Bulldogs also rank first over the last five with 48, boosted in large part due to the modern-era NFL Draft record 15 players that were picked in 2022 off of Georgia’s national championship-winning squad. Last year, UGA tied for the nation-high with 10 players picked.

In total, the Kirby Smart era at Georgia has seen 55 selections. You have to go all the way back to 1992 to find the last time at least one Bulldog was not taken in an NFL Draft. Georgia has had a player picked in the first round every year since 2018. That list includes Roquan Smith, Isaiah Wynn, Sony Michel, Deandre Baker, Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson, Eric Stokes, Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Lewis Cine, Jalen Carter, Broderick Jones and Nolan Smith.

You may also like