Tykee Smith shares how the transfer portal led him to Georgia football
Tykee Smith entered the transfer portal from West Virginia one moment.
The next moment, his phone tapped out due to sheer demand.
“My phone blew up so bad the first day that my phone died,” Smith told Keith Marshall and Tavarres King on The Players’ Lounge YouTube channel.
“I’m telling some coaches, ‘I’m out to eat with my family, coach. I’m gonna have to hit you back.”
It’s not every day an AP third-team All-American hits the portal.
And Georgia’s football staff wasted no time once that opportunity presented itself.
Tykee Smith needed a fresh start after two seasons with West Virginia
Smith had 111 total tackles, nine passes defended, four interceptions and a pick-six during his time with the Mountaineers.
“To this day, I’m still thankful I had the opportunity at West Virginia to do what I do,” Smith said.
Ultimately, he needed a change of scenery.
That’s where Georgia’s football staff came in.
“I don’t know if they had my post notifications on, but as soon as I got the e-mail saying I’m officially in the portal, and I retweeted it, soon as I hit ‘tweet,’ they was the first people calling my phone,” Smith said.
“Dan Lanning called me, then Kirby called me, and then (Jahmile) Addae called me.”
The pull for Georgia on Tykee Smith’s end? The way Kirby Smart runs the show, and the talent
Smith said he didn’t really need a sales pitch.
Georgia football sells itself.
“I just felt that me coming here, and being coached by coach Smart and the defense that they run is a NFL Defense. I felt that was going to be the best for me and my future going forward. Being around the players here is what allowed me to play better and develop more.”
Smith’s Georgia career hit a hitch after a foot injury in the offseason, and a torn ACL in October.
As for what’s next, Smith is ready to lead in the aftermath of Lewis Cine’s NFL departure.
From a big picture standpoint, Smith sees the challenge ahead for a much younger Georgia defense. His biggest personal challenge?
Stepping up to the role of a senior leader for the Dawgs.
“Lewis Cine and Chris (Smith) played together so much, they might not have to communicate so much… because they did it so much. Now we gotta communicate because there’s new faces back there.”
Tykee Smith is healthy and ready to roll.
Georgia lit up his phone. It’s time for Smith to light up Georgia’s competition.
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