JD PicKell: Who will step into a starting cornerback role for Georgia

The people down in Athens aren’t too worried about the defense at Georgia. Most fans wouldn’t be after accomplishing what they did on that side of the ball in 2022 after some historic turnover to the NFL. However, On3’s JD PicKell does have one question about one area of the ‘Dawg’s defense.

PicKell questioned the starting cornerback spot at UGA on an episode of ‘The Hard Count’ from before their spring game. Based on everything he had heard, sophomore Nyland Green was a name to watch during the spring and now heading into the summer. Even so, he said the room as a whole needs to continue their work towards earning reps.

“There is a growing consensus that Nyland Green is jockeying right now for those first-team reps. (It) sounds like he got some one reps at their previous scrimmage. So we like where he stands with that battle right now,” said PicKell. “But, I’m telling you, a good spring game for this position group? Put it on tape, man. Your tape is your resume when it comes to football.”

Green played a reserve role in 10 of Georgia’s 15 games last season. In his two seasons, he has tallied six tackles and a pass deflection in 13 total games.

With Kelee Ringo off to the pros, though, other faces are going to have to step up to replace his production alongside names like Javon Bullard, Kamari Lassiter, and Tykee Smith. The good thing for Georgia is that, in PicKell’s eyes, they’ve benefitted from depth more than most teams in the country as of late, which should have made the spring and will now make this summer and fall even more intriguing.

“The other thing that (we’re) all excited about that we’ve talked about on this show? The news faces that are set to get rollin’ in Athens,” continued PicKell. “That’s why spring is so fun.”

“Georgia has had the best players? Yes. But, more than that, what have they had? Depth,” PicKell said. “Depth is what wins you national titles. (It) is the reason why Georgia won the SEC title last year. And has gone back-to-back the last two years for the natty. That’s the difference maker.”

There’s a lot to determine between now and the fall to see who officially claims the first-team reps in the secondary. Still, even with PicKell naming Green, it’s fair to expect that Kirby Smart will find a player or players that are more than capable of holding it down on the backend.