Georgia Bulldogs 23 for '23: No. 23 Tykee Smith

We’re less than a month away from the start of fall camp for Georgia, and what better time to take a look at the most important players for the Bulldogs in 2023?

Important can have different definitions. Some players’ importance for this season is based on their past performance and ability to repeat that this fall. For others, it’s about their potential and what living up to it would mean for Georgia and its chances at winning a third straight National Championship.
We start the countdown from 23 to 1 today with No. 23 on our list – and the team – senior defensive back Tykee Smith.

Tykee Smith

Position: Defensive Back (STAR)
Class: Senior
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 198 pounds

Hometown (High School): Philadelphia, Penn. (Imhotep Institute Charter)
Previous School: West Virginia

Tykee Smith arrived in Athens in 2021 with high hopes. Previously a Freshman All-American, All-Big 12 player and All-American selection according to some, Smith was expected to step into the STAR role right away for Georgia and replace Mark Webb. An injury in the preseason kept him out of the first five games that year, and after playing in just one game against Auburn, his season came to an end in practice when he suffered a torn ACL.

Smith returned to the field in 2022 and played in 14 of 15 games. There were times he looked like his old self while others he appeared to be a step slow. However, the traditional thinking about ACL injuries is that it takes until the second year removed to return to full capacity. That’s certainly what Georgia fans are hoping for this year out of Smith.

He comes into fall camp once again the likely starter at STAR. That’s where he played the majority of his snaps last year, splitting time with Javon Bullard. With Christopher Smith off to the NFL though, Bullard made the transition to safety this spring, thus allowing the Bulldogs another veteran presence on the field being able to play both Bullard and Smith at the same time instead of them splitting time at STAR while the replacement at safety was relatively green.

Smith had 28 tackles last year in the split action including 2.5 for loss with 2.0 sacks. His best game of the year came against Mississippi State when he totaled six tackles. Two weeks later against Georgia Tech, he had five including 1.5 for loss with a sack. Smith’s other sack came in the National Championship Game matchup with TCU, giving him 14 of his 28 tackles, all 2.5 of his tackles for loss and three of his four quarterback hurries in the final six games of the season.

Smith is important this fall because of what he could be. If he lives up to the expectations that were set for him when he came to Georgia, the Bulldogs have one heck of a defensive back on their hands. He’s also important because he’s a veteran in a secondary that will have some new faces replacing the aforementioned Chris Smith along with Kelee Ringo. Playing a bigger role without having to split time at STAR, it’s important that he is ready to make that jump.

Know the Quote

“Tykee has been good. He’s a leader,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said this spring. “He does a really good job punching balls out. There are things that he has to continue to work on in order to be an every down player for us, but he’s tough. He’s physical. He embodies what we want in a football player. He’s been down a tough road.”

“Let’s be honest, before he ever got here you guys had already labeled this guy to be an unbelievable All-American first team because he started as a freshman at West Virginia. He had to come here and compete and really earn it, and he’s been through some injuries,” Smart continued. “Without the injuries this is the most competitive environment there is to go out and play. He’s taking that head on and I think he’s put himself in position to have a really good season, the way he is practicing lately.”