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Glenn Schumann shares what he wants to see from Georgia cornerbacks in competition

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•08/12/24•

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Julian Humphrey
Georgia defensive back Julian Humphrey during Saturday scrimmage action at Sanford Stadium (Conor Dillon / UGA Sports Communications)

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia has three starting spots up for grabs in the secondary. Maybe most important among those is the battle at cornerback where Julian Humphrey and Daniel Harris are the two big names in competition. Ellis Robinson IV remains around as the true freshman five-star goes through his first fall camp, however Humphrey and Harris have an experience advantage that’s putting them ahead.

In all three – and really anybody in the cornerback room – Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann wants to see the same thing: all-around growth in their game.

“That whole room is still in competition. I hate to just single out those two guys. There’s a lot of young players in that room, whether it’s young based on experience or age. Everybody is kind of still growing,” Schumann said. “I think when you look at them, to play corner in college football you have to be able to not only get guys that can man to man cover a guy, but be able to show up in the run game, perimeter block destruction for bubble screens, and be a good tackler. That’s really what we need out of that position in general is to be able to be successful in man to man, play the ball down the field, and still be able to be a factor in the perimeter block destruction game and tackling.”

“I think that those guys flash in these short areas, but increased toughness, it’s a mantra,” he continued. “It’s part of the Georgia defense. It’s part of playing defense in general. As those guys continue to grow in that area, they’ll become better players.”

Humphrey, who’s entering his third season in the program, has played in 12 career contests. After redshirting in 2022, he saw action in nine last season totaling 11 tackles. He also had a pass breakup in his most extended action against Missouri before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury the following week against Ole Miss.

Humphrey was back on the field in the spring and started opposite of returning starter Daylen Everette on G-Day. He recorded three tackles on the Black Team before switching to the Red Team and recording another in action with the second-squad.

As for Harris, his action isn’t as extended. The former four-star played in six games last season as a reserve defensive back. With Humphrey unavailable come bowl season, Harris played snaps with the first-team opposite of Everette when Georgia’s staff felt it was best to sit NFL-bound Kamari Lassiter down and look to the future. Harris had a tackle, holding his own with just one reception allowed on four targets per Pro Football Focus. He started the G-Day game for the Red Team before switching over at halftime and working with the first-team defense for the Black.

Both have areas that can be improved, and another year won’t hurt either of them. As has been the case before, Georgia will likely rotate between the two of them early on in the season to see how each reacts to challenges in-game. However, only one can man the starting spot at cornerback opposite of Everette, and until it’s decided, it’ll remain a storyline for following in Georgia’s fall camp.

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