Tykee Smith making Kirby Smart proud with strong start to season
ATHENS, Ga. — Tykee Smith took home Georgia’s $Mobb DB of the Week this week, a continuation of the strong start to the season the senior is having.
An All-American at West Virginia before transferring to Georgia in 2021, Smith had four interceptions with the Mountaineers. It took until his third season in a Bulldogs’ uniform to come down with his first in Athens.
Smith also has been impressive when it comes to seeking out the ball for tackles. He finished second on the team with six stops in the opener against UT-Martin and followed that up with just one shy of the team high versus Ball State. His 2.5 tackles for loss leads the team through two games.
“I’m proud of him,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said about Smith during his postgame press conference on Saturday. “He’s a leader. He was a captain today. He challenges people to practice the right way, and he does it himself. I like the way he carries himself.”
This season, Smith has been in a starter’s role at STAR. He split time there last year with Javon Bullard, but both are able to be on the field at the same time now with the latter’s position change to safety.
Furthermore, in his third year in Georgia’s defense – and second season after suffering a torn ACL in 2021 – Smith is comfortable in himself now. That’s both with his knowledge of what to do and trust in his knee.
“I feel real good moving around. Knowing what’s expected of the defense and then knowing what we’re trying to do, trying to execute the gameplan as best as possible. I definitely think I feel more comfortable, being this is my third year in the defense, kind of knowing the ins and outs of it,” Smith said during fall camp. “Just me still kind of getting comfortable, playing around the guys, and kind of still playing myself into shape and trying to be in the best shape I can be in and help the team this season.”
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As for the impact it’s had, the back end of the Georgia defense has looked excellent. Smith, Bullard and safety Malaki Starks account for three of the top four spots in team tackle standings while Smith and Starks have takeaways to their name too.
With the possibility that Bullard might be out this week against South Carolina after suffering a sprained ankle Saturday in the win over Ball State, even more pressure is put on Smith to be a leader of the entire unit – not just the defensive backs.
“We’re a real tough, physical defense,” Smith said when asked what the identity of Georgia’s 2023 defense is. “We’re still trying to find that identity just two games in, and I’m looking forward to this week, trying to get better. We’ll keep going from there, trying to get one percent better every game.”
Kickoff time for Saturday’s game against South Carolina is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS as the SEC Game of the Week.
