Georgia made its first splash on the transfer portal for the off-season of 2021. West Virginia defender Tykee Smith has announced that he plans to take his talents to Athens, Georgia, and join the UGA football team.
Smith entered the transfer portal about a week ago. The Bulldogs were mentioned immediately as a potential suitor due to the connection between the rising junior defender and one of his assistant coaches over the past two seasons, Jahmile Addae. Kirby Smart hired Addae as a Georgia defender in January after he spent the last two years with the Mountaineers.
At 5 pounds-11 195 pounds, Smith held the nickel (SPEAR) position at the WVU in 2020. It is similar to the STAR position that the UGA employs in its nickel package, a group of personnel that Bulldogs use for most of their snaps from opposing teams are often in sets of three receivers.
He played in 22 games in his first two seasons at Morgantown. In 12 games as a freshman, he accumulated 51 tackles in total, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions. He returned one of those 19-yard interceptions for a touchdown and forced a fumble.
In 10 games as a second year, Smith accumulated 61 tackles in total and eight tackles for defeat by breaking five passes and intercepting two. He helped the Mountaineers put the country’s No. 1 pass defense on average yards per game and the No. 10 pass defense on average yards per pass attempt.
When the season ended, Smith was honored as an All American of the third team by the Associated Press. He was a member of the All Big 12 team with an honorable mention. He received the Freshman All-American award in 2019.
The Bulldogs are replacing a large part of their secondary in 2021. They have zero starting returns in the cornerback after Tyson Campbell, DJ Daniel and Eric Stokes entered the NFL’s 2021 Draft. UGA also lost its two main supporters of STAR / nickel when Mark Webb entered the NFL Draft and Tyrique Stevenson decided to move to Miami. Two players, Latavious Brini in 2020 and William Poole in 2018, have an initial experience game each in the STAR / nickel position.
Smith’s addition gives Bulldogs 83 players on scholarships for the 2021 season. The NCAA limit is 85 and Bulldogs have the ability to add up to two more players from the transfer portal by the start of the season. They still have needs in the cornerback and wide receivers, both positions that many believe they will aim for as soon as the spring exercises are over.
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