Georgia Football: 3 JUCO Players UGA could add in 2019

DJ Daniel, CB, Georgia Military College

Now Daniel, just like our final player is not currently on a TV show. The cornerback is, however, another player who was overlooked in high school and didn’t get the offer he might have wanted. He, therefore, had to go through the JUCO ranks and he’s acquitted himself rather well.

According to reports, Smart and Mel Tucker were not interested in taking a JUCO CB right now. They have some very talented kids in their sophomore and freshman ranks who they think will be ready in 2019. However, when they saw Daniel in person, they changed their mind and decided to not only offer him but make him a priority. Having seen some of his tape, I can kind of understand it.

Daniel is a physical cornerback who is not afraid to put his hands on receivers. He doesn’t just pull and tug shirts either. When he’s playing press man, he extends his arms violently into receivers chests and really punches them. That is probably what initially caught Mel Tucker’s eye, to be honest. It’s the kind of coverage Tucker often has Georgia’s CB’s use in the SEC.

What likely pushed him over the top was his recent physical tests. He’s been reported to have run a 4.4 40yard dash which as you all know, is pretty freaking quick. Coming in at 6ft, he’s also got the size to go up against taller receivers although he does need to put on a bit of weight and get closer to 200lbs.

As a local kid, Daniel very much looks like the kind of player that Kirby Smart loves. He likes to lock down in-state talent, especially when it fits his scheme. Rewarding a guy like Daniel is a sign of how hard work can overcome being missed when you’re in high school. It also could mean landing a player who could be an instant contributor the day he arrives in Athens.