Georgia Football: Can these 2 defensive players be All-Americans in 2019?

Eric Stokes

Eric Stokes is a long CB at 6-1 185 pounds. Stokes played in nine games and had nine pass deflections.

Stokes had 20 tackles last year, including 16 that were unassisted. Hard to get tackles when you are not being targeted, yet he still got over two a game. Stokes also did not allow a single touchdown, and PFF gave him a coverage grade of 84.3.

Stokes showed last year that he has real “shutdown” potential. He’s keeping quarterbacks from completing even half of their passes against him.

Quarterbacks had just a 54.3 passer rating when targeting Stokes. With only four tackles and one pass deflection in the Sugar Bowl, it’s obvious that quarterbacks have learned not to test his side of the field. I expect that to continue into 2019.

Georgia has not had very many “shutdown” corners in recent years. Champ Bailey comes to mind, but then it was a long wait until DeAndre Baker came along.

It’s a nice feeling to see that role passed on to another player the very next year for a change. I’m sure Stokes is ready for the challenge. He is not only the best corner on the team but possibly the SEC as a whole.

2019 is Stokes’ year to take over as CB1. Personally, I’m excited to see it. He was that guy in the Sugar Bowl and did not allow a single score.

I expect the same treatment to those SEC wideouts he will face this season. It time for Georgia to bring home back to back All-American nods at the cornerback position and Eric Stokes is just the man to do it.