UGA football has one of the best defensive backfields in the nation. One of its members is bound to be underrated, that member is Divaad Wilson.
Let’s not mince words, without Divaad Wilson, Georgia loses to Notre Dame. With Tyson Campbell already injured, and Eric Stokes going down early in the game, someone needed to step up.
Wilson had an amazing night. He limited Notre Dame’s options in the passing game and even made an interception which led to a game-tying field goal early in the second half. He also had a pair of first-down-preventing tackles.
Wilson remained a regular contributor in the defensive backfield through the rest of the season. He plays the nickel and dime positions with textbook fundamentals and athleticism well above his No. 242 national ranking in the 2018 class. Wilson is solid in pass coverage, but he’s at his best while making the tackle. Wilson does not miss very often and its seldom opposing ball carriers are even able to fight for extra yards against him.
Wilson, perhaps more than any player on Georgia’s defense, illustrates how far the defense has come since the Todd Grantham era. Nickel and dime backs weren’t as reliable in 2013 as Wilson is today, and Wilson was a backup last year. They didn’t cover receivers as well and they certainly did not tackle as well.
With Tyrique McGhee graduating, Wilson’s role on the team is sure to expand. He’ll enter the upcoming fall practices battling with former wide receiver Mark Webb for the starting nickel position. Other cornerbacks will receive some reps at the position as well and it’s a position freshmen Kelee Ringo and Jalen Kimber can make an immediate impact at.
Nickel is probably Georgia’s deepest position on defense. With all of the five-stars getting time at the position, one would think Wilson would get lost in the shuffle, but he hasn’t. Instead, Wilson has shined as a specialist at the position which still goes a little underappreciated by the media.