UGA football roster: Tyrique Stevenson an elite DB in an elite defensive backfield

UGA football has more elite DBs than there are positions in the defensive backfield. One of those elite DBs scrapping for playing time is Tyrique Stevenson.

Since Kirby Smart returned home to UGA football, the Bulldogs have signed at least one elite defensive back each season. Last year, that elite player was Tyrique Stevenson, the No. 3 cornerback in the nation according to 247Sports Composite.

Stevenson is the future of the cornerback position at Georgia, waiting for his turn behind All-SEC corner Eric Stokes, former five-star Tyson Campbell and junior college transfer DJ Daniel. In the meantime, Stevenson is just too good to stand on the sidelines.

Coaches used Stevenson as a nickel back or a slot corner often last season, especially in the last month. Stevenson proved to be an excellent blitzer off the edge and through the middle, even recording an important third-down sack in the third quarter against Auburn.

The nickel or slot corner roles might be the jobs Stevenson rides to the NFL. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him play safety either. He’s just too good and dynamic to leave at one position. His range, pursuit and physicality were all evident in 2019. He just needs to continue improving in coverage. He showed flashes of his potential last year and improved a ton as the season went on.

He’s already better in coverage than the other nickel defenders he’ll be competing with this year, Mark Webb and Divaad Wilson. That means Stevenson’s playing time will skyrocket this season, he may even beat out those two for the starting job.

With what Stevenson offers in coverage out of the slot, to compliment the outside corners, you can forget about any passing game whooping the Georgia defense. It’s not going to happen. This is a group that can and will shut down any receiving corps this season.