UGA football news: Biggest fall camp battle won’t be on offense

As fall camp gets started there is some UGA football news for ongoing position battles.

In the latest UGA football news, fall camp is finally underway and the battles for starting positions have begun to shape up. While many are looking at the high-profile competition at quarterback and running back, the biggest position battle of all may be on the other side of the ball.

Georgia’s defense has been one of the best in the nation over the last several years, finishing 2019 first in scoring defense, first in rushing defense, and third in overall defense nationally.

Part of that success was due to the strength and depth of Georgia’s secondary. If you skim over the offseason news, you might think the Bulldogs took a bit of a hit in respect to defensive back depth with the departures of talented backups Divaad Wilson and Otis Reese, but the rising talent may surpass what either of those players may have contributed.

Senior Richard LeCounte III is the unquestioned leader of the 2020 defense, and he’s solidly in as the starting free safety, with Lewis Cine joining him at strong safety. With that part of the secondary all but locked in, the question becomes who the starting corners will be.

In the back end of the Georgia secondary, there are as many as five different players who could stake a claim to starting, including Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, DJ Daniel, and Tyrique Stevenson. The one guy who could zoom in and bump any of them out of position is highly-touted recruit Kelee Ringo.

Last season, Campbell and Daniel had a year-long battle for the starting right corner slot, and they’ll likely pick up where they left off. The edge in that battle probably goes to Daniel, who really came into his own in the second half of the season and had a huge game (8 tackles, 1 pass def.) against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.

On the other side of the field, Stokes might be penciled in as the starter right now, but he’ll face some stiff competition from Ringo — who was the nation’s number one defensive back recruit this year — and Stevenson, who is a strong-looking sophomore.

At the Star (Nickel) back position, Stevenson looks to hold off senior Mark Webb. It’s possible that either of the freshmen — Ringo or Jalen Kimber, who has been impressive already — could also be looked at as a potential number one guy here.

Ringo is the wild card in the entire deck at secondary. A corner with his 6’2, 205-pound frame can absolutely make some noise this fall and help raise the game of the incumbents. Prediction – if he’s not starting in at least one corner position at the start of the season, he’ll be there by the time Georgia plays Auburn on October 10.

Georgia absolutely has the best secondary depth in the nation right now, and that will make for three huge battles at the corner positions, with some of those players possibly getting some time at safety when needed.

Versatility will be the key and the players who show they can adapt to whatever position they’re needed will find themselves called upon more often than not.