True freshman Zykie Helton started at right guard against Tennessee State, landing him in a pretty exclusive club of true freshmen under Kirby Smart. Helton's Week 1 start made him just the third true freshman offensive lineman to start a season opener in Kirby Smart's entire tenure at Georgia. The other two?
Andrew Thomas and Juan Gaston.
That puts Helton in some good company. Thomas was a three-year starter and became an All-American, and then a first-round pick and NFL standout with the New York Giants. Gaston started as a freshman last season and is now being looked at as a key part of Georgia's rebuilt line.
Zykie Helton may have been another UGA recruiting steal hiding in plain sight
Helton was a three-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite, and he was ranked outside the national top 500. His early enrollment essentially paved the way for Georgia to give him some snaps in the early going.
By G-Day, Helton was already working with the first-team offensive line. Kirby Smart’s explanation was simple: Helton had earned it over 14 spring practices.
In March, Georgia players were already singling Helton out. Per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Raylen Wilson praised his communication, which was something Wilson found particularly unusual for such a young offensive lineman. Then Helton exploded during spring practice and earned first-team reps.
By August, ESPN had named him one of the freshmen expected to make an immediate impact in the SEC. That brought us to Saturday, when he stepped in as a starting guard on one of the most visible and crucial offensive lines in the nation.
Helton has always shown that he is a battler
It's probably not surprising to those closest to Helton that he battled his way into Georgia's starting lineup as a true freshman. Helton has Crohn's disease and reportedly lost more than 100 pounds during his sophomore year of high school. Despite that obstacle, he became a four-year starter at Carrollton High School and worked hard to develop his body into SEC shape.
Georgia now lists him at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds.
Smart actually brought up Helton's health challenges in August, calling his story, “pretty incredible.” Smart praised his toughness, talent, and willingness to be coached and said Helton had, “grown into a role for us."
Starting on Georgia's offensive line as a true freshman is an accomplishment. How high Helton's ceiling is has yet to be seen, but all signs are pointing towards another standout player in the trenches for the Bulldogs.
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