Run It Back: What Georgia returns at cornerback in 2024
The 2024 offseason is here and Georgia is the betting favorite to win the National Championship. For the first time in three years, the Bulldogs are going through winter workouts without the defending champions label. That should have Kirby Smart’s ninth team at UGA hungrier than ever.
This team will also be experienced at some key spots. Georgia returns thousands of snaps and a plethora of big-game exposure. Below, DawgsHQ continues a series discussing each position group and how much experience the Bulldogs bring back. Next up is a look at cornerback
Returning snaps…
Daylen Everette (760 career snaps): The 2023 season saw Everette start 14 games. He was up and down throughout the year. Everette showed the ability to hang with good receivers and consistently be in position to make a play, but he lost quite a few battles with the ball in the air. He’s a talented cover guy and the Georgia staff trusts him to make tackles in space.
Julian Humphrey (192 career snaps): After making a move during spring practice and preseason camp, Humphrey earned the role as UGA’s third cornerback in 2023. He’s natural in coverage and has the speed to hang with anybody but Georgia would love for him to be more physical. He struggled some as a tackler in space and when it came to taking on blocks in the perimeter spring game. If not for the injury suffered against Ole Miss, he would have played north of 200 snaps.
Daniel Harris (80 career snaps): The long, rangy defender is back after flirting with the transfer portal prior to the Orange Bowl. Harris played double-digit snaps in four games last season and say 34 snaps in the Orange Bowl. The South Florida native possesses big-time speed and an elite frame at the position. Harris will be a big part of Georgia’s plans at cornerback in 2024.
Chris Peal (6 career snaps): Injuries slowed Peal for most of the season. He battled a nasty turf toe injury after arriving to campus in June. Peal is a really talented, physical player who could help Georgia in multiple areas but his raw speed makes him a great fit at cornerback.
Big games…
Georgia is lacking in big-game experience at cornerback. Everette played a ton in the SEC Championship game this past year and allowed a touchdown, but that’s where it starts and ends for the Bulldogs. Humphrey didn’t see much action in big regular-season games and didn’t play at all in the post season. The same can be said for Harris although he did play a lot in the Orange Bowl.
Expectations…
It’s fair to expect a big step forward for Everette in his second season as a starter. He should be a more confident player and Georgia really needs him to play the ball better in the air. As previously stated, he has shown that he can get and keep himself in position.
Humphrey has a chance to be a shutdown guy but he has to first earn the trust of the Georgia staff when it comes to run support. Harris began making a move in the second half of last season and he’s going to get a ton of opportunities over the next few months. It wouldn’t shock us to see him in the starting lineup.
We’re interested to see where Peal ends up. He has the tools to succeed at cornerback but his physical, fearless style of play could get him on the field at another position as Georgia tries to fill big shoes at STAR and cornerback. We should also keep a close eye on Ellis Robinson, the No. 1 cornerback in the 2024 class. He has rare talent.
The post Run It Back: What Georgia returns at cornerback in 2024 appeared first on On3.
