From the moment Tykee Smith announced he was transferring to Georgia, there had been the expectation that he would slide right into a starting role in Georgia’s secondary.
Smith was a Third-Team All-American last season at West Virginia, where he played for now Georgia defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae. On a recent top-100 players in college football list, ESPN listed Smith as the No. 41 overall player in the country for the 2021 season.
The transfer defensive back may have a hard time living up to those moments to start the 2021 season. He’s likely to miss the Clemson game due to foot surgery he had last week.
But perhaps an even bigger deterrent for Smith is senior defensive back Latavious Brini.
“He’s one of my best friends on the team. He’s a great player,” senior Chris Smith said of Brini. “He goes out there and puts work in every day. I have full confidence in him.”
For all the assumptions made about Tykee Smith, he had not yet beat out Brini for a starting spot at Georgia’s star position. The hybrid defensive back spot asks a lot from its occupant, which had been manned by Mark Webb for the past two seasons.
Brini got some hands-on experience as the starting star in Georgia’s Peach Bowl win over Cincinnati.
It ended up being the best game of his Georgia career.
“I feel really good about the play of Brini from the bowl game,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “He’s played there his whole career.”
Filling in for Webb, Brini picked up five tackles, two of which went for a loss. He also broke up a pass, showing his potential as a disruptive defender.
Smith displayed many of those same traits at West Virginia last season, where he racked up eight tackles for loss and snared two interceptions. He had also started 17 games for the Mountaineers, while Brini has just one.
Brini though has spent the past four seasons at Georgia, appearing in 17 games. He also had the advantage of being with the team this spring, taking the first-team reps with the defense while Smith was finishing things up at West Virginia.
Behind Brini, Georgia is giving a number of players a look at the star position, including fellow senior William Poole as well as Chris Smith. The Bulldogs can also use linebackers — such as Adam Anderson — at the spot in more run-heavy formations.
Tykee Smith’s injury isn’t expected to keep him out for much longer but it’s still unlikely he’s able to go in Georgia’s first game against. The Tigers have a loaded, yet unproven, receiving core and a promising quarterback in DJ Uiagalelei.
As the Bulldogs begin to ramp up preparations for that game, Brini will now play a large part in how the Georgia defense goes about stopping the Clemson offense.
Chris Smith raves about Latavious Brini
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