Georgia has plenty of work to do within the secondary this spring, especially at…

Georgia has a lot of work to do in the secondary this spring, particularly at defensive back.

Starters Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith will enter the 2024 NFL draft after excellent seasons as Bulldogs. The issue remains as to where Kirby Smart and his crew will turn to make up for the lost production.

Rising junior JaCorey Thomas of Orlando, Fla., is one of the talented guys who has an inside shot at playing safety or nickelback, also known as STAR in UGA jargon.

Thomas, who represents The BetterGuard, recently took time out of spring practice to speak with me about his travel to Athens, the disappointment of the College Football Playoff rejection, and how the defensive back fight has played out since the Bulldogs returned to action.

Thomas’ journey from South Florida to Athens

Thomas, a Boone High School product, signed with the Bulldogs as a four-star prospect for the 2021 class.

Georgia was not an expected destination for Thomas, who listed Florida colleges, notably Florida State, as top contenders early in his recruitment. His parents are also Seminoles, therefore national recruiting services predict him to FSU.

Thomas also had Florida, Miami, and UCF as top choices. That was before Smart and the Bulldogs treated him like a priority. After getting advice from his mother, Thomas decided to broaden his recruitment efforts outside the state.

He made the trip to Athens to workout for the Georgia staff.

“And I remember after my workout, all the coaches started coming, I guess they were in a meeting, all the coaches started coming down from their offices, trying to introduce themselves to me. And I was like, dang, you know, I must have done pretty good at the workout.”

After staffers introduced themselves to Thomas, his mother and two sisters, Smart requested that Thomas visit his office.

“And speaking to coach Smart. I was just like, ‘Dang, this is a very genuine man that I think I can play here.’”

“Sometimes recruiting feels like politics in some certain way and form. But he made it feel like home. Like he really made me feel like I belong here in Georgia. So from that point on, I was like, ‘Dang, I think I’m gonna be a Georgia Bulldog.’”

I asked what made Smart’s approach different than other coaches that were recruiting him.

“He was more talking to me about me as a person, instead of about football as a whole.”

“Like that really stuck with me. I was like, ‘Dang, I really think I can play under this man. And I think he will be a great coach for me to play under.’ Plus, he played safety in college too. So I was like,’I think that’d be a good idea to play under somebody who played at safety.’”

Smart and the crew had already made a strong effect on Thomas following that conversation. Georgia also invited current and former players to assist describe what it’s like to be a Bulldog.

Players such as Lewis Cine and Kelee Ringo made UGA feel like a brotherhood.

“It was more like a brotherhood feeling rather than like, ‘Oh, there’s another recruit.’

“They’re my brothers. They’re always gonna be my brothers. From the day I stepped on the campus from the day I leave campus… So it was more of that type of thing. Like, I think this could really be my home.”

Sour ending to the 2023 season

After seeing Georgia’s 2021 national championship win, Thomas joined the squad with the objective of earning his own ring. In Thomas’ true freshman season, the Bulldogs finished 15-0 and won their second consecutive national championship.

Following back-to-back championships, Thomas was eager to contribute even more as a sophomore. He went on to appear in 12 games, totaling nine tackles, as the Bulldogs nearly missed out on a third consecutive SEC Championship with a three-point loss to Alabama.

Georgia could have folded after being excluded from the College Football Playoff. Thomas stated that the circumstances merely “fueled the fire”.

“It fueled the fire, it didn’t stop nobody, it really fueled the fire. You know how coach Smart is with using stuff like that to fuel the team.”

Players are increasingly sitting out bowl games. While Florida State saw multiple players skip out of the Orange Bowl game, the Bulldogs had a completely different approach.

“But the team was already on go after that. They’re like, ‘Oh, we have one game to play?’ We’re gonna play with our hearts out…

You know, you saw a lot of kids opted out to play in the bowl games and stuff. And I know we’re gonna make a standpoint with this bowl game and see how we use this. Show how we were meant to be in the CFP…”

Thomas went on to explain why the Bulldogs were so adamant about completing the season on top. He explained that connectivity is part of Georgia’s “DNA”.

“So one of our DNA traits for our team is connection. So some of the kids are leaving that know they’re going to go to the draft. It was more like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna play these last few games, this last game for my brothers.’”

The team DNA that Thomas is speaking of is made of up resiliency, toughness, connection and composure.

Part of the Bulldogs’ team culture is highlighted by “Skull Sessions”. Throughout each year, players have opportunities to share their personal stories with their teammates and coaches in hopes to build unity.

“But part of our Skull Sessions is for freshmen, like me when I came in. That’s when they teach our DNA traits, what Georgia is built on. And from that on, that forms your team every year… So it allows us to know each other better and develop a better sense of family and unity.”

Impression of Travaris Robinson

Part of Georgia’s challenge this spring is to get new co-defensive coordinator/ safeties coach, Travaris Robinson, up to speed after his offseason move from Alabama.

“T-Rob (Travaris Robinson) is a very strict coach, he’s a STAR coach. But you know, everybody’s needs a little tough love on the field. He’s gonna be tough, he’s a coach… But off the field, he’s gonna really talk to you and let you know how everything’s going and how everything is.”

Will Muschamp held a similar role before his decision to move to defensive analyst to give him more free time to spend with his son and Vanderbilt quarterback, Whit Muschamp.

While Will might not be in his previous role, he is still very much involved. Thomas described it as a change of position.

Reload, not rebuild

Despite the roster turnover, Thomas isn’t concerned with the depth Georgia has in its secondary.

“So one thing about Georgia — we don’t rebuild, we reload.”

Recruiting success certainly helps the matter. The Bulldogs just reeled in their fourth No. 1 overall class during Smart’s tenure.

“We were always training, always developing. So when people leave, there’s people in position to step in and take over the spots.”

Georgia signed the No. 1 cornerback, Ellis Robinson IV, and the No. 1 safety, K.J. Bolden, in the 2024 class. While those names are easy to point to when considering which young players can contribute early, Thomas pointed out other talent that he expects to make a difference at Georgia.

“K.J. Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV, they’re, you know, the standouts. But you also have guys like Ondre Evans and Demello Jones that are also really good. (Georgia) is gonna make them way better than they are now.”

On the other hand, the Bulldogs also have some work to do on offense, specifically at receiver, following the departure of weapons like Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint.

I asked Thomas which player has been the toughest to guard thus far in spring practice. His answer came without hesitation.

“Dominic Lovett… you don’t understand. Personally, I think that’s the hardest person to guard on a team. Dominic Lovett is quick, fast and shifty, really shifty. So it’s kind of hard to get a little touch and little hand on him, but I think Dominic Lovett has really stepped his game up this season.”

Georgia will continue evaluate position battles this spring leading up to the annual G-Day spring scrimmage on Saturday, April 13. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET, televised on SEC Network+.