First-Year Profile: Lovasea Carroll
First-Year Profile: Lovasea Carroll
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(Photo from UGA Sports Communications)
Over the next month, DogWatch will be looking at the Bulldogs’ incoming freshman in a new series called First Year Profile.
Today, we will look at Lovasea Carroll.
Ranking: No. 115 overall, No. 8 running back and No. 19-rated player in Florida
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 195-pounds
Background: Carroll is from Warren County (Ga.) but ended up playing prep ball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He was a four-star at IMG and was wanted by several other SEC schools, including Auburn and South Carolina. However, Carroll committed to Georgia on April 9, 2020, despite taking an official visit to Auburn the day after. His recruitment was again, very drama-free, and he arrived in Athens back in December.
2021 Potential Impact: The Warrenton native came to Georgia as a running back, but head coach Kirby Smart switched him to defensive back for spring drills when the secondary was falling apart in the offseason. The Bulldogs have a lot of running backs in the stable, so Smart and the coaching staff thought it would be best for Carroll to test the waters on defense. Carroll’s speed and athleticism make him the ideal cornerback, which is where he will likely play in 2021, but only if he learns the position. He played cornerback at the annual G-Day scrimmage, although he didn’t record a tackle.
Smart acknowledged earlier this spring that “Carroll has embraced the change” and wouldn’t call the move “permanent.”
“He’s made some good plays; he’s had some bad plays,” Smart said. “He’s not played this position, so to put him out there on some experienced wideouts and some guys who have played a lot of football is probably not fair to him. But that’s how you grow and that’s how you get better, by failing.”
Nonetheless, the best way for Carroll to see the field next season is to make an impact on special teams. Georgia is pretty much set at the kick and punt returners positions, but don’t be surprised if he gets a chance in mop-up duty. So, either way, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound speedster is going to have to earn his stripes during his freshman campaign by working his way up the depth chart at one of the two positions.
Scouting Report: "Big frame with thickness and ability to play at 210 pounds. Very good vision and patient in traffic. Elusive behind line of scrimmage. Quick footed and changes direction well. Has burst. Tough to arm tackle and good in space. Rarely goes down on first contact. Excellent body control. Has speed to finish runs. Excels running between tackles. Accelerates well through line of scrimmage. Very little wasted movement. Has nice hop step. Solid pass catcher. Has to add flexibility to bend a bit more. Continued strength development needed. Must be more consistent running with lower pad level. Questions about his ability to get to edge against fast defesnies. Multi-year starter at Top 10 program. Day Three NFL draft potential." -- Brian Dohn
Highlights:
Check out the other First-Year Profiles: