Tykee Smith gaining ground since his injury last season
Tykee Smith gaining ground since his injury last season
ATHENS — Georgia defensive back Tykee Smith has not had it easy since transferring from West Virginia.
The former Mountaineers’ standout broke his foot last year in fall camp, which was a major setback for him.
Smith was in a boot on the sideline during the Bulldogs’ first five contests in 2021, but he finally got a chance to don a red and black uniform against Auburn a few months later.
However, he went down with a torn ACL the next week at practice after Georgia’s win 34-10 win over the Tigers. The injury caused Smith to miss the rest of the season. He’s since been slowly recovering in route to being “100 percent” as the Bulldogs recently started fall camp.
"I wouldn't say he is 100 percent (right now), but he's doing everything we have asked him to do. He may not be completely cleared to live tackle just yet. That will be up to [UGA Director of Sports Medicine] Ron [Courson] and how comfortable he feels with or without his brace,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said on Thursday. “It's gaining confidence in those things. He is doing all the drills without limitation. But with every ACL, just because you are doing it without limitation, it doesn't put you where you were. You have to gain confidence in that. You have to get back in playing shape. It's different.”
Smith was rated as a three-star prospect when he signed with WVU in 2019. He had previously played at the Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia. Smith developed into one of the nation’s top defensive backs under former Mountaineers’ position coach Jahmile Addae.
During his two seasons at West Virginia, he racked up 114 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Smith also had four interceptions, 13 pass deflections and one forced fumble.
Smith was the team’s fifth-leading tackler in 2019 and was named an FWAA Freshman All-American. He was also an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2019.
The 5-foot-10, 198-pound defensive back had a more productive sophomore campaign, totaling a team’s fourth-best tackles with 61. He also had a team's second-best 8.0 tackles for loss. Smith was named to the All-Big 12 First Team by Pro Football Focus and earned many other honors. He was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist as well.
Smith proceeded to follow Addae to Georgia when he became the defensive backs coach last season. Despite his former coach taking the same position at Miami a year later, Smith decided to return and play for the Bulldogs this upcoming season. The Georgia coaching staff will look for him to play a huge role once he is deemed 100 percent.
Smith will likely play safety for the Bulldogs this season opposite Christopher Smith at safety. Regardless, he will be going up against Dan Jackson, Malaki Starks, David Daniel and JaCorey Thomas for first-team reps. All of them could see action at the safety position this season.
“Chris (Smith) has done a great job leading that group. I think he sets the tone each day for the work ethic,” Smart said. “He's been a hard worker since he's been here. He’s a tough guy. He plays bigger than he actually is. So, we're very lucky and fortunate to have Chris back to help lead that secondary unit. As far as who will be opposite him, a lot of guys are in that mix. Tykee (Smith) has worked there some, Dan's also worked there some. The two freshmen will factor in there. David Daniel will factor in there.”
Smith could also get snaps at the STAR position, which is occupied by William Poole III and Javon Bullard. It all depends on his progression through fall camp and how the coaching staff feels about him entering the season opener against Oregon on Sept. 3.
Per Smart, it will all fall into place before the Bulldogs take on the Ducks in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We're not looking to find the starter opposite him,” Smart said. “We're looking to find the best four safeties we can find. We didn't have enough DBs. We don't know what that's going to look like this year in terms of, Do we have six effective DBs, or are we more talented at the linebacker position that we have to have more linebackers on the field?”