Georgia football: 1 freshman with best chance to be an All-American

Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images)
Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) /
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Kelee Ringo looks to have a great redshirt freshman season with the Georgia football team.

If any freshman currently with the Georgia football program does the improbable and ends up being an All-American, look no further than former five-star cornerback Kelee Ringo.

The Tacoma, Washington native missed his entire true freshman season after having shoulder surgery to repair his labrum. Though he could be feeling the aftereffects of a major surgery such as this, he was Georgia’s top recruit two years ago. According to the 247Sports Composite, Ringo was the No. 1 cornerback in the country and the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle.

Though there are other freshmen on the Georgia roster who could be in for great years, whether that be fellow defensive back Jalen Kimber, wide receiver Justin Robinson or offensive lineman Broderick Jones, Ringo’s talent, competitiveness and determination will go a long way towards igniting a position group Georgia must revamp on the fly if it wants to contend for a national title.

Georgia football: Kelee Ringo can become the Dawg’s next star cornerback

Georgia lost nearly all of its defensive backfield to the 2021 NFL Draft. The only quasi-starter who remains from last year’s dime package is Lewis Cine. With guys like Tyson Campbell, Richard LeCounte and Eric Stokes all turning pro, that means it will be all about competition in the Georgia secondary. Head coach Kirby Smart would have it no other way as a former All-SEC safety himself.

By having a year-plus under his belt on campus, albeit in the midst of a global pandemic, Ringo has a leg up on most freshmen, redshirt or not, on the Georgia roster. When you have a five-star talent who thrives in a position group of major need, opportunities to play him will present themselves. As long as Ringo has his health, he can become a freshman breakout star in 2021.

Being an All-American as a freshman is so incredibly difficult, but Ringo will have his shot here.

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