When it comes to drafting a defensive back, the Bucs and Todd Bowles have a lot of focus on the Georgia Bulldogs. It’s easy to see why, as Georgia State won back-to-back national championships in 2021-22, losing just one game last year. Mr. Bowles has plenty of reasons to pay more attention to this particular college football team and its defensive backs than others, as his son Troy is his sophomore linebacker at the University of Georgia.
The Bucs have their eye on a lot of Georgia Bulldogs, so don’t be surprised if you hear a lot of barking in this year’s NFL Draft.
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Georgia S. Javon Bullard and CB Kamari Lassiter – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Bucks officially met Featuring three defensive backs from Georgia At the NFL Scouting Combine. Two were safeties Tykie Smith and Javon Bullard, and the other was cornerback Kamari Lassiter. With NFL readiness and championship pedigree playing in Kirby Smart’s defense, there’s plenty of reason to like every defensive player out of Georgia.
Last season, the Georgia Bulldogs went 13-1 on the year and were close to a three-peat, but their only loss came in the SEC Championship game against Alabama (27-24). The Bulldogs quickly bounced back, defeating Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl.
Besides having great programs, there is a personal touch between the Bucs and Georgia: Bowles’ son, Troy, is slated to start at inside linebacker for the Bulldogs. If there’s one thing NFL coaches know best about Georgia and its players, it’s Bowles based on his family ties. He did not attend the Bulldogs’ pro day last week, but plans to travel to Georgia next week to visit his son during spring football and get information on the school’s top draft prospects.
The Bucs could still add to their secondary in April’s draft, despite signing strong safety Jordan Whitehead and cornerback Bryce Hall. The Bucs traded starting cornerback Carlton Davis III away and could use a little more depth at cornerback behind starters Jamel Dean and Zion McCollum and the newly signed Hall. Tampa Bay could use another nickel cornerback to challenge Christian Idzien this year, as well as adding depth at safety.
Georgia Bulldogs database shares experience of meeting with Bucs
Georgia safety Tykee Smith can do a little bit of everything defensively, much like Antwon Winfield Jr. does with the Bucs. Smith, who played both safety and slot, had 70 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and four interceptions last season. He talked about what it means to play for the Bucs and how his official interview with head coach and defensive playcaller Todd Bowles went.
“It’s definitely going to be great,” Smith said. “The interviews with them were great, so it’s definitely going to be a pleasure to play for them and come to Tampa Bay.”
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Georgia SS Tykee Smith and Javon Bullard – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Each player formally met with the Bucks, but not all met with Bowles. Like Lassiter, he knows Bowles’ son and hopes to play for him someday.
“That’s great,” Lassiter said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I’ve never met Coach Bowles, but I know Troy. If Coach Bowles is anything like Troy, that would be a great opportunity.”
Bulldogs cornerback Kwame Lassiter enjoyed meeting with Bucs assistant coaches.
“We had a great meeting,” he said. “We were able to talk a lot about ball, and they picked my brain and figured out what I’m like on and off the field.
Georgia safety Javon Bullard was able to meet with Bowles and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“It was amazing,” Bullard said. “A dream come true. I’m like a kid in a candy store, talking to head coaches and GMs and shaking hands with people I never dreamed of meeting.”
When asked what Bullard and the Bucs discussed, Troy Bowles’ name came up again, along with the topic of football.
“Everything, son, shout out, son, Troy,” Bullard said. “It was all about just showing off my skill set, my mental ability, my soccer IQ. They just got to know me off the field and on the field. It was amazing. .”
Lassiter, Smith, and Bullard are all considered mid-draft picks and are expected to be selected between the second and fourth rounds in late April.
Antwon Winfield Jr. is attracting attention from many draft candidate DBs.
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Bucks FS Antwon Winfield Jr. – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
A common question prospects are asked at the NFL Scouting Combine is which pro players they watch and model themselves after. With Bucs free safety Antwon Winfield Jr. earning All-Pro honors this year, it’s no surprise that many defensive backs would mention his name when it comes to idolizing or watching film. .Georgia Bulldogs safeties Tykie Smith and Javon Bullard both played with Winfield. talked about him at length During a media interview session in Indianapolis.
“I was just talking about him. (He’s) one of the players that I’ve definitely grown to love,” Bullard said. “He’s not the biggest, he’s not the fastest, but he’s a football player. At this level, you just want a football player.
“He’s a football player, an All-Pro safety. He’s definitely one of the players I look up to because he’s so good at the game, and he’s definitely modeled his game after me.”