I'd go with a Little Love for Georgia

As the weather heats up, so does the competition at several spots for the upcoming season. While many people will look at the wide receiver spot or the linebacker spot for the fiercest battles, I want to look at the cornerback spot opposite Brandon Boykin. The 5-10 cover-corner elected to return to Athens for his senior season and should be cemented as one of the starters as well as the kick return specialist. But who will line up opposite Boykin? Typically Boykin has been thrown up against the other team’s premiere receiver and has held his own, but last year teams picked on the other corners and targeting their own second options to great success.

After the spring practice wrapped, the speedy Sanders Commings was listed atop the depth chart with Jordan Love penciled in at No. 2. Commings has great size at 6’2, 217 with the ability to run just as fast as the opponent’s wide receiver, but last year, particularly in the Arkansas game, Commings was picked on for big plays. Love has nice size as well for a corner 6’0, 190, but has one less year of live bullets compared to Commings. Branden Smith is an interesting dilemma as he has rarely stayed healthy during his time in Athens and most of his big plays have come from his stints on offense. Smith was a highly sought-after prospect from Atlanta when he came to Georgia. Bulldog Nation likely feel like time is running out for the now junior. Derek Owens is small at 5’9, 166, but he played in all twelve games last year and did well on special teams. He could be depended upon as a nickelback this year.

As far as freshmen, Damian Swann and Malcolm Mitchell both played both ways in high school one year ago but both could see time at cornerback. Swann is more likely to be a corner in the regular rotation as the coaches seem to like Mitchell’s potential on offense. Nick Marshall was a superstar do-it-all for his high school team, playing QB, RB, and CB but he pledged to Georgia as a cornerback. Mark Richt thinks he may be used in the Wild Dawg formation which could limit his reps early on for the defensive rotation.

If I were to guess who would get the start opposite Boykin, I would think that Richt will side with experience, and that means Commings. However, if defensive secondary coach Scott Lakatos were to ask for my opinion, I would roll the dice with Love on the other side and Owens playing the nickel. If they take lumps fine, but Commings took his lumps early last year yet I am still wondering why he is atop the depth chart. I know one game doesn’t make a career but I still shake my head at the Arkansas game. Give me some new blood and hopefully Love and Owens will be able to last for a few years in Athens.