Thursday evening, Amarius Mims and Tykee Smith spoke to the media at Butts-Mehre Hall. Mims and Smith both had limited roles in last year’s championship team, but both are expected to contribute in big ways come September.

Mims was a massive recruit coming out of high school. The offensive tackle from Cochran, Georgia was rated as the number one prospect in the state of Georgia per 247sports. Out of high school, many projected Mims to be a first round pick, which is highly likely if he has a strong 2023 season.

Mims possess a 7’1″ wingspan and stands at 6’7″ inches tall. He’s added weight since joining the Bulldogs in 2021 and, despite being listed as 330 pounds, has a particularly lean frame.

Last season, Mims saw minutes rotating with starting right tackle Warren McClendon. When McClendon went down with an injury in the SEC Championship Game against LSU, Mims stepped in and played a pivotal role in helping the Bulldogs secure a second championship in as many years.

This year, Mims is expected to start at left or right offensive tackle. With Georgia’s entire interior offensive line returning, the group shouldn’t miss a beat.

Mims spoke to the media regarding his progression and comfort at the position. Mims feels that he has improved the most mentally and feels comfortable knowing his assignments. At this point, it’s just down to execution for the talented lineman.

The Bulldogs offensive tackle also gave high praise to former tackle Warren McClendon, saying he credits a lot of his growth to Warren: “Even when he was out injured, he was right there with me watching film, helping me develop.”

Tykee Smith had an unorthodox path to the University of Georgia. He was a star defensive back at West Virginia before electing to leave the Mountaineer’s program and hit the transfer portal after the 2020 season. The Bulldogs were thrilled to scoop up the talented player who had earned All-American honors in his sophomore season.

In 2021, Smith was projected to fill in as the starting “star”, which is Georgia’s terminology for the nickle-corner position. However, after picking up an injury just before the Bulldogs’ opener against Clemson, Smith returned only to tear his ACL against the Auburn Tigers which effectively ended his season.

Smith, similar to Mims, did not have many starts, but showed off his skillset in 2022. He was an essential piece in Georgia’s narrow win against Missouri where he started for Javon Bullard. As the season progressed, the talented DB was able to display his tackling ability, something Kirby Smart greatly values at that position. Smith ended the season with 28 tackles and a forced fumble.

When speaking to the media, Smith talked about being able to make it through spring healthy for the first time. He described it as “a blessing” and says that it contributes greatly towards his confidence. When asked what his biggest take away was from missing so much time through injury, Smith said “patience.”

Smith will be looking to build off his 4 starts in 2022 and use his veteran leadership to guide Georgia back to the playoffs. His experience and perseverance will be a valued asset to the Bulldogs’ locker room throughout the 2023 campaign.