The Dawgs completed their first full scrimmage of spring practice over the weekend are now at the halfway point. Moreso than any spring practice in recent memory, numerous early enrollees generating tremendous buzz and garnering a great deal of praise from coaches and teammates alike. Below are the five early enrollees who have impressed the most at this point during spring practice.
#5 – Lewis Cine – S
Richard LeCounte and J.R. Reed will be the starting safeties for the Dawgs on final Saturday in August when the season opens in Nashville but behind those two the position is wide open. Lewis Cine arrived in Athens with the reputation of an enforcer but in spring practice he has also shown outstanding range in coverage. The safety position in Georgia’s defense is difficult to master quickly but Cine enrolling early gives him a change to make an impact this fall. His ability to come downhill and strike the ball carrier and flip his hips and run with receivers in coverage is evident. However, as with all freshmen he will have to show that he can handle his assignments and not be caught out of position because safety is often the last line of defense.
#4 – D.J. Daniel – CB
The easiest position on the Dawgs defense to make an instant impact is at cornerback. On a majority of snaps the Dawgs prefer to play man coverage on the back end which allows a physical gifted athlete like Daniel to play right away. Much like his teammates Stokes and Campbell, Daniel has speed to burn but he may have the most length of the three. On G-Day, when the Dawgs put the ball in the air early and often it is going to be fascinating to watch him attempt to cover the likes of Holloman and Simmons and see what type of swagger he plays with.
#3 – Jermaine Johnson – OLB
There is no question that Jermaine Johnson is an absolute freak athlete. The moment he stepped on the field this spring his dynamic athleticism and incredible length has been on full display. Both Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson have spoken highly of Johnson with Wilson talking about how Johnson has “long-armed” him several times. His sprained ankle in practice is only a minor setback and the staff hopes he will be back and ready to go on G-Day. While G-Day isn’t necessarily a showcase opportunity for a pass rusher since the QB’s are off-limits it will be fascinating to see if he is an athlete that immediately jumps off the TV screen.
#2 – Nakobe Dean – ILB
On a Signing Day that featured several huge signings for the Dawgs one that may reap the most rewards is Nakobe Dean. During his recruitment many compared him to Roquan Smith and thus far during spring practice he has not disappointed. Much like Roquan, Nakobe simply moves at a different speed than any other linebackers on the roster. We have seen in numerous reports that Dean flies around the practice field and is ready to contribute immediately from a physical standpoint. It will be an uphill battle for Dean to be a significant contributor as a true freshmen but he has arguably been the most impressive newcomer thus far during spring practice.
#1 – Nolan Smith – OLB
It is a sight to behold when the #1 recruit in the country arrives on a college campus with a chip on his shoulder rather than a sense of entitlement. That is exactly what Nolan Smith has done. From the moment he stepped on campus everything he has done has been maximum intensity and maximum effort. He has been singled out on multiple occasions by teammates and coaches for his lightning quick first step, ability to bend around the edge and use violent hands to get off blocks. As expected he still has a
