Over the next couple of weeks, we here at Bulldawg Illustrated are going to be looking at Georgia football’s incoming freshman class of 2020 in a new series called First Year Look. The Bulldogs’ 2020 class features 25 signees that collectively finished as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, according to 247Sports and Rivals.

We’ve already taken a look at Carson Beck and Kendall Milton along with Daran Branch and Jermaine Burton. Today, we’re going to look at four-star cornerback Jalen Kimber.

Kimber committed to Georgia back in April 2019 and has stayed true to the Bulldogs all the way until he signed his letter of intent. Now, he is officially on campus participating in workouts. UGA beat out a number of programs, including Alabama, Auburn, and Clemson. Even though Georgia was trying to sign other players at his position in the 2020 class, Kimber still wanted to be a Bulldog.

At the The Opening Finals, Kimber posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.44 seconds and recorded a 42-inch vertical leap. That performance boosted him up the 247Sports industry-generated composite rankings. Coming out of high school, he was the No. 104 ranked prospect nationally, No. 8 cornerback, and No. 13 ranked player in Texas.

 “Slender lower body that broadens up top to present a player with physical upside and durability at the defensive back position. Possesses above average length at cornerback. One of the elite combine athletes in the nation. Bouncy athletically. Competent finding the football with the ability to look and lean in phase. Has the body type to be a physical force in press coverage and run support. Doesn’t always show that physicality on film yet. Sufficient ball skills. Good awareness in man coverage. Has the feet and physical traits to be one of the top cover corners in the nation. Playmaking doesn’t match athleticism on film. Doesn’t trust his speed enough in coverage and can get handsy downfield. Up-trending prospect that is a likely power five impact starter and a mid-round NFL Draft pick however he has physical traits that give him first round NFL upside.”

Barton Simmons, Director of Scouting – 247Sports

Kimber is the most complete cornerback prospect in Georgia’s 2020 class as he stands 6-feet tall and has game-changing speed. He is extremely lean and has great length, with a build that can elevate his game to make plays on the ball. He’s reported to weight just at 170 pounds, but should bulk up some during summer drills. We see him fitting in at the cornerback position, but if he does fill out his frame, then he could be playing some at safety if he is cross-trained.

For this upcoming year, it will be hard for Kimber to break the rotation at cornerback. The Bulldogs return three players at that position in Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, and D.J. Daniel. After this season, Daniel’s eligibility will expire, and even though Stokes and Campbell are draft eligible at the end of the season, they both still have the option to return. Kimber still can see the field this year at cornerback, but look out for him to be able to make some appearances on special teams if possible.

Senior Season Highlights