Georgia football will look much differently on defense in 2022.
Eight of the 15 Bulldogs taken in the NFL draft led that defense to a record-setting championship season.
One of the biggest questions as UGA gears up for its clash with No. 11 Oregon is how the Dawgs re-tool the secondary that lost safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Derion Kendrick to the draft and cornerback Ameer Speed to transfer.
Sophomore Kamari Lassiter is one of the young players competing for the open spot at cornerback opposite of preseason All-American Kelee Ringo.
The Savanna, Ga., native spoke to the media this week about his increased role.
“I’d say whenever this time of the year comes, you’ve got to switch your mind a little bit. You’ve got to lock in and laser focus. And I’d say that just keeping a strong relationship with God and my family and my coaches and just locking in and just trying to be the best person that I can be each day.”
Lassiter had the benefit of working closely with guys like Cine and Kendrick.
“We have the recipe,” Lassiter said. “We know what it takes to sit back and watch those guys day in and day out put in the work, you know, how they carried themselves on and off the field. So, I’d say that’s the biggest lesson I learned.”
“I’ll be very confident knowing that I’ve been preparing and my teammates believe in me, my coaches believe in me. If my name gets called to go out there, you know, I’ll be ready.”
Lassiter appeared in all 15 games in 2021 as both a reserve defensive back and special teamer. DawgNation got a glimpse of Lassiter’s talent when he snagged his first career interception versus Vanderbilt.
Kamari Lassiter has a very bright future with the Bulldogs and he should be able to see a lot of action this upcoming season.@kamari_lassiter #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/hqmnzMFMpM
— GaBulldogsFB (@GABulldogsFB) February 27, 2022
