Before he came to Georgia, Kirby Smart admired Tyrique McGhee’s physical playing style. A season and three games into his Bulldogs career, Smart embraces the now sophomore cornerback even more.
“He’s always been aggressive,” Smart said. “He’s really physical. Peach County is one of the most physical practices I’ve ever seen. When I go watch them practice, it’s like Oklahoma drill. They will hit you … and you don’t always know what you’re getting, but we had him at Alabama and he was competitive, really physical.
“Sometimes you worry about a kid like that, because of his stature, hurting himself and being injured because of the way he hits people. But he’s really physical. He strikes. He loves contact. ... I love his toughness. He’s got great toughness.”
McGhee moved into the starting lineup upon Malkom Parrish’s foot injury. Since then, McGhee has won over his coaches and teammates by showcasing the same toughness and athletic ability noticed in practices.
“So far, it’s kind of too early to say, but I think I’ve done a great job with my role in the defense and handling my side, things I can control,” McGhee said. “Just try to keep up the consistency. Do everything I can to contribute. … Just worked, put my head down. Just take care of things you can take care of. Playing time, everything else will take care of itself like coach Smart said.”
As for “good old Peach County,” as McGhee called it, was integral in helping prepare him for today. McGhee largely credits his high school coach Chad Campbell for his intensity.
“Coach Campbell, I feel like he prepares guys the right way for the next level,” he said. “Any of those guys coming up in upcoming classes, they’ll be ready for the college level because I feel like for me personally, it helped me – because I’m not the biggest in stature – but the physicality we had at practices back at Peach County prepared me.”
The Georgia secondary has no shortage of veterans: Parrish, Aaron Davis, J.R. Reed, Dominick Sanders, Deandre Baker. It would require injury for a player such as McGhee to garner significant playing time. But he’s doing enough to stay out there on what looks to be one of the nation’s premier defenses. And might be carving
“I think the versatility that I have, everybody on our defense can play any position, it’s not just myself,” he said. “We’re interchangeable. That’s something coach Smart has with his guys that he coaches, being able to switch out guys.”
Smart loves McGhee because he’s a tone-setter, establishing the tough, mean style that Smart preaches ad nauseam. As the current group of veteran Bulldogs moves on, McGhee will prove even more valuable. He’s already won over the mainstays.
“I noticed it early, he’s a natural (defensive back),” linebacker Davin Bellamy said. “Ball skills, he’ll come up and tackle, he’s very instinctive, athletic, quick; I really liked him when we had him returning punts. He’s just an athlete, man. He really has a knack for the game. He doesn’t look like a freshman at all. That really stands out.”
Next up, McGhee and company are tasked with stopping Tennessee’s arsenal of weapons, which may be the best in the SEC East. That group includes big running back John Kelly, who is a load to bring down.
“We’re going to be physical no matter who we’re facing,” McGhee said. “When you come in each week with that mindset, we don’t care who’s running the ball. … No finesse corners. That’s our motto.”
