ATHENS – Georgia’s transfer portal heated up to white hot overnight Thursday, and now an eye also must turn toward the coaches’ offices at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall.
First, to the player news, which is known: Defensive back Latavious Brini, wide receivers Jaylen Johnson and Justin Robinson and cornerback Jalen Kimber are the latest Bulldogs to enter their names into the NCAA’s transfer portal. That makes five players overall. Fifth-year senior defensive back Ameer Speed was the first Georgia player to announce he was seeking a transfer Wednesday.
Brini and Kimber are significant losses from what already was going to be a totally rebuilt defense next season. Brini, a fifth-year senior from Miami, started 11 games at the Star position last season before falling behind senior William Poole for the Bulldogs’ postseason run. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound athlete served as Georgia’s run-stopping specialist at that position. He finished this season with 38 tackles and eight pass breakups. Brini made his announcement on Instagram.
Robinson is a significant loss from the offense. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound redshirt freshman from McDonough still was developing and gave the Bulldogs the size at the split-end position it missed with George Pickens. Considered a replacement for Pickens in the starting lineup, Robinson ended up playing in only eight of Georgia’s 15 games and finished with two catches for 18 yards. He had a couple of notable drops as well. Robinson also made his announcement via social media.
Johnson, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship this year, made his decision known via his social-media accounts, showing practice video under a heading of “Two Years Eligibility Left.” He leaves UGA with three career catches for 29 yards and extensive special-teams experience.
Kimber potentially is the most troubling loss for the Bulldogs’ defense. The 6-foot, 170-pound freshman from Mansfield, Texas, once was slated to start at cornerback. He worked with the No. 1 defense throughout spring practice. But a shoulder injury that resulted in late-September surgery limited Kimber’s participation to one game. Meanwhile, senior Derion Kendrick and redshirt freshman Kelee Ringo ended up locking down the corners for the Bulldogs. DawgNation, citing “sources with direct knowledge,” first reported Kimber’s decision.
As for Georgia’s assistant coaches, that is a less certain and much more fluid situation.
The Internet was humming Thursday with unconfirmed reports that offensive coordinator Todd Monken was being sought for NFL positions. The 53-year-old quarterback coach and play-caller from Illinois came to UGA from the Cleveland Browns and has inferred in interviews that he always enjoyed being an NFL coach. He also has been (Southern Miss) and certainly would consider a college head-coaching position.
However, people with knowledge of Monken’s situation told the AJC he currently is not entertaining any offers from any teams, NFL or college. However, he’s entering the final year of a three-year contract with the Bulldogs that pays him $1.5 million. So, at the least, that will have to be extended. Also, his pay no longer will be supplemented by what the Browns still owed him, so a significant raise would seem imminent.
Wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton, a Louisiana native, has been reported to be headed to LSU. People with knowledge of the situation confirm interest from both sides. The question is how bad coach Kirby Smart and Georgia might want to keep him. Hankton already holds the title of passing-game coordinator with the Bulldogs and also oversees UGA’s “Dawgs for Pups” program.
Georgia is said to be interested in having Miami secondary coach Travaris Robinson join the staff. Robinson has an extensive history with the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. How, if at all, that might affect first-year DBs coach Jahmile Addae is unclear at the moment.
All of the activity is not unusual for a team coming off a national championship. Stay tuned for continuing developments.
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