Return of DB Chris Smith amid mass departures aids Georgia’s defensive rebuild

ATHENS -- Not long after Georgia’s Zamir White declared for the NFL draft -- and just before fellow safety Lewis Cine did as well -- Christopher Smith declared on Twitter he was coming back for another season.

Smith’s decision was extremely good news for a defense that otherwise will be have to be almost completely rebuilt for next season. As it is, the senior safety will be one of only three returning starters from their historic 2021 defense.

One of those defensive standouts whose decision was uncertain was junior Lewis Cine. An All-SEC player with some All-American mentions, Cine announced late Friday afternoon that he was indeed going to test the draft. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior from Cedar Hill, Texas, by way of Boston led the Bulldogs with 73 tackles this past season. He started every game the past two seasons at strong safety.

Smith, a senior, would have started every game at free safety this past season if he hadn’t been sidelined by a late-season knee injury. As it was, Smith started in 12 of the 13 games in which he played and finished with 35 tackles and three interceptions, including seven stops and an interception Monday in Georgia’s 33-18 win over Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship game.

It would be an added bonus if Smith’s safety-mate Lewis Cine also decided to return. But the junior from Cedar Hill, Texas, is thought to be leaning toward the NFL.

Barring unexpected transfers, the Bulldogs should be getting back starters in second-year players defensive tackle Jalen Carter and cornerback Kelee Ringo. But star inside linebacker Nakobe Dean and defensive end Travon Walker likely will be unable to resist their extremely promising NFL draft prospects. And the rest of the group are high-grade seniors.

Smith, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound graduate of Hapeville Charter School, stepped up at safety for the Bulldogs in 2020 when Richard LeCounte was sidelined because of a serious motorcycle accident. He started the last five games of the 2020 season and the first six of 2021 before having to sit out the Auburn game in October with a shoulder injury.

Smith came back for three more starts before injuring a knee the week of the Charleston Southern game. He missed that one and the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech, then played hurt in the SEC Championship game.

Smith’s comeback for the postseason was for the Bulldogs’ wins over No. 2 Michigan in the Orange Bowl and No. 1 Alabama. In addition to his tackles and pass-coverage plays, Smith’s block of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was key for Ringo’s 79-yard interception return that secured the victory.

“This year was nothing short of amazing,” Smith said.