Top 5 Safeties and Cornerbacks Since 2000

The defensive secondary has always been a strong unit at Georgia with multiple All-Americans at the Safety position since 2000 and a strong record of producing NFL quality cornerbacks in the same period. These were two of the more difficult lists to compile as the difference between 1 and 5 on each list is minimal.

Safeties

1.       Thomas Davis (2002-2004)-Davis played both Free Safety and Linebacker in his time at Georgia leading the team in tackles in both 2003 and 2004. He was named an All-American in 2004 by AFCA, Walter Camp, and Sporting News while also being a consensus All-SEC first team selection. Davis was selected in the 1^st round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.

2.       Greg Blue (2003-2005)-Blue along with Davis formed one of the most fearsome and hardest hitting safety combinations in college football. In 2005, Blue led the Bulldogs in tackles with 96 and was semifinalist for the Thorpe award. He was a consensus All-American and first team All-SEC selection. Blue was selected in the 5^th round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

3.       Malaki Starks (2022-2024)-Starks made a splash in his first game at Georgia with an acrobatic interception against Oregon in the season opener. He would go on to be named a Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC. Starks would go on to be named and All-American in both 2023 and 2024 while logging 6 interceptions and 197 total tackles. He was selected in the 1^st round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

4.       Baccari Rambo (2009-2012)-Rambo is the co-leader in career interceptions at Georgia with 16, eight of those coming in the 2011 season where he was named an All-American and consensus first-team All-SEC. Rambo is also 4^th all-time in return yards after intercepting a pass with 293 while scoring 3 touchdowns. Rambo was selected in the 6^th round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.

5.       Sean Jones (2002-2003)-Jones, a converted high school QB, was the first in the line of All-American safeties at Georgia since 2000 earning the honor in 2003 along with being a consensus All-SEC first team selection. He logged 7 career interceptions to go along with 100 tackles but is most famously remembered for a 92-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Tennessee. Jones was selected in the 2^nd round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.

Honorable Mention: Christopher Smith, Lewis Cine, JR Reed, Javon Bullard, Richard LeCounte, Dominick Sanders

Cornerbacks

1.       Deandre Baker (2015-2018)-Baker won the Thorpe Award in 2018 given to the nation’s top defensive back. He was a consensus All-American and All-SEC in 2018 as well. Baker finished his Georgia career with 7 interceptions and did not give up a touchdown over his last two seasons in Athens. He was selected in the 1^st round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

2.       Eric Stokes (2018-2020)-Stokes led the Bulldogs with 4 interceptions during the 2020 season returning 2 for touchdowns. He was named an All-American by CBS Sports and 247 Sports along with being a first-team All-SEC selection. During his career at Georgia, Stokes logged 78 tackles and one devastating sack on Tennessee QB Brain Maurer which resulted in a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Tae Crowder. He was selected in the 1^st round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

3.       Tim Wansley (1998-2001)-Wansley nabbed 10 interceptions during his career at Georgia with 3 of those returned for touchdowns. His best season was in 2000 where he led the conference with 6 interceptions returning 2 for touchdowns. Wansley was named to the All-SEC second team in 2000 and the first-team in 2001. He was selected in the 7^th round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

4.       Tim Jennings (2002-2005)-As late addition to the 2002 Georgia recruiting class, Jennings was not as heralded coming into college as some of his contemporaries. The 5’8” 185-pound corner made the most of his opportunities snagging 3 interceptions as a freshman returning one for a touchdown on his way to Freshman All-SEC honors. Jennings would finish his Georgia career with 10 interceptions leading the conference with 4 in 2005 as well as being named first-team All-SEC. He was selected in the 2^nd round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

5.       Kelee Ringo (2021-2022)-After sitting out the 2020 season to rehab a shoulder injury, Ringo was expected to lock down one side of the field for the Bulldogs in 2021. He is the owner of two of the most important plays of the back-to-back championship seasons returning a Bryce Young interception for a touchdown to seal the 2021 National Championship and picking off Hendon Hooker in the showdown between the #1 team in the CFP (Tennessee) and #1 team in the AP (Georgia) as the Vols were driving to get back into the game. Ringo was a Freshman All-SEC in 2021 and second team All-SEC in 2022. He was selected in the 4^th round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Honorable Mention: Kamari Lassiter, Derion Kendrick, Brandon Boykin, Demario Minter