Georgia has again reached into the transfer portal this offseason and it has landed another defensive back. Dawgs247 has learned that former Clemson cornerback Derion Kendrick is now on his way to Athens and then will join the team officially at some point in the next 24 hours.
Kendrick appeared in 39 games for Clemson over the past three years with 23 starts. He started his career at wide receiver in 2018 but moved to cornerback in 2019 where he was a second-team All-ACC selection. He was a first-team selection after the 2020 season.
His move to cornerback came in the spring of 2019 and it was supposed to be more of an emergency move. Kendrick caught the collective eye of the coaching staff and found a new home. He would go on to register 51 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two interceptions while breaking up six passes. He also returned one of those interceptions 38 yards for a score.
The 2020 season saw him play in nine games with eight starts where he piled up 20 tackles, a tackle for loss, and one interception. He broke up six passes last season and scooped up a fumble, returning it 66 yards for a score.
Kendrick immediately becomes the most experienced cornerback on UGA’s roster. The Bulldogs lost three cornerbacks to the 2021 NFL Draft and another transfer after the 2020 season. Eric Stokes was taken in the first round, No. 29 overall by Green Bay while Tyson Campbell was taken with the first pick of the second round, No. 33 overall by Jacksonville. D.J. Daniel signed with Jacksonville as an undrafted free agent and Tyrique Stevenson, who primarily played STAR in 2020 but got one start at cornerback, transferred to Miami this winter.
The Bulldogs ended spring drills last month with Ameer Speed, Jalen Kimber, and Kelee Ringo a notch about the rest of the cornerback competitors. Those three have zero combined starts with only Speed, a fifth-year senior, having played any meaningful snaps at the college level.
Georgia has already gotten former West Virginia defensive back Tykee Smith out of the portal. He is projected as a STAR/nickel or safety in the Bulldogs’ scheme and is ranked No. 12 in the 247Sports Transfer Portal rankings. UGA also landed former Alabama defensive back Brandon Turnage out of the portal. He’s a former Top 110 player in the country in the 247Sports composite rankings and projects as a cornerback for the Bulldogs . Kendrick comes in at No. 19 in the portal rankings.
Kendrick won’t have to wait long to see his former team. The Bulldogs and Tigers will face each other to begin the 2021 season on September 4 in Charlotte, N.C. The game will take place at Bank of America Stadium with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC.