Ellis Robinson’s performance in fall camp has been commendable, focusing on an aggressive approach, according to co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann. He has prioritized his personal conditioning to enhance his skills, which is crucial for a cornerback given the demands of the position. Robinson, who was ranked higher than Bolden as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, enrolled early at Georgia to get a head start on his playing career.
The main distinction between Robinson, a cornerback, and Bolden, a safety, lies in the support they have from their teammates. Georgia has more depth at cornerback with veterans like Daylen Everette, Daniel Harris, and Julio Humphrey returning, while the safety position is less established. This preseason, Georgia even shifted Chris Peal from cornerback to safety.
While those three experienced corners have an advantage over Robinson in terms of familiarity with the system, Robinson is striving to make the competition meaningful. Schumann emphasized that playing cornerback in college requires not just man-to-man coverage skills, but also the ability to contribute in run defense and tackle effectively.
Georgia is looking to fill the gap left by two-year starter Kamari Lassiter, who was drafted by the Houston Texans, as the team hasn’t seen a freshman start at cornerback since Tyson Campbell in 2018. Starting a freshman in the secondary comes with risks, as mistakes can lead to significant consequences.
Robinson has already made some impressive plays in practice, including a notable interception. However, he also faced challenges, as he was seen with a heavily wrapped right wrist during a practice, though he continued to participate. This underscores the difficulty of transitioning to college-level play, even for someone who thrived at IMG Academy.
Travaris Robinson, the safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator, acknowledged the steep learning curve for newcomers, noting that the competition at the college level is much tougher than in high school. Despite these challenges, Robinson has time to improve as Georgia prepares for its season opener against Clemson on August 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
