Georgia Football: Shawn Williams Is the Last DB Standing for the Bulldogs

It has been well-documented that the Georgia Bulldogs have depth issues when it comes to the secondary. When they take the field on Sept. 1 against Buffalo, Branden Smith, Sanders Commings and Baccari Rambo will not be active.

So, that leaves Shawn Williams as the lone returning starter from last season.

What this means is Williams has to be the leader for the secondary, on and off the field. Last year, after spending the last two seasons as a reserve player, Williams was upgraded to the No. 1 strong safety spot when Jakar Hamilton transferred before the season began.

And while Rambo made all the plays and received all the awards, Williams became known as a fierce hitter and made plays in the passing game when his number was called. In fact, he led the team in tackles last season with 111 and was second on the team in interceptions with four. Williams also had six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

Having Williams in the lineup is valuable for the young guys who are coming in. He will have to make all the calls and make sure the rest of the secondary is lined up in the right place.

One of the things that guys like Malcolm Mitchell, Marc Deas, Devin Bowman, Corey Moore and Damian Swann can learn from Williams is to not be afraid to make a play. One of the qualities a great defensive back needs to have is fearlessness, and Williams is not afraid to make plays in the running game, nor to make a play in the air.

Those qualities are going to be vital in the second game of the season, because when Georgia faces the Missouri Tigers, the Bulldogs will face a team that loves throw the ball around the field and will test the young secondary all game long.

The one thing coaches have to keep an eye on is Williams' health. He played in all 14 games last year, but he did suffer a knee injury during spring practice and did not play in the G-Day game. He will be fully recovered by Sept. 1, but when it comes to knee injuries, they don't go away that easily.

Having any starter miss a game is tough. The team would have to make adjustments to any secondary that had depth issues before the suspensions, but the good thing the Bulldogs have going for them is that Williams will be ready to go when Georgia kicks off its season on Sept. 1.

Let's just hope he does not eat any pot brownies, get in a fight with his girlfriend or go on an impromptu vacation to Panama City Beach.