The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
McGhee gets physical as starting cornerback
Sophomore’ aggressive styl earning respec from Smart, teammates.
Before he came to Geor ia, Kirb Smar admired Tyrique McGhee’ physical style. Four games into McGhee’s sophomor season, mar embrace the cor nerback even more.
“He’ always been aggressive,” Smar said. “He’ reall physical. Peac County (Hig School is one of the most physical prac tice I’v ever seen. When go watc them practice, it’s lik Okla homa (full-contact) drill The wil hit yo ... and yo don’t always kno what ou’r getting but
we (recruited) him at labama an wa competitive reall physical.
“Sometimes ou worr about kid lik that, ecause of hi stat ure, hurting himself and being injured because of th wa he hits people. But he’ reall phys ical.He strikes. He love contact. .. love hi toughness. He’s go grea toughness.”
McGhee move int the startin lineup after Malkom Parris
sustained a foot injury.
Since then, McGhee has won over his coaches and teammates by showcasing the same toughness and athletic ability he exhibits in practices.
“So far, it’s kind of too early to say, but I think I’ve done a great job with my role in the defense and handling my side, things I can control,” McGhee said. “Just try to keep up the consistency. Do everything I can to contribute . ... Just work, put my head down. Just take care of things you can take care of.
“Playing time, everything else will take care of itself like coach Smart said.”
“Good old Peach County,” as McGhee calls it, was integral in helping prepare him for his college career. McGhee largely credits his high school coach, Chad Campbell, for his intensity.
“Coach Campbell, I feel like he prepares guys the right way for the next level,” he said.
“Any of those guys coming up in upcoming classes, they’ll be ready for the college level because I feel like for me personally, it helped me — because I’m not the biggest in stature — but the physicality we had at practices back at Peach County prepared me.”
Georgia secondary’s has no shortage of veterans: Parrish, Aaron Davis, J.R. Reed, Dominick Sanders, Deandre Baker. It required an injury for McGhee to receive significant playing time. But he’s doing enough to stay out there on what looks to be one of the nation’s premier defenses.
“I think the versatility I have, everybody on our defense can play any position, it’s not just me,” McGhee said. “We’re interchangeable. That’s something coach Smart has with his guys that he coaches, being able to switch out guys.”
Smart loves McGhee because he’s a tone-setter, establishing the tough, mean style Smart preaches. As the Bulldogs’ upperclassmen in the secondary move on, McGhee will prove even more valuable. He’s already won over the mainstays.
“I noticed it early, he’s a natural (defensive back),” linebacker Davin Bellamy said. “Ball skills, he’ll come up and tackle, he’s very instinctive, athletic, quick. I really liked him when we had him returning punts. He’s just an athlete, man. He really has a knack for the game. That really stands out.”
Next, McGhee and company must stop Tennessee’s offense, which includes big running back John Kelly.
“We’re going to be physical no matter who we’re facing,” McGhee said. “When you come in each week with that mindset, we don’t care who’s running the ball.
“No finesse corners. That’s our motto.”