What Does Georgia Get in Brandon Turnage?
Georgia's late Friday night addition of former Alabama defensive back Brandon Turnage gave the Dawgs their second defensive back to join the 85-scholarship player limit from the transfer portal.
Georgia started spring practice with the announcement of former West Virginia defensive back Tykee Smith. Weeks later, Smith would become one of two transfer portal additions after sophomore safety Major Burns entered the NCAA transfer portal. Georgia now fills the scholarship spot with Turnage.
Truth be told, Turnage is not bringing the experience that many expected that head coach Kirby Smart and Co. were looking for in the portal this offseason. As a redshirt freshman in 2020, Turnage saw action in three games for the national champion Crimson Tide. However, the Oxford, Miss., native recorded only one pass breakup in three games, playing in a reserve role in a loaded Tide defensive back room.
Being 6-foot-1, 185 pounds brings the measurables Georgia is looking for in a potential safety or cornerback. But, at the same time, it is unlikely to expect anything more of Turnage than providing competition for a spot in the rotation at both safety and cornerback in 2021.
Georgia is set with young cornerbacks in 2021, with redshirt freshmen Jalen Kimber and Kelee Ringo competing for a spot atop the depth chart. Senior Ameer Speed, a former reserve cornerback, will also have his first shot at becoming a full-time starter. The true freshman from Covington, Ga., will see time as an outside corner.
Sports Illustrated's Bama Central had this to say regarding Turnage's departure from Tuscaloosa:
Hailing from Oxford, Miss., Turnage was a highly-touted prospect out of high school. Despite there being an opening in the Crimson Tide secondary due to the departure of cornerback Patrick Surtain II, Turnage took a backseat during the team's spring practices to Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis in the first-team spots and Ga'Quincy McKinstry and Marcus Banks in the second-team spots.
