Georgia football DB ranks thinning, member of 2020 signing class not with team

ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart said the Bulldogs’ roster situation would work itself out, and it appears part of the team’s offseason attrition includes a member of the No. 1-ranked 2020 signing class.

Freshman cornerback Daran Branch has not been practicing with the team, according to sources with knowledge of the Georgia football roster.

Georgia has not provided an updated version of its roster online.

Branch is the third player to leave the Georgia secondary this offseason, joining Ole Miss transfer Otis Reese and Central Florida transfer Divaad Wilson.

Smart said it’s his policy “to never talk about the 85” -man roster, which appeared to be over the limit mere days before the Aug. 20 cutoff.

“The 85 traditionally takes care of itself,” Smart said on Aug. 16, his most recent public interview.

“We will have some guys with the opportunity to possibly go on scholarships or come off scholarships with things that transpire over the next couple of weeks and days, so we are looking forward to that.”

Smart said at the time of his August interview that no one on the team had opted out.

That would suggest Branch does not intend on returning to Georgia. Attempts to reach Branch and his high school coach were unsuccessful.

Branch was one of three cornerbacks the Bulldogs signed in 2020, with 5-star prospect Kelee Ringo and 4-star Jalen Kimber the others.

Ringo reinjured a shoulder in offseason workouts and underwent surgery that’s expected to keep him sidelined until next spring.

Georgia has a deep group of talented defensive backs, but it’s clear the Bulldogs will need to stock up in the next recruiting class.

It also explains why Georgia got a big commit two days ago from the nation’s No. 1-ranked junior college cornerback, De’Jahn Warren.

Many of the Georgia defensive backs have NFL draft ratings that would enable them to opt for the draft following this season.

Senior cornerback DJ Daniel, junior Eric Stokes and junior Tyson Campbell, will all have decisions to make after this season.

The 6-foot-2, 178-pound Branch was a February signee from Amite, La., who carried a 3-star rating. He arrive at UGA in June, so his time in Athens was short.

Branch had flipped from Ole Miss to Georgia on Feb. 5. Before Ole Miss, he was a Miami, Fla., commit.

Branch also held offers from Tennessee, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Southern Miss, per his 247Sports profile.

Here’s a look at the scholarship breakdown, with defensive backs in boldface type:

RS Senior/grad transfer (5)

QB Jamie Newman

TE Tre’ McKitty

WR Demetris Robertson

OG Ben Cleveland

DT Julian Rochester

Senior (10)

OG Justin Shaffer

DE Malik Herring

DT Devonte Wyatt

OLB Jermaine Johnson

OLB Walter Grant

MLB Nate McBride

MLB Monty Rice

STAR Mark Webb

S Richard LeCounte

CB D.J. Daniel

RS Junior (9)

QB Stetson Bennett

WR Matt Landers

WR Trey Blount

OL Netori Johnson

OLB Robert Beal

STAR William Poole

CB Eric Stokes

CB Ameer Speed

S Latavious Brini

Junior (10)

RB James Cook

OL Jamaree Salyer

C Trey Hill

NT Jordan Davis

OLB Adam Anderson

MLB Channing Tindall

MLB Quay Walker

CB Tyson Campbell

S Chris Smith

P Jake Camarda

RS Sophomore (9)

QB JT Daniels

RB Zamir White

TE John FitzPatrick

WR Tommy Bush

WR Kearis Jackson

OT Owen Condon

OG Warren Ericson

DE Tramel Walthour

OLB Azeez Ojulari

Sophomore (9)

RB Kenny McIntosh

WR George Pickens

WR Dominick Blaylock

DE Travon Walker

OLB Nolan Smith

MLB Nakobe Dean

MLB Trezmen Marshall

STAR Tyrique Stevenson

S Lewis Cine

RS Freshman (11)

QB D’Wan Mathis

TE Ryland Goede

TE Brett Seither

WR Makiya Tongue

OT Xavier Truss

OT Warren McClendon

C Clay Webb

NT Tymon Mitchell

DT Bill Norton

DT Zion Logue

MLB Rian Davis

Freshman (24)

QB Carson Beck

RB Kendall Milton

RB Daijun Edwards

TE Darnell Washington

WR Marcus Rosemy

WR Jermaine Burton

WR Arian Smith

WR Justin Robinson

WR Ladd McConkey

OT Broderick Jones

OT Tate Ratledge

OT Chad Lindberg

OT Austin Blaske

OG Devon Willock

C Sedrick Van Pran

C Cameron Kinnie

DT Jalen Carter

DT Warren Brinson

DT Nazir Stackhouse

OLB Mekhail Sherman

CB Jalen Kimber

CB Kelee Ringo

S Major Burns

K Jared Zirkel

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