Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kamari Lassiter finds out DeMeco Ryans went to Alabama

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Nick Geddes | Last updated 5/12/24

Few rivalries in college football currently run as deep as Alabama vs. Georgia, with the two SEC heavyweights meeting in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game and two conference championship games in the past three seasons. And so, you could imagine former Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter‘s reaction when he found out that his new head coach, DeMeco Ryans, was an Alabama alum.

Lassiter, speaking with the Houston media during day one of Texans’ rookie minicamp Friday, was asked if there were any similarities between Ryans and Kirby Smart, whom he played under at Georgia. Lassiter looked confused at first before revealing he had no idea Ryans was once a member of the Crimson Tide.

Former Georgia CB / Texans second-round pick Kamari Lassiter finding out HC DeMeco Ryans went to Alabama

( @HoustonTexans) pic.twitter.com/y7WLt3PAsQ
— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) May 10, 2024

“Coach went to Bama? I ain’t know that,” Lassiter said before cracking a smile.

Long before he was an NFL head coach and Pro Bowl linebacker, Ryans was a standout for the Crimson Tide from 2002-05. Ryans earned First-Team All-SEC honors and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year during his senior season after tallying 76 tackles (41 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.

Texans add new chess piece for secondary in Kamari Lassiter

Now entering his second season as Houston’s head coach, Ryans has a new chess piece for his secondary in Lassiter. The Texans selected Lassiter in the second round (No. 42 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. Lassiter was one of the top cornerbacks in the SEC, earning Second-Team All-SEC honors in 2023 after leading the team with eight pass breakups. Lassiter also amassed 37 tackles (21 solo) and 3.5 tackles for loss. He had three games this past season where he recorded at least five tackles.

Ryans said the team expects to use Lassiter all over the field.

“With Kamari – again, he’s a very sharp young man,” Ryans said. “He can play inside, and he can play outside. He did that at Georgia. And whatever that day calls for, we’ll put him out at corner, we’ll put him out at nickel, and we’ll see what happens.”

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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