Georgia DB Tykee Smith feels program prepared him mentally for NFL

Tykee Smith's confidence was on display while talking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. Smith, who was already morphing into a quality player during the beginning of his college career at WVU, explained how being part of the Georgia program helped to prepare him for the NFL.   

The Philadelphia, Pa. native detailed to Yardbarker's Mike Asti why he feels Georgia prepared him mentally more than anything. 

"I think Georgia developed me mentally just showing me all the stuff outside of football. I think I was a real good football player when I transferred in," explained Smith, "so them being able to show me the mental side of how to handle the meetings, the long meetings that we do, the walk throughs, all the stuff outside of football."

He even credited the Bulldogs for molding the person he is today.

"They helped me be able to handle yourself like a young man and help me become the best version of myself."

A defensive back needs a certain physical build to be successful professionally, but the NFL is also about the mental warfare within the game. Studying a playbook, watching film, scheming against a particular opposing player and dealing with the every week grind throughout the season are all aspects of the NFL Smith worked on throughout his final three college seasons at Georgia. 

Smith also talked about his experience at the Senior Bowl in January, where he was named the American Team MVP. 

"Being able to go out there and compete. And show counts I can play high safety. I showed a little bit of that at Georgia," said Smith about the Senior Bowl and what he was able to show scouts.

Even though Georgia failed in their efforts to win a third straight national championship this winter, Smith ended his college career on a high note. The 2023 season was his best individual season statistically, recording 70 total tackles, four picks and two pass deflections. Smith was finally fully healthy and able to put his true ability on display. 

After earning second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2020 as a West Virginia Mountaineer, Smith missed most of his first season with Georgia in 2021 with an injury and even played sparingly in 2022.  

Knowing confidence is necessary to compete against the best players in the world, Smith believes his game translates well to the NFL. To that end, he describes himself as being a "physical player and a dog.”