5’11’ 190 pounds; Hometown: Riceboro, Ga.
He was ejected for targeting last week against the Auburn Tigers, but it was in the first half. As a result, Richard LeCounte, the one clear-cut All-American for the Georgia Bulldogs, will be ready to go against Tennessee football.
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Kirby Smart’s team is loaded specifically due to the secondary, and Eric Stokes and Mark Webb both already have an interception. Stokes already has a defensive touchdown. LeCounte, though, is still the star. After four interceptions last year at safety, he came down with two in the opener against the Arkansas Razorbacks, already more than halfway to that total.
In addition to him continuing to be an interception machine, he has five tackles, four of which are solo, and one pass deflection. We should also note that for his career, he is averaging over 20 yards an interception return on his seven career interceptions, averaging 19 this year.
Jarrett Guarantano hasn’t turned the ball over yet, but if he’s going to do it, LeCounte could be the major catalyst for it. He’s the guy Jim Chaney will have to keep an eye on throughout the day. Although the Vols will want to run the ball a lot, they have to open up the offense through the air, and key to that is avoiding LeCounte at all costs.
Both Tennessee football and the Bulldogs are noted for their elite secondaries, and the Vols’ should be much better with Shawn Shamburger now back. Which secondary plays better on Saturday could determine the outcome, and LeCounte could have a major role in that.