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Georgia defensive back Eric Stokes Jr. announces plans for Peach Bowl, 2021 season
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
The Georgia defense will be missing another key player in the Peach Bowl on Friday.
On Monday, defensive back Eric Stokes Jr. announced on Twitter that he would opt out of the game, and his senior season in 2021, to prepare for this spring’s NFL Draft.
“First, I want to give thanks to God because without him none of this would even be possible,” Stokes wrote in a statement. “I want to thank my family for continuing to believe in me at my lowest and pushing me to be better. I want to give my eternal thanks to the University of Georgia for giving me the opportunity to grow and develop into the man I am today. My athletic and academic experience was second to none and I am blessed to have been able to walk the halls of my home state’s prestigious university.”
Stokes, an All-SEC 2nd team selection by the league’s coaches in 2020, recorded 20 tackles and a team-high 4 interceptions this year, with his pick-6 in the season opener against Arkansas standing as the first interception of his career. The Atlanta-area native combined for 22 passes defended in his 3 years in Athens, including 9 in 2018 and 2019. Following the 2019 season, he was placed on the AP’s All-SEC 2nd team.
1ove ? #TP pic.twitter.com/n6wVBplsf1
— Eric Stokes Jr (@_jamane_) December 28, 2020
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
