Ever since Kirby Smart became Georgia’s head coach, members of his secondary have always been expected to cross-train to provide as many different scheme and personnel combinations as possible.

That trend will continue this fall, and according to defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, it should help the team absorb the losses of Divaad Wilson (transfer to Central Florida) and touted freshman Kelee Ringo, who was expected to play a key role before undergoing recent shoulder surgery.

“Ultimately, the way we practice gets a lot of guys a lot of opportunities. We get a ton of reps for our guys in practice,” Lanning told reporters during a Zoom session Friday. “So, those opportunities are already being created, through the way we structured it. We have always had this, whether it be two-spot drills or the way we are practicing with our players. A lot of guys are getting a lot of reps. So, it has challenged our guys, but we’ve handled it really well.”

Sophomore Tyrique Stevenson and junior Eric Stokes are two players to whom this philosophy will certainly apply. For Stevenson, that means getting a look at Star.

“Yeah, ultimately Eric and Tyrique have both done a really good job. Tyrique is not the only guy that gets it as far as getting multiple positions, we work almost all our guys. We cross-train at multiple positions for a lot of reasons,” Lanning said. “Because there is going to be change. Of all years, (this one) is where that mental agility is going to come in. We have to be prepared to work several different spots.”

Returnees D.J. Daniel and Tyson Campbell will likely do the same.

Meanwhile, Lanning said the reps Lewis Cine received as a true freshman should pay huge dividends this fall.

"Ultimately one of our goals on defense is to play the game as many times as we can before you actually play a game. Whether that be a walkthrough rep, a practice rep, whatever it is. I think Lewis did a phenomenal job of taking all those reps leading into last year and then, when he hit the field, he was ready for his opportunity and did a great job with it,” Lanning said. “You can't put a value on the game reps, because that's completely different. But Lewis is a guy who comes up and studies. He does extra, and I think that's paid off for him in creating opportunities moving forward."

Senior Richard LeCounte’s instincts, meanwhile, help set him apart.

“That shows up in what he's learned over the years, to play with those same instincts within the framework of our defense and our system. I think every single one of our players still needs to be coached,” Lanning said. “But with Richard’s production, a lot of it comes from those instincts. And he has done a good job of honing that in to fit within the system, where he can make plays and every play he is supposed to make.”

• Lanning said he is excited to see what offensive coordinator Todd Monken has in store for teams this fall.

“One thing that’s unique about Todd—I’m not going to tell you what plays we’re running, right? But what’s really fun is, he’s the definition of a coach who obviously has a lot of experience, knows exactly what he wants in his product,” Lanning said. “He’s very demanding of his guys, and what right execution looks like. But he's also very adaptable to change. The game’s changed over the years. And I think you see a lot of pieces of that in his offensive game plan.”

• Georgia’s defensive coordinator was also asked who he thought the “big dog” of this year’s defense would be.

“That’s a good question. I am trying to think of who I do not want to fight on defense. That would probably be any of these guys. But we've got a good group. We have a bunch of dogs. The comment that was made last year several times with the "No Name Defense" and that was maybe taken the wrong way,” Lanning said. “When I say that, I mean we have a lot of unselfish players, a lot of guys who want the ball in their hands at the end of the game, want to be on the field for fourth down. There’s a lot of guys on the defense I’d want to go to war with right now. I don’t know if I’d want to pick one alpha dog, but we’ve got a really good group of guys.”

• To the surprise of no one, Lanning said expectations are extremely high for junior nose guard Jordan Davis.

“I have really high expectations for Jordan. Jordan's worked hard. Tray Scott does a phenomenal job; (he) and coach Williams, do a great job with his development. But Jordan, I think, is hungry. There just aren't a lot of people born in this world that look like Jordan Davis, right? So, when you look like that, there's an expectation. I expect him to really achieve at the highest level this year, have a phenomenal season, and really help our team and our defense."

• Finishing plays will be the biggest point of emphasis for the defense during fall camp.

“The biggest thing I think we’ve emphasized so far this off-season is the finish. We’ve talked about 'havoc' plays a lot here in the past,” Lanning said. “That’s still definitely a big focus. We want to get the ball out, we want to finish, we want to impact the game by having some game-changing plays that we can create, and our players have really embraced that so far.”

• On putting down roots after having his contract extended through 2022.

“Yeah, absolutely. Really excited. I have three kids. My wife Sophia and I talk about being in a place you’d love to raise your family, and Athens has truly been that place,” Lanning said. “Three years for me in college football has been the longest I’ve been anywhere. Sometimes it takes that progression to get there in your career. I’m extremely fortunate to be at a place where I can see myself for a long time.”

• Regarding personnel adjustments with the season starting at Arkansas

“Ultimately that's what is unique and special about the SEC, because you are going to play a real team. That being said, every game that we go into, we do so thinking we have to utilize our best players and have to have our best plan to execute, regardless of the opponent. And I think that’s one thing Coach Smart has always done a great job of,” Lanning said. “So, it really does not matter who we play; the preparation required is the same. I think the one key we all know is, we're going to have to be ready pretty quick. We've got to be ready to play this first game, and like I said, it starts at the very beginning today, with that focus."