Cheesehead
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Gray has taken an immediate liking to Stokes, a former three-star recruit who morphed into an All-SEC cornerback this past year after initially playing behind DeAndre Baker and Tyson Campbell at the University of Georgia.
As a true junior in 2020, Stokes registered 20 tackles and four interceptions (returning two for TDs) in 10 starts. The 6-foot, 194-pound cornerback's draft stock then soared after clocking a 4.25 in the 40 at his pro day.
After making Stokes the 29th player selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Packers now turn to Gray to get the most out of the 22-year-old cornerback. As first impressions go, Gray likes what he's seen from Stokes this spring.
"When you look at him, there were two other (high) draft picks really in front of him," Gray said. "Tyson was a five-star guy who played on one corner and then (Baker) got drafted in the first round, went to the Giants, so I think he's going to be a good football player for us.
"The first thing he has to do is understand how to play in this league. I think he has the attitude to do that."
The offseason program has been an eye-opening experience for Stokes, especially with the extra snaps afforded to him with Jaire Alexander sitting out of OTAs and the team being smart with Kevin King's workload.
Stokes did get a chance to sit under the learning tree with Alexander during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp last week, when the rookie was able to bounce questions off the ascending Pro Bowler and watch how he practices.
Stokes has had some acclimating to do as far as getting used to life in the NFL…but almost in a good way. Everything he does is centered on football these days, allowing for more time in the playbook, and yes, the occasional nap.