Jamil Burroughs humbled himself today. This was his day. The big day that will shape the next 40 years of his life.
The 4-star DT from McEachern High in Metro Atlanta used it to look back instead. To say thanks. He chose his mother’s birthday as the day to announce his college commitment.
Some maybe today a few fans might say “Happy Birthday Simora Scott” at the same time they might say “Go Dawgs” along with that.
That’s because Burroughs is now a Bulldog. The nation’s No. 4 DT for 2020 on the 247Sports composite scale chose Georgia as his future college home in a commitment video announcement with Rivals.com.
“It feels amazing,” Burroughs said on Saturday. “Knowing that I am now part of a great school and also a great program.”
Burroughs also ranks as the nation’s No. 63 overall prospect for 2020 on that same scale. He becomes the third commitment for the Bulldogs in their 2020 class. That group looks like a trenches class so far with two in-state elite DTs (Burroughs and Nazir Stackhouse) plus a 5-star OT in Lithonia junior Broderick Jones.
Why Jamil Burroughs chose UGA
The nearly 6-foot-3, 305-pound junior chose Georgia out of a top group that included Alabama, Clemson and Auburn.
But Georgia has been his outright leader for a while now. That’s the school he felt that he’s been to “about 30 times” during his recruitment. The Bulldogs were also his first offer, too.
Burroughs also said that he considers former McEachern U.S. Army All-American Julian Rochester to be a “big brother” of sorts as well. It seems only fitting that Burroughs will be leaving Indian Nation next summer to help restock the same defensive line position that Rochester now mans in Athens.
Junior receiver Tyler Simmons, he of the feet that most Georgia fans feel were definitely onsides, is another McEachern product on the Bulldog roster, too.
The recruiting tag team of area recruiter Dell McGee and defensive line coach Tray Scott worked well here.
“Coach McGee is really, really cool,” Burroughs said. “I can talk to him about anything and that’s what I look forward to seeing in my relationship with my coach.”
Georgia has been on his mind for a long time, too.
“It has been my dream school since I was 10 or 11 years old,” Burroughs said. “I’ve had a great relationship with Kirby Smart since he was at Alabama. That relationship and his move to Georgia had a real big impact on where Georgia has been in my decision.”
Burroughs plans to enroll in the school of his choice in January 2020. That’s the same path that Rochester followed to Athens. He even wears his old No. 99 along the trenches for the Indians.
Why Jamil Burroughs honored his mother today
He told DawgNation earlier this summer that the decision was not going to be hard. He could’ve made that decision back in June.
But he waited for August 25 instead.
“That’s my mom’s birthday, and she is such a special lady,” Burroughs said. “I’m just ready for all of this recruitment to be over with and to pick my school. I can only go to one school, and I am just ready to make my decision later this summer.”
Scott has to be proud today. Burroughs will have a busy day honoring her on the day his phone blows up with about 300 retweets and another 700 likes or so.
“I’m doing all of this for my mom as well,” Burroughs said. “I want to make her happy in the future. Maybe if I take this thing all the way to the league then I can take care of her. Like she has done for me. I can always be there to help her then. That’s why I am doing it on her birthday.”
This should be seen as a very stable recruiting decision even though he is just a junior.
“I’ll be done,” the future business and mechanical engineering major said over the summer. “That will be an end to the recruiting process for me.”
Burroughs should be seen as a strong all-around defensive lineman. He can penetrate and shoot gaps and hold up in the run game. His Hudl profile page also credits him with a 4.87 time in the 40.