ANALYSIS: What does the Kyle Davis news mean for UGA?
Kyle Davis committed to Auburn on Wednesday morning. It was sort of like the weatherman saying December will be cold. This was to be expected.
How so? Just follow the offers. If UGA was in good position with the 5-star from Archer High School, why send out November offers to two junior college receivers? Those guys were targeted even before Texas 3-star receiver Davion Curtis de-committed.
McEachern senior receiver Tyler Simmons provided further proof to DawgNation this weekend. Simmons, despite his status as a 3-star recruit, said UGA viewed him as the No. 1 uncommitted in-state receiver for 2016.
That meant the program valued Simmons more than the top-ranked receiver in the country, per the 247sports composite rankings. When Virginia speedster Grant Holloway was still strongly considering UGA, he felt he was near the top of the board at receiver for 2016.
Sure, every recruiter wants his targets to think that way. But all of them?
Florida receiver Tre’ Nixon is also a blur, and he’s said all along UGA has him very high. If all of those guys lead off UGA’s board, then how much of a priority was Davis?
Look at each of those targets. What’s the common denominator? Speed. Davis has a lot of impressive assets: ball skills, size, strength, tenacity. Yet he has never been viewed as a burner. His gifts go against the grain of what UGA had prioritized for its 2016 haul.
When UGA already had four commitments at receiver, it offered the chance to get a little picky.
Another sign was the comments made by Davis’s father, Ron, earlier this summer. Ron told Al.com that he preferred what Auburn does on offense to what’s in place at UGA.
That’s not to say Davis is not talented. Far from it. But it’s clear UGA did not have all of its eggs in the Kyle Davis basket.
What it means now is that Simmons, Nixon and junior college receiver Derrick Willies (a Texas Tech commit) remain as options for UGA at receiver. Simmons told DawgNation that UGA receiver coach Bryan McClendon informed him he now has slots for two more receivers this year.
Simmons, who also has blinding speed, expects to make his announcement around Christmas Day. We’ll be watching.
Jeff Sentell covers UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.
