Trey Blount sounds almost sold on Georgia.
The four-star receiver from Pace Academy came out of G-Day raving about the thought of playing for the school he grew up rooting for.
“It was just an amazing experience honestly for coach (Kirby) Smart to reach his goal for 93,000 and then maybe a thousand more people (because) it was standing room only,” Blount said.
The UGA staff made a great tactical move to place the recruits among fans and not herd them into a recruiting section. Blount, who rates as the nation’s No. 36 receiver, said the fans were loving on the recruits and telling them to go to Georgia. It enhanced the visit.
Blount came into the event knowing UGA was one of his top schools, but the G-Day environment pushed them above Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee. His dream school is Oregon and plans to take an official visit there, but right now UGA is his top school.
“They actually have a slight lead over other schools,” said Blount, who aims to major in electrical or electronic engineering.
The nearly 6-foot-3, 195-pound all-around receiver said on Feb. 18 it didn’t feel like UGA was recruiting him as hard as other schools. He said Auburn, Notre Dame and Tennessee were recruiting him hardest then.
“I’ve been talking to (UGA), but they really haven’t been trying to recruit me hard,” Blount said on Feb. 18. “I’m one of many receivers they are looking at right now. It seemed like Georgia is more focused on recruiting offensive linemen right now.”
That’s no longer the case. Blount feels that UGA is now recruiting him harder than any school. New UGA receivers coach James Coley has made him a priority, but it was something his potential position coach did for one of his family members that made a big impression.
“No other coach told my Dad ‘Happy Birthday,’ and that meant a lot to me,” Blount said. “… It was back in March, but I remember my Dad was telling me that coach told (him) ‘Happy Birthday,’ and I was like ‘Wow,’ that really meant a whole lot to me. He is really trying to recruit me and my father.”
Blount has been told by Coley that UGA wants to take three receivers in this class. Xavier Jenkins is already committed so that numbers game might fill up fast.
“I definitely don’t want to have all the slots filled up at Georgia,” Blount said. “Georgia is one of my top schools and I am considering them heavily right now.”
The Pace standout now plans to make up his mind sometime this summer or right before his senior season. Blount, who has a 40-inch vertical leap, was also clearly impressed by freshman quarterback Jacob Eason. He predicted Eason will one day be a Top 5 NFL Draft pick. Why did he feel that way?
“His intelligence for the game and how he threw the ball,” Blount said. “If you were watching the game he threw one corner route and dropped it right in the bucket. Then the next series he came in and threw a deep route to Reggie Davis. When I say the defensive back was right here and all Reggie Davis had was right there (gesturing) and he dropped it right in there. You can’t say no to that. It is amazing.”
Blount said that arm can lure big-time receivers to UGA.
“If you want a quarterback that can get you the ball in any situation,” Blount said. “If (the defensive back) is on you. If you are wide open. His deep ball is perfect. His underneath routes are perfect. He’s just a great quarterback.”
What does he think about the future of Georgia football under Smart?
“Winning an SEC championship,” he said. “Winning a national championship.”
What’s one thing folks don’t get about Blount? That’s his willingness to block. His father, Joseph Cecil Blount, Jr., taught him that.
“My dad taught me that when I was younger that if you don’t block then you don’t get the rock,” Blount said. “So I’ve put so much emphasis on learning how to break down and stop block to make sure the running back has a lane to run by.”
Blount is actually his father’s namesake, but he’s acquired the nickname “Trey” over the years and is well-known by that.
Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and 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.
Unless otherwise indicated, player rankings and ratings are from the 247Sports Composite