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The subject of defensive line recruiting is a hot-button issue for UGA this week. What is the program doing? What can be done? Is there any good news to be found on that front at this time?
The Class of 2020 in the state of Georgia might have a lot to say about that in the end. Jamil Burroughs, the nation’s No. 6 DT prospect for 2020 per the 247Sports composite rankings, told DawgNation earlier this week that the Bulldogs are his top school at this time.
It appears there is also a recruiting race in need of an update regarding 4-star DE Andy Boykin in the Class of 2020. The Troup High (LaGrange, Ga.) junior is currently committed to Auburn.
He is coming off what he said was his “best UGA visit so far.” That should draw some consideration given the Bulldogs were already a strong No. 2 for Boykin. He did enjoy himself at G-Day earlier this year, too.
Let’s go back to how he reacted when he got that offer from UGA. That came in June of 2017. The Bulldogs were his fifth offer, but it was one that elevated his stock from similar opportunities with Kentucky and Syracuse.
The several unique ways Georgia has kept recruiting him after he chose Auburn has stood out. It is one of those instances where the UGA coaching staff will not just let him take his talents to the SEC West without a fight.
Well, that’s exactly what the nation’s No. 9 strongside defensive end prospect on the 247Sports composite rankings feels is going to happen with his recruiting now.
How close are these two schools right now?
“Its very close,” Boykin said. “It will be a fight to the finish.”
Did the Bulldogs make a move with Andy Boykin?
That visit back on June 14 went that well. He worked out for the Bulldogs and then hung out with the UGA staff. Defensive line coach Tray Scott has put in some good work here.
“He’s a very cool and laid-back person that you can kind of be yourself with,” Andy Boykin said. “You are not afraid to talk to him about things. Our relationship is growing.”
Did that visit tighten things up?
“It certainly did,” Boykin told DawgNation.
If the situation presented itself, Boykin said he wouldn’t be the type to de-commit and then reevaluate things here. He felt he would just likely flip. To be extremely clear here, that should not e seen as a measure that he will make a de-commitment.
That’s only a reflection of what he might likely do if the Bulldogs were able to convince him that he would be better off in Athens as opposed to sticking with the Tigers. That hasn’t happened.
That is what the Bulldogs would like to see happen. They showed Boykin that on his latest visit.
“I felt like the biggest priority and there were a lot of priority recruits there,” Boykin said. “But I felt like the biggest and they rolled out the red carpet for me.”
Why did Andy Boykin choose Auburn in the first place?
The Tigers offered Andy Boykin about a week after Georgia did. But they rapidly built upon that.
“They are super family oriented and if my family feels comfortable with you I definitely will, too,” he said.
Auburn still has a lead, he says.
“They also let me know how they feel about my options because I’ll only go through this one time,” Boykin said.
The standout also ranks as the nation’s No. 214 overall prospect for 2020.
The other neat little wrinkle for the Andy Bokyin decision
It feels like the proper timing of this narrative to reintroduce the storyline involving McEachern 4-star DL target Jamil Burroughs.
Burroughs told DawgNation earlier this week that the Bulldogs were a “dream” school for him and his outright leader at this point. He will make his commitment in late August to honor his mother on her birthday.
Andy Boykin and Burroughs are very close. They will both be at Alabama of all places together this weekend, but they won’t be heading over to Tuscaloosa together.
He knows that recruiting is very stressful. Auburn, Alabama and Georgia of all places are “dream” schools for a lot of young men growing up in the region.
Each one of those can truly launch a young man as far as he wants to go in the game of football.
Boykin and Burroughs sound like they have a plan. They say they do.
“We’ve all got a plan,” Boykin said regarding the top defensive line prospects in the state for 2020. “But just know where ever I go Jamil is coming with me.”
Burroughs agreed with that. Those two usually visit UGA together. Burroughs said he has visited UGA approximately 30 times since he started taking recruiting trips when he was in the eighth grade.
“Andy has been my boy since I don’t know,” Jamil Burroughs said. “It has been more than a minute. We’ve talked about playing together for a long time. … I know when Andy and I went to Georgia Coach (Kirby) Smart started telling us that Andy and I and (UGA class of 2020 DT commit) Nazir Stackhouse could be No. 1 defensive line in the country if we all went to Georgia. We have already had that conversation about all of that.”
What is going on with Derick Hunter right now?
Derick Hunter abruptly committed to Florida State on Wednesday night.
That was interesting. It didn’t seem like he was going to make a mid-June decision from all the many previous conversations I have had with him.
I would not expect him to do a lot of media at this time. This seems like a recruiting situation that is just getting started and still has a very long way to go. A very long way to go.
My information leads me to believe he is very much wanted by the Georgia staff. Let’s see what this recruitment looks like in mid-December.
That is what is really going to matter. Not what a recruit who always seems like he is trying to please people thinks right now.
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