ATLANTA — Justin Shaffer’s recruiting process seemed easy from the outside.

He committed to Georgia in February of 2015 and that was that, for nearly a year. But things aren’t always as they appear, and that’s the case for Shaffer’s recruitment.

Although he’s a longtime Georgia commit, SEC rivals Florida and Mississippi State tried to wedge their way into the relationship late in the process.

“Missisisppi State and Florida tried to come in, tried to break in,” Shaffer said. “I was still 100 percent Georgia.”

He said that Mississippi State told him that he was committed to the wrong Bulldogs and that Florida also pushed very hard, but ultimately he had no interest in going elsewhere.

A lot of that goes back to loyalty. Shaffer was an under-recruited kid before he got his Georgia offer, and he always appreciated the Bulldogs being one of the first to take interest.

“Different coaches [were] telling me different things,” Shaffer said. “[Offensive line coach Sam] Pittman told me what he wanted and he saw me fit it. Every time I took a visit he’d tell me the same thing, that meant a lot to me.”