Good morning, DawgNation. Merry Christmas Eve to you and all of yours.
Let’s talk about that specific Georgia recruiting headline right off the top. This is a holiday-themed post and it is one which will populate all of the SEC Country and Landof10 websites today.
We’re running that play for this blog, but I’ll also add the right perspective to fill up Santa’s sleigh with the proper outlook.
Georgia is having its best recruiting cycle in at least 10 years. The Bulldogs should finish no lower than third in the national recruiting rankings.
Kirby Smart’s first full recruiting cycle as head coach will deliver DawgNation with a big turquoise box with a white ribbon. That is the level of Tiffany’s taste that Alabama fans are used to.
Georgia has stacked up the 4-star prospects in this class. There are 14 of them in the class right now. It is a fantastic class and the best in the SEC East by far.
But what if the Bulldogs miss out on another two blue chips? That will be like Grandma not putting enough salt in her famous Christmas dish. The two remaining must-gets for 2017 are DeAngelo Gibbs and Aubrey Solomon.
Got to get Gibbs?
If Georgia misses on Gibbs with this class, that won’t be great. Gibbs would be a signature piece. Alabama is seen as the other major contender for Gibbs.
He’s the nation’s No. 3 prospect at safety. The thought of Gibbs plus 5-star safety Richard LeCounte III in the secondary gives DawgNation visions of ball hawks and run stuffers dancing through their heads.
Gibbs is the top uncommitted prospect in Georgia this year. He will enroll in January.
The world finds out his public decision on Jan. 1 at the Under Armour All-American Game.
There are days when the advent calendar reveals he is heading to Alabama.
Then there are days when those discussions trend toward Georgia.
The race is that close in my mind at this time.
The quest for Solomon
Lee County DT Aubrey Solomon is one of the few elite defensive tackles in the South. The U.S. Army All-American doesn’t plan to make his decision until after National Signing Day. That’s been the case for quite some time.
The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder is rated as the nation’s No. 31 overall prospect for this cycle.
It will be a race between Alabama, Georgia and Michigan for Solomon. He’s already taken official visits to Alabama and Michigan and that’s actually a big factor.
Why?
Solomon tends to hold a lot of affection for the visits that are immediately in his rear view mirror. He’s named several leaders during his process and even committed and de-committed from Michigan.
Georgia does not get one of his last official visits, but multiple official visits are planned. That will be a major factor because of the relationships he’s established with members of the staff and current players such as Chris Barnes, Tyler Clark and Trenton Thompson.
Those guys hail from Southwest Georgia.
If Georgia misses on both Gibbs and Solomon in this class, there’s going to be a few Humbugs said about how this group could have been even better.
Gibbs and Solomon are just that good.