Want to attack every day with the latest UGA football recruiting info? That’s what the Intel brings. This entry marks the first DawgNation post for elite in-state Class of 2022 cornerback prospect Marquis Groves-Killebrew of Grayson High School.
Marquis Groves-Killebrew loves football. That’s why he plays the game.
“I’ve had a passion for it since I came out of the womb basically,” he said.
That makes sense. He will list the following members of his family as current or former professional football players.
- NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith (he is a cousin on his father’s side)
- Former Texas LB Robert Killebrew (his uncle won a national title with the Longhorns)
- NFL WR DeVante Parker (the former first-round pick is a cousin on his mother’s side)
“I’ve got a whole bunch of athletes in my family,” he said.
He is already rated as the nation’s No. 10 cornerback prospect and the No. 64 overall recruit for the 2022 cycle for 247Sports. The 6-foot, 180-pound rising junior does not have a 247Sports Composite rating as of yet.
Georgia is definitely interested. Defensive backs coach Charlton Warren is the primary recruiter already for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs offered him some time ago.
“I’m the number one priority for them in Georgia to keep me in the state for my class,” Groves-Killebrew said.
He goes to bed every night with goals on his mind.
“I’m watching a whole bunch of defensive back videos going to sleep every night,” he said. “I’ll watch their full games and all that. I really like Jair Alexander, Jalen Ramsey, Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward.”
What can he be on Saturdays? Noted Atlanta-area DB trainer Justin Miller has been working with him since he was in the eighth grade. Miller was a second-round draft pick by the New York Jets back in 2005.
“I think he has all the attributes to be an elite CB for a very long time,” Miller said.
The main thing Miller stressed was how much the young Grayson High Ram likes to compete.
“A mindset of win-at-all-costs and always up for the challenge of covering the best WR,” Miller said.
Check out some of his reel from his sophomore season in 2019.
Marcus Groves-Killebrew: The priority schools so far
Groves-Killebrew is already getting major attention from college football. Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M and UNC have all offered over the last month.
“The recruiters see me as somebody they can move all over the secondary,” Groves-Killebrew said. “Mainly as a guy who can play everywhere.”
That’s a high compliment for college football. The coaches from under the Nick Saban tree (Jeremy Pruitt and Kirby Smart for instance) place a lot of value in a defensive back that will mesh with several positions in their defense. It is a good depth took for their needs, but also a way to value the athletic ability and mindset of a prospect that can play the nickel or slot or also out on the islands at either corner.
Those prospects can also plug-and-play at safety or play press coverage or off-the-ball at corner, too.
Which schools does it feel like are already making him a priority?
“I’d say Georgia, Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma and Clemson,” he said.
He wants to make his college decision prior to his senior year, but he said he’s not rushing it right now. Understandably.
This spring and summer would have laid the foundation for his top schools and likely official visits next year. He’s missed out on a lot of unofficial visits, but is still keeping in contact with those programs.
“It is good because you can talk to the coaches and they can show you some stuff on Zoom as well,” he said.
He already knows he wants to play with Marietta High defensive athlete Daniel Martin.
“We have never lost on our team when we play together,” Groves-Killebrew said. “That’s my boy right there.”
LSU is also very much in the picture here.
“That was my dream school growing up,” Groves-Killebrew said.
He also listed Oregon and Tennessee as two other schools which currently have his attention.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned about my recruiting over the last few months is not to rush it,” he said. “Take your time. See what’s real and what’s best for you and what place is really best for us.”
How Georgia is recruiting Marquis Groves-Killebrew
He grew up originally in Kentucky but has lived in Gwinnett County for the last few years.
What does he like best about the Bulldogs right now?
“I would say the atmosphere really,” Groves-Killebrew said. “Everything really. I really love Georgia for real. That’s one of my top schools.”
Georgia offered him after a game last season.
“They offered me like a week after I played Marietta High School,” Groves-Killebrew said. “I played against Marietta and I gave up zero catches. Do you know Arik Gilbert? I guarded him the whole game and I gave up zero catches against him that night.”
That impressed Georgia. As it should.
It does not sound like location will be a factor for this recruitment.
“I like the location there with Georgia,” he said. “It is right up the street for me. I live on Athens Highway. So Georgia is right there for me.”
Groves-Killebrew said he vibes well right now with Warren, among other coaches. He said he got the chance to sit down with Georgia coach Kirby Smart for about an hour on an unofficial visit prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was good,” he said. “He gave me a lot of great trips to stay grounded and to stop grateful for all of this.”
What is he looking for with his college decision?
“They have got to be able to develop me the best,” he said. “They have got to have the best atmosphere and the best place for me because if I don’t like being there on and off the field and don’t like the feel of the place, then my time there isn’t going to go well.”
“There also has to be a good family atmosphere for me at the school that I will choose.”
DAWGNATION RECRUITING
(the recent reads on DawgNation.com)
- Moliki Matavao: Nation’s No. 4 TE releases his commitment date
- Decrypting that recent tweet from 5-star LB Smael Mondon Jr.
- Prince Kollie: The ILB target who had 1,085 yards as a receiver in 2019
- Why the 2021 class could be Kirby Smart’s best DB recruiting crop yet
- Lovasea Carroll: DawgNation goes one-on-one with the 2021 RB commit
- Dylan Fairchild: Elite O-line target includes UGA among his top six schools
- What exactly are these virtual recruiting visits like right now?
- How the 2021 commits turned a slick edit into Amarius Mims Appreciation Day
- Why O-line target Noah Josey goes a long way back with Georgia’s Matt Luke
- Dallas Turner: Why Alabama has a slight lead on UGA for the elite pass rusher
- HEDGES: Why James Williams looms so large for the 2021 Georgia class
- Georgia’s program is now moving past the de-commitments of previous cycles
- Georgia extends an impactful offer to future 5-star RB Richard Young
- The 5 things you haven’t read yet about recent OLB commit Elijah Jeudy
- Georgia OL commit Micah Morris made a silent pledge to UGA quite a long time ago
- Jermaine Burton: Why coming home meant everything to Georgia’s next great WR