Road to Signing Day: UGA gets big news from a 5-star

Kirby Smart has 16 more days to sell the Class of 2016 on UGA football.

Josh Jones/Special

Posted 3 years ago

Today is just another 24-hour recruiting cycle in the hurry-up world of Kirby Smart’s first 100 days at UGA.

He’s spent 44 of those so far recruiting for his alma mater since he was hired, but today is just the seventh of those days since he fulfilled his duties as the coordinator of Alabama’s national championship defense.

Smart will not rest on his seventh day. He is expected to drop in on an Auburn commit today. He’ll likely grind until after National Signing Day comes and the next morning will be his 60th day at UGA.

The program just had what appears to be its busiest official visit weekend of the Class of 2016 signing period. The Bulldogs hosted two 5-star defenders, a set of elite receivers, a trio of long-time commitments and a possible big physical safety for the secondary.

Things are getting tight. There are just 16 more shopping days for recruits and the programs they have in mind until National Signing Day.

What do you need to know about UGA’s recruiting efforts now? Here are nine stories that make sure you won’t have much room for seconds and thirds of UGA recruiting information.

Monday’s UGA recruiting road map

Nation’s No. 1 OLB gives UGA visit a perfect 10

Here’s what 5-star prospect Lyndell “Mack” Wilson (Montgomery, Ala.) had to say after his official visit this weekend:

Gave the official a perfect 10 on his first visit
Said the chance to play early at UGA is as good as anywhere
Wore all-UGA gear on his drive home
Was greeted with at least 12 letters and cards from UGA when he arrived back in Alabama

5-star DT Derrick Brown will take his HUGE official visit to UGA this weekend.

Derrick Brown is the state of Georgia’s top player this year
He has taken officials to Mississippi State, Alabama and Auburn so far
The 6-foot-4, 311-pounder is a must-sign for the Class of 2016
The Lanier standout kept going to UGA games this fall despite the chance to see better games elsewhere

5-star DE Brian Burns also wrapped up his official visit.

His father Brian Burns, Sr. told 247sports.com’s Ryan Bartow he felt UGA and FSU were at the top of his son’s list followed by Florida
Burns will take his official visit to Florida this week, followed by FSU on Jan. 29.
The American Heritage senior hails from the same prep program that sent Isaiah McKenzie, Sony Michel and Marshall Morgan to UGA
He told UGAsports.com the best part of the visit was hanging out with the team and that he now feels really tight with guys like Michel and Nick Chubb.

Alabama commit says UGA gave it their best try, but expects to honor his commitment

Tyler Simmons (Powder Springs, Ga.) is rated as a 3-star recruit, but shared the following after his official visit:

New OC Jim Chaney used a creative PowerPoint presentation to explain his worth
New WR coach James Coley plans to implement drone technology and virtual reality goggles into training his guys
His word means something to him. He said he’ll stick with Alabama unless they fail to show him a good plan for how he fits in academically and athletically in Tuscaloosa
Simmons said that Smart still plans an in-home visit for the final week before National Signing Day

UGA commitment had a great visit at Florida

The story of the recruitment of Oconee County linebacker Jaleel Laguins continues to unfold:

He visited Florida this weekend and told SEC Country’s Zach Abolverdi he enjoyed the visit
Laguins also said he’s now planning a visit to UGA on Jan. 29
He said he was looking for a “Plan B” school in case he doesn’t like the new staff at UGA

Auburn commitment no longer a trendy pick to flip to UGA

The latest on 3-star defensive end/linebacker David Marshall isn’t promising:

Marshall told SEC Country he plans to “stick” with his Auburn commitment
This comes on the heels of him feeling UGA was showing him more love, but this weekend’s official visit to Auburn has balanced that out
Marshall still plans an official visit to UGA this weekend
The Thomason, Ga., native expects an in-home visit from UGA on Monday from Smart and assistant Glenn Schumann and Smart
That Smart visit is big. He’s only allowed one in-home visit per recruit this month.

Is UGA looking for another kicker?

Marshall Morgan has exhausted his eligibility. Sprayberry graduate Rodrigo Blankenship walked onto the team at kicker this year despite being named a U.S. Army All-American in 2015. UGA also hosted American Heritage kicker Oren Milstein on campus this weekend

Milstein said he was offered as a preferred walk-on for 2016
He enjoyed his time at UGA
He’s also from the same high school program as McKenzie, Michel and Morgan