JaShawn Sheffield played in the “True 19” game on Sunday. That capped the two days he spent in Atlanta competing with the best sophomores in Georgia.
The 6-foot-1, 177-pound prospect also took an unofficial visit to UGA on Saturday with all the “True 19” players from Georgia and Texas.
The nation’s No. 1 WR for 2019 told DawgNation the trip made an impact.
“That was very fun,” Sheffield said. “They were treating me like it was home for me already. I am really taking that in and I’m liking it.”
The narrative regarding his recruiting was other schools had the jump on the in-state school. That group included Clemson, Florida State, Miami and Ohio State, among others.
“I really don’t have any leader or anything like that,” Sheffield said. “My Top 3 is tied. That’s Georgia, Ohio State and Clemson.”
Yet that Saturday visit sparked a new development.
“Georgia went up five percent more than both of those other two,” Sheffield said.
He confirmed the Bulldogs took a slight lead. What did the coaches say to spark that?
“They told me that I need to be a Dawg and the state of Georgia is my home right here,” he said. “So I was like ‘Alright, this is my home.’ (Georgia head coach) Kirby (Smart) came in there and talked to me for a little while.”
Richard LeCounte III, the 5-star freshman safety at UGA, is his second cousin. Sheffield had a message for the nation’s No. 2 safety for 2017.
“He better ball out,” Sheffield said.
That’s a comeback to what he’s already hearing from the U.S. Army All-American.
“He tells me I better do the right thing, stay on my grades and I better be a Dawg,” he said.
Sheffield added he wants to play the “Star” position on the defensive side of the ball.
That’s interesting considering that lofty ranking he’s received as a receiver.
The 5-star prospect was offered by Mark Richt’s staff. He went to the Missouri and Georgia Southern games in 2015. But that weekend visit was his first to Athens since Kirby Smart took over.
Sheffield is dialed-in for his age. He already hopes to major in either Business or Sports Management.
But he has no timeline for his college decision.
“I really don’t know yet,” Sheffield said. “I’m going to sit down and talk to my Mom. Whenever she feels like it is time to commit and whenever I feel like it is time to commit then I will do it.”
He felt he’d remember the “True 19” experience for the rest of his life.
“I got to play with recruits that I thought I would never get to play a game with,” Sheffield said.
Sheffield competes in the Georgia Independent Schools Association at Frederica Academy. There’s a big difference in the overall talent level between GISA and Georgia High School Association play.
GHSA ball also doesn’t have the same all-over-the-field talent which was apparent at the “True 19” practices
He also fared well against the best sophomores from Texas.
“I think I did well,” Sheffield said. “I think I can do what I can do in my region (the GISA) and I can do what I do in any other region and out here, too.”
His highlight reel shows off his 13 total touchdowns in 2016.