Recruiting Rewind: Top talent will be in Athens for UGA-Alabama
I know what you’re thinking about right now. It goes something like….
Can UGA’s offensive line impose its will on another strong Alabama defensive line? The run game is the strength of the team. Stopping the run is what Alabama does. That’s how the Tide is built to stop LSU each fall. But LSU never has a quarterback as efficient as Greyson Lambert, right?
But you don’t stop there. Then comes: Which group of maulers in the trenches has more depth? Who’s in better shape? Didn’t UGA’s great hire to run its strength and conditioning program come from Alabama? Does that mean both teams will be in great shape?
Relax, friend. That’s going to wear you out. There are still three more days to get through until Saturday.
Maybe reading what’s going on right now with UGA football recruiting will take your mind off all that. The AJC’s DawgNation.com identifies the biggest stories of the moment and lines them up for one-stop reading and clicking every morning. Want to make sure your inbox is always filled with a daily dish of UGA football news? The DawgNation.com email newsletter will be able to take care of that.
That said, I now return you to pondering how many linebackers it will take to get Derrick Henry on the ground.
Today’s must-reads
Nation’s No. 1 WR will make his official visit this week
Archer senior receiver Kyle Davis will be taking his official visit to UGA this week. He’s rated as the No. 1 receiver in the country and as a 5-star recruit. That’s exactly the type of weapon that can help 5-star quarterback Jacob Eason win big SEC games along his career.
Davis will enroll early and is set to commit on Oct. 23. That’s going to give him a great shot at contributing early. UGA’s wish list at receiver has to include Davis, Virginia speedster Grant Holloway and Florida burner Tre Nixon.
Can UGA afford to miss on Davis? We discussed that possibility this month.
Can a big win aid in recruiting?
Some recruits don’t think so, but count me among the camp that feels signature victories can enhance perception, define momentum and cement “gut feelings” that things are heading in a the right direction with a school.
DawgNation.com identified five uncommitted recruits who have offers from both UGA and Alabama. If UGA can improve to 5-0 on Saturday night with a win against Alabama, these five recruits will be sure to notice.
UGA has beaten Alabama in something lately
UGA senior linebacker Jordan Jenkins was one of several high-profile recruits who had scholarship offers from UGA and Alabama. Jenkins said it eventually came down to UGA and Alabama.
He was torn. Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart was his lead recruiter, but UGA eventually won out. Can you believe he didn’t know who Nick Saban was the first time he met him?
Jenkins said that Alabama led for most of his recruiting process, but former UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham made a final push late to sway him.
Longtime commitment will take all five of his official visits
Does UGA have to worry about offensive line commitment Chris Barnes? He plans to take official visits to at least three other SEC schools.
Barnes weighed in on that topic plus shared how the coaches at UGA felt about that decision. The 3-star prospect does plan to look around, but he shared this big picture message yesterday with DawgNation.com: “I am going to Georgia. I’m a Georgia commit. I ain’t going nowhere.”
Another prospect leaning toward UGA
Another reason to pump the brakes on any worries regarding Barnes comes from his teammate. Junior defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon rates as a four-star prospect for the Class of 2017.
The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder ranks as the No. 8 defensive tackle and No. 115 overall prospect for 2017. Solomon told DawgNation.com that Barnes is in his ear up to two times per day to go ahead and commit to UGA.
Jeff Sentell covers UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.
