I feel like the kid who just got called up to the major leagues. Today is my debut with the recruiting rewind.
It comes with little fanfare, though. My parents don’t know that I’m writing this. My girlfriend has no idea what the recruiting rewind even is. So, it looks like you, readers, are my support system in my first go-around with this column.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to do as good of a job as my colleague Jeff Sentell, but I will give it my best shot.
Without further adieu, here are the five hottest recruiting stories from Friday:
1. UGA will host a top OL target today
McEachern’s Tremayne Anchrum will take an unofficial visit to UGA today, which was confirmed by the AJC. Anchrum told me earlier this week that the Bulldogs lead for him and he will make his college decision on Oct. 12. He will take an official to UGA on Sept. 19 for the South Carolina game.
I really think Anchrum is UGA’s to lose here. The only concern he had about the program is if it will be able to remain consistent on offense. It helps that four starters return on the offensive line and you have a Heisman Trophy contender in Nick Chubb carrying the rock. I don’t see a dropoff in offensive production, even with new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer stepping in place of Mike Bobo.
The Bulldogs are recruiting Anchrum to play either tackle or center, he says. Oh, it should also be noted that his best friend is UGA 5-star commit Julian Rochester. That should increase UGA’s chances of landing Anchrum.
2. Jacob Eason is ecstatic about UGA’s hot streak in recruiting
Well, he should be.
The 5-star QB now has a wide variety of targets to throw to when he gets his opportunity to play Between the Hedges. In a little over two weeks, UGA went from having one wide receiver commit to four of them (actually five if you count 2017’s DeeJay Dallas). For this year’s class, from a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder in Charlie Woerner to speedster Davion Curtis from Texas, Eason must be salivating at the mouth when thinking about all of his weapons.
His father told the AJC that his son is looking forward to building relationships with his future counterparts.
3. 4-star DB has excellent visit to UGA
William Poole, a 2017 4-star DB, told the AJC’s Chuck Kingsbury that his visit to UGA on Friday couldn’t have been any better.
He didn’t get a chance to attend Dawg Night, but that’s OK because he got a little one-on-one time with UGA defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt on Friday. The two broke down some film together.
Poole doesn’t have a leader right now, but he did say that UGA will always have a good chance of sealing his commitment.
4. Secret Dawg Night visitor was in fact top secret
Rahshaun Smith, the No. 1 inside linebacker in the country, de-committed from Clemson because of all of the visits he wants to take, as he revealed on his Twitter account.
In an interview with 247Sports.com’s Keith Niebhur, Smith revealed that his visit to UGA’s Dawg Night wasn’t so secretive after the AJC broke the story on his appearance in Athens.
Here’s what he had to say about his visit to UGA:
“With Georgia I didn’t have any intentions of looking at that as a true visit,” Smith said. “I was just sitting in the bleachers and hoping my teammates got some exposure. And then a picture went out of me sitting up there and the (UGA) coaches found me and started recruiting me so hard. I shied away from it honestly. If they (weren’t) recruiting me. What are they recruiting me now type of deal.”
Smith did share that he isn’t really considering UGA, though. Sorry Dawgs fans, looks like our photo didn’t help UGA with one of the best defensive players in the country.
5. Alabama legacy heading into enemy territory
Ben Davis’ father, Wayne, is the all-time leading tackler in Alabama, but it would probably be a good decision to leave behind the crimson-colored clothes on Saturday.
According to Andrew Bone of TideSports.com, the 5-star linebacker will take an unofficial to Auburn, and he’s bringing his family.
Is this a reason for Tide fans to be concerned? No. After all, 100 percent of recruiting analysts on 247Sports’ Crystal Ball have Davis following in his father’s footsteps and playing for Alabama.
I just hope no one tells Harvey Updyke that Wayne Davis’ son is heading toward Toomer’s Corner.
And there it is. My first recruiting rewind is in the books. Loved it? Hated it? Threw your computer across the screen after realizing Sentell didn’t write this? Let me know in the comments section below.
Chris Kirschner covers recruiting for DawgNation.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.