Sunday’s UGA Recruiting Rewind for DawgNation

Happy Sunday, UGA fans. I hope you enjoyed my debut for the Recruiting Rewind on Saturday. If you aren’t caught up with Saturday’s recruiting notes, stop and click here.

There’s not a better way to begin the day than by learning about two potential future Bulldogs showing up on campus shortly before a scheduled commitment date.

Saturday was the first day the Bulldogs practiced in full pads, and the team had some big-time visitors in attendance to watch. One of them was a total shock to me.

Crank up the A/C, because here are Saturday’s hottest recruiting stories:

1. UGA hosted its main target in the backfield

I traveled to Woodward Academy on Wednesday to chat with 4-star running back Elijah Holyfield, who is UGA’s main target at running back. During our conversation, he told me he didn’t have any plans to visit his top five schools before his Sept. 4 decision.

Well, plans changed.

Holyfield was in Athens on Saturday and spent a good portion of the day with coaches and players by his side.

It’s definitely a great thing when you host a top target shortly before his commitment date. We’ll see if he makes any other trips to his top five colleges before he announces.

As it stands now, it seems like it’s a three-team race with UGA, Alabama and Auburn having the best chance to land Holyfield.

When Sept. 4 rolls around, I think he will be a Bulldog.

2. Another top target was in town on Saturday

Tremayne Anchrum, who told the AJC that UGA is his leader earlier this week, was also in Athens. The AJC’s Chuck Kingsbury caught up with Anchrum after his visit, and he said it went well. Nothing changed for the McEachern offensive lineman — UGA still leads. If anything, his visit on Saturday may have widened the gap for the Bulldogs.

The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder actually got a chance to speak with Holyfield at practice. Perhaps he’ll be creating holes for Holyfield to run through in the future.

Anchrum plans to commit on Oct. 12. Again, I think if Anchrum committed today, it would be UGA. We’ll see how things play out over the next two months.

3. Top prospect says UGA leads

The Bulldogs have one outside linebacker commit in this year’s class in Clinch County’s Chauncey Manac. UGA is hoping to add one to two more commits at OLB. Manac may soon have a buddy at OLB soon.

American Heritage’s Brian Burns told 247Sports.com’s Ryan Bartow that UGA leads for him. UGA holds the edge against Florida, Alabama, Florida State and LSU.

The 4-star prospect is supposed to announce his commitment at the Army All-American Bowl in January, but he says a decision may come before that. That could be great news for the Bulldogs.

Here’s what he told Bartow:

“I am really close to making a decision…I am focused on three or four schools that I am really looking at seriously,” Burns said. “I want to have my decision before the season starts, just so I can get that out of the way and focus on my senior season.”

Currently, 100 percent of recruiting analysts on 247Sports’ Crystal Ball project Burns to commit to UGA.

4. Bulldogs de-commit clears the air

There was a report that Archer’s E.J. Price might not have a UGA offer after de-committing from the Bulldogs this summer, but Price countered that by tweeting out his offer letter.

My offer isn't committable? They have moved on? Didn't this happen? Didn't that happen? #GoDawgs #DawgNation ?? pic.twitter.com/FzEUskxix5

— EJ Price (@Ej_Price77) August 8, 2015

That’s one way to quiet the doubters.

Price remains a big target for UGA on the offensive line, and he still says UGA is still in the mix.

5. 5-star defensive lineman releases loaded top 5

Rashard Lawrence, a 5-star defensive tackle out of Neville (La.), released his list of finalists on Saturday.

Lawrence, the No. 15 overall player in the country, has Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Washington and UCLA in his top 5. According to 247Sports’ Crystal Ball predictions, 100 percent of recruiting analysts believe he will commit to LSU.

With the help of the man above, here it is #ThankyouGod pic.twitter.com/yfnHJOXXtR

— Rashard Lawrence (@Rashard_99) August 9, 2015

My first weekend of the recruiting rewind is in the books and the first week for the AJC’s new DawgNation website is in the books.

Do you like what you have seen so far with the new, revamped site? Do you have any suggestions on what you’d like to see us cover? Please let us know in the comments section below.

As always, thanks for reading. We’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.