Thursday’s UGA Recruiting Rewind for DawgNation
Today’s a bigger day than usual at DawgNation. You can clearly see that Thursday’s UGA Recruiting Rewind for DawgNation is already posted and ready as per the norm. Just look for plenty more posts and updates today which will make sure that our Recruiting homepage doesn’t look like the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree or anything.
Come back to this site early and often as the team will be all over the Corky Kell Classic preview luncheon today. That’s a happy thought as the event signals that the start of the “For Real” high school football games in Georgia are right around the corner.
There will be representatives from all 14 teams at the event. The Corky Kell kicks off on Friday with two games at McEachern, followed by a five-pack of great games on Saturday at the Georgia Dome. The AJC’s Super 11 players for the Class of 2015 will also be honored at the event so that means a lot of UGA targets will be on hand.
The recruiting scoreboard reads that UGA went 1-for-2 yesterday and nabbed the 16th commitment for the Class of 2016 yesterday. UGA didn’t even need to venture further than 16 miles out to nab their only linebacker commitment so far for this year’s class.
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Today’s must-reads
1. Jaleel commits to the G and explains why
He brought up the hometown aspect of living so close to UGA after a big loss or a big win. That clearly meant something to him. He said he’s known it was going to UGA for about a month now and he brought up the fact he won’t have to answer the question about where he will play college football five times per day anymore.
He said that he spoke to UGA head coach Mark Richt after his announcement and “said he made him a very happy man.”
2. UGA coaches react on social media
Its against NCAA recruiting rules for UGA’s coaches to publicly mention the names of recruits before their letters-of-intent have been received, but that doesn’t prevent the staff from making well-timed and vague references over Twitter in the aftermath of a big commitment.
UGA defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer made sure to erupt on social media. Tight ends coach John Lilly was also a part of the celebration.
There's a storm coming. Forecast calling for more thunder & lightning….in Sanford Stadium for the next few years! #CommitToTheG #homeGrown
— John Lilly (@Coach_JLilly) August 19, 2015
3. Laguins will take his visits
He’s committed to UGA now, but he’s still going to look around. Laguins told the AJC’s DawgNation that he would still look around and mentioned potential visits to Missouri, Nebraska and Notre Dame, among others.
Auburn was also heavy in the picture late for Laguins. That was his last visit this past weekend before he made his commitment.
4. UGA commitment hopes to hear good news today
Houston County WR Darion Anderson suffered a knee injury in late May and hasn’t been cleared to resume full contact yet. He’s expected to get that clearance from his physicians today.
He told the AJC’s DawgNation yesterday that “he felt great” and was hopeful that he would get cleared today to practice and resume full contact drills. That would be just in the nick of time, too. His Bears are set to open their 2015 season next Thursday.
5. TE evaluates and we listen
Former UGA receiver Terrance Edwards offers up another DawgNation take on one of UGA’s recent commitments. The all-time great receiver was also afforded the ability to evaluate another pledge at his old position.
He sized up what Mays do-everything dynamo Randercous Davis brings to the table this week and didn’t even mention his red Georgia “G” tattoo on his bicep. TE’s takeaways: 1) Davis can score from all over the field in a variety of ways; 2) Lots of speed and innate ball-snatching ability; 3) He needs to hone his route-running craft to reach his full potential; 4) The 4-star rating is deserved; 5) Think Percy Harvin.
6. Trojans top UGA and Bama for No. 2 WR
Tyler Vaughns had had UGA consistenly in his Top 5 all summer, but what really mattered was being in the his Top 1. Vaughns committed to USC yesterday and that was far from unexpected as that was the lone school among his Top 5 that he’d taken a visit too.
UGA still has a beloved aunt that resides less than two miles from Sanford Stadium and Vaughns has already told DawgNation that UGA would get an official visit this fall no matter what school he chose this week.
7. Revised WR board
That means UGA’s remaining pecking order looks like Archer’s Kyle Davis, Elbert County’s Mecole Hardman, Jr. (listed as an athlete, but could also be an All-SEC cornerback at the minimum) and Savannah Christian athlete Demetris Robertson.
Robertson — unlike Hardman — is almost universally seen as a future receiver on Saturdays.
The next receivers on UGA’s mind after that would be Florida 4-star Tre Nixon (UGA and Penn State fight) and then McEachern’s Tyler Simmons. Let’s also keep in mind that Virginia’s Grant Holloway has clocked a reported sub 4.3-second 40-yard dash and also lists UGA in his Final 4.
8. USC has the nation’s top WR class
The above topic might not some like it has that certain UGA flavor, but 247sports currently ranks USC as having the nation’s top WR class for 2016. That’s saying something given that UGA has signed umpteen gazillion receivers and might even land 1-2 more.
The Trojans not only won the commitment race as expected for Vaughns yesterday, but they also named the top receiver in Alabama in Velus Jones, Jr. and arguably the state of Georgia’s best all-around WR in Josh Imatorbhebhe out of North Gwinnett.
That Tee Martin fella is earning those frequent flier miles in the Deep South as usual.
9. Who’s up next?
The Laguins and Vaughn announcements will settle things on the recruiting front for about a week or so. The next scheduled commitment dates for major UGA targets will be Alabama 5-star DE Marlon Davidson and 4-star Woodward Academy RB Elijah Holyfield.
Wish there was a single web page out there so you could keep up with all of that on your own? Well, click here and your day will get just a little bit better.
FILM STUDY: What does Laguins bring to the table? See for yourself below.
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.
