Mitchell Wasson thought hard about UGA earlier this year but decided to become a preferred walk-on at Alabama.

Yet he reversed course on that decision this week and decided he wanted to stay in-state after all. Wasson chose to commit to UGA on Wednesday evening. He will become a preferred walk-on at UGA and compete with others for the starting nod at kicker.

He told DawgNation on Wednesday evening that UGA continued to recruit him even after he decided to commit to Alabama.

“I loved it there on my official (visit) and it is a great school,” Wasson said.

The ability to stay in-state and be on the Hope Scholarship was a major factor for Wasson. He made the decision to enroll at UGA this fall over interest in Alabama and Florida.

The senior from Lassiter High School in Metro Atlanta announced his decision on social media.

Wasson fills a need because Marshall Morgan exhausted his eligibility this season and UGA did not sign a scholarship kicker for the Class of 2016. Wasson told DawgNation that Smart told him that the kicker who wins the job in the fall with still have to do well in games to earn a scholarship.

How did the coaches at UGA react to the news?

“They are super pumped,” he said.

Things to know about Wasson:

  • He said the longest field goal he has made was a 57-yarder in practice
  • He weighed in at 180 pounds at Athens and has clocked a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash
  • Wasson also played soccer with Blankenship growing up in Cobb County
  • His mother went to South Carolina and he grew up a fan of that program
  • He plans to be a business major in college

Unless otherwise indicated, player rankings and ratings are from the 247Sports Composite.

Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and 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.