UGA recruiting: The September recap on the Bulldogs’ class
The most important things the Bulldogs could do this fall to help build momentum for the 2018 signing class was simple: Get off to a great start on the field.
Let’s put a green emoji check by that one. Especially if the Bulldogs leave Knoxville this weekend with a 5-0 record.
But it has already been a September to remember for Georgia so far. The on-field results and an impressive 4-0 start have the Bulldogs trending with just about every top prospect they hope to sign in the 2018 class.
UGA picked up its latest commitment on Sept. 24 when 3-star Aaron Brule’ (Archbishop Rummel / Metairie, La.) chose the Bulldogs over strong late interest from Mississippi State.
With 15 spots filled, the Bulldogs have 63 percent of their projected class for 2018. Look for UGA to sign 24 players this year.
That figure will also be impacted by the number of early departures to the 2018 NFL Draft and transfers to other programs.
Zamir White, the 5-star running back (Scotland County H.S./Laurinburg, N.C.) ranks as the top UGA commit and is the No. 6 overall player in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite.
The Bulldogs picked up three commitments this month. The breakdown has been as follows:
- April: 2
- May: 2
- June: 3
- July: 2
- August: 4
- September: 2
- Total: 15
Here’s the final September glance at where things stand for the 2018 class:
Where the UGA class ranks
Georgia’s 2018 class is ranked No. 14 nationally and No. 5 in the SEC. UGA is tied with Tennessee with the most 5-star commitments (1) so far in the conference. The Bulldogs also have the fourth-most 4-star commits in the SEC for this cycle.
The current commit board has 53 percent of the class rated with at least 4 stars.
UGA has 15 pledges for this cycle and the SEC teams ahead of them have 23, 17, 16, and 19 commits on their boards, respectively.
Latest news on UGA recruiting
In case you missed anything from this week, here are the latest headlines:
- FSU commit Robert Cooper thinks UGA has a slight shot at a flip
- DawgNation Invasion: Breaking down Florida vs. Georgia on the trail
- UPDATE: 5-star UGA target Jamaree Salyer changes up his top schools
- What was different for KJ Henry on his official visit?
- 5-star commit Nolan Smith on what lies ahead: ‘We are doing something special’
- Elite UGA targets Adam Anderson and Trey Hill added star power to weekend
- How did James Cook’s mother describe his official visit: ‘Bananas’
- UGA 5-star recruiting: Photos from Mississippi State win look very promising
- BREAKING: UGA lands commitment from versatile defender Aaron Brule’
- How does the nation’s No. 3 RB James Cook feel about his official visit?
- Milton masher Paul Tchio is already a name to know
The 2018 Georgia offers by the numbers
Note: UGA sent one new reported offer to a Class of 2018 prospect this week. That was to Brookwood 4-star standout Matthew Hill. Hill is committed to Auburn.
- Reported offers: 286
- 5-star offers: 21
- 4-star offers: 162
- 3-star offers: 100
- In-state recruits offered: 48
- Florida recruits offered: 73
- Texas recruits offered: 30
- Louisiana recruits offered: 12
- Alabama recruits offered: 12
- California recruits offered: 11
- Tennessee recruits offered: 11
Position-by-position offer breakdown
- Pro-Style Quarterbacks offered: 8
- Dual-threat Quarterbacks offered: 14
- All-purpose Running Backs offered: 5
- Running backs offered: 15
- Wide receivers offered: 48
- Tight ends offered: 12
- Offensive tackles offered: 24
- Offensive guards offered: 10
- Weak-side defensive ends offered: 16
- Strong-side defensive ends offered: 18
- Defensive tackles offered: 28
- Inside linebackers offered: 9
- Outside linebackers offered: 13
- Cornerbacks offered: 38
- Safeties offered: 18
- Athletes offered: 9
- Kickers offered: 1
- Punters offered: 1
Commits
(1 new commits this week)
- RB Zamir White, 5 stars, Laurinburg, NC
- OLB Azeez Ojulari, 4 stars, Marietta, Ga.
- WR Kearis Jackson, 4-stars, Fort Valley, Ga.
- DT Devonte Wyatt, 4-stars, Decatur, Ga. (Hutchinson CC/Hutchinson, Kan.)
- WR Elijah Moore, 4-stars, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- OLB Caleb Tannor, 4 stars, Lithonia, Ga.
- OG Warren Ericson, 4 stars, Suwanee, Ga.
- CB Chris Smith, 4 stars, Atlanta, Ga.
- LB/S Aaron Brule’, 3 stars, Metairie, La.
- OT Owen Condon, 3 stars, Oklahoma City
- DT Tramel Walthour, 3 stars, Hinesville, Ga.
- DE Jaevon Becton, 3 stars, Virginia Beach, Va.
- TE John FitzPatrick, 3 stars, Atlanta, Ga.
- S Rachad Wildgoose Jr., 3 stars, Miami, Fla.
- K/P Jake Camarda, 2 stars, Norcross, Ga.
The 5 top uncommitted UGA targets
5-star QB Justin Fields, Kennesaw, Ga.
Fields rates as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect for 2018. The 6-foot-3, 221-pound Fields can run a 4.51 laser in the 40-yard dash. The Under Armour All-American also has a 29 on his ACT and a 3.9 grade-point-average at Harrison High.
His decision, which should likely be made in the next two months, should come down to Auburn and Georgia. FSU is also in there somewhat. Fields has visited UGA at least three times since the season began and at least five times since mid-July.
It seems like the Bulldogs do have a lot of momentum here.
5-star OG Jamaree Salyer, Atlanta, Ga.
The Pace Academy senior ranks as the nation’s top offensive line prospect for this cycle. He’s a likely guard at the next level and DawgNation also projects his best Sunday position to be at center. The U.S. Army All-American is a close lifelong friend to promising UGA freshman OT Andrew Thomas.
Salyer, the highest-rated interior line prospect by the 247Sports composite since 2006, will take his first official visit to Florida for the LSU game on Oct. 4.
Clemson and Ohio State and Stanford are the other primary contenders. He recently told Dawgnation that Notre Dame and Ohio State will no longer get official visits. He will make his college decision known on Dec. 20. That’s the first day of the new NCAA early signing period.
4-star OLB Adam Anderson, Rome, Ga.
Anderson has de-committed from both UGA and LSU. Could the Bulldogs pull off a re-commit? Well, that’s the hope for Smart and the staff. Anderson ranks as the nation’s No. 2 OLB and also as the nation’s No. 44 overall prospect.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Anderson is a blur coming off the edge. He’s coy about what his true feelings are in regard to his top schools. DawgNation projects he has a top 3 of Alabama, Clemson and UGA. Tennessee is also gaining some attention at this time.
What stands out here: Acceleration. Length. Explosiveness. Toughness.
Anderson was at UGA for the Mississippi State game and will be in Tuscaloosa this weekend to watch Alabama take on Ole Miss.
You think 2018 DE Adam Anderson has #Hops? I wonder what his box jumps look like… pic.twitter.com/9v2AhPaiug
— Junior Baker NLR (@SouthernSwagg4) August 29, 2017
Anderson is well-coached by a strong staff of savvy football men at Rome High.
4-star OG Trey Hill, Warner Robins, Ga.
This big guy seems like an example of Georgia’s priority to stack up as many elite players up front as mathematically permissible by the 85-man scholarship cap. Hill, a former teammate of UGA freshman Jake Fromm at Houston County, rates as the nation’s No. 2 prospect at guard for 2018.
The 6-foot-3, 340-pound Hill has been told by UGA line coach Sam Pittman that he can contend for a spot at center right away. He rates as the nation’s No. 34 overall prospect for 2018.
He’s pretty tight-lipped about his favorites, but a sample size of Auburn, Clemson, FSU and UGA seem to be the perceived teams to watch out for here.
5-star DE/OLB KJ Henry, Clemmons, NC.
Henry enters this list at No. 5 after taking his first official visit to UGA for the Mississippi State game.
The 6-foot-5.5, 235-pounder got to see UGA win big. That’s a stark contrast to the last time he saw the Bulldogs play in 2016. That was a tough loss to Vanderbilt on Homecoming. Henry’s five finalists are: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Virginia Tech and South Carolina.
He did appear to look very chummy with many current and potential future Bulldog commits on the sidelines last Saturday.
Look for his decision to come on Dec. 20 on the first day of the new early signing period. Henry rates as the nation’s No. 16overall prospect for 2018.
Just off this list: 4-star Notre Dame commit Derrik Allen; 4-star RB James Cook, 4-star Florida State DT commit Robert Cooper, 4-star TE Luke Ford, 4-star DB Tyreke Johnson, 4-star Michigan LB commit Otis Reese and 4-star DT Rick Sandidge.
The 2018 UGA recruiting position breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of the number of commits by position and how many are projected to be signed:
- QB: 0/1
- RB: 1/2 (White)
- TE: 1/2 (FitzPatrick)
- WR: 2/2 (Jackson, Moore)
- OL: 2/4 (Condon, Ericson)
- DL: 2/3 (Wyatt, Walthour)
- LB: 3/5 (Becton, Brule’, Ojulari, Tannor)
- CB: 1/2 (Smith)
- S: 1/2 (Wildgoose)
- P/K: 1/1 (Camarda)
Totals: 15/24
*-Ojulari ranks as a DE for this cycle, but he projects to play OLB at UGA.
Geographical UGA recruiting breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of the current UGA commits by state:
- Georgia: 9 (Camarda, Ericson, FitzPatrick, Jackson, Ojulari, Smith, Tannor, Walthour, Wyatt)
- Florida: 2 (Moore, Wildgoose)
- Louisiana: 1 (Brule’)
- North Carolina: 1 (White)
- Oklahoma: 1 (Condon)
- Virginia: 1 (Becton)
Miss any Intel? Well, the DawgNation recruiting archive will get you up to speed faster than junior All-American LB candidate Roquan Smith can find the football after the snap.
