Kirby Smart has always been able to adapt to the situation and the moment. For as crazed and emotional as he can get on the sideline, and in pregame and halftime rants, when the Georgia coach is recruiting he’s more pragmatic.
So when Isaiah Gibson spurned Smart and his home-state school to commit to Southern California in March, what did Smart do? He wished him luck, stayed in contact, and lo and behold Gibson, the five-star edge from Warner Robins, Ga., flipped to Smart and the Bulldogs three months later.
GO DEEPER
Georgia adds top-50 edge Isaiah Gibson to 2025 class
Or what about when Justus Terry, another in-state five-star defensive player, flipped from Georgia to USC, also in March? It’s setting up to be the same story: Terry de-committed from Lincoln Riley and the Trojans last week, and few will be surprised if the Manchester, Ga., defensive lineman re-ups with the Bulldogs.
When you’re the recruiting behemoth that is Smart and Georgia you’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. Thus even when C.J. Wiley, a four-star receiver, committed to Florida State on Tuesday over Georgia, the expectation was the Bulldogs would remain in touch with the recruit from Alpharetta, Ga., until signing day.
This can work both ways: Georgia was reminded last December with five-star QB Dylan Raiola that it’s not over until the signature is on the letter. And anyone following college football knows that in the era of unlimited transfers, however long it lasts, nobody can exactly know what a roster will look like from year to year.
What is safe to assume is that with Smart in charge of roster management Georgia will be in good shape. The Bulldogs have had a top-three recruiting class in all but one cycle since 2017, and the one exception was when the team ranked fourth. They’ve been strategic in the transfer portal, one year taking nobody, but this year bringing in eight with a few to fill immediate needs (tailback Trevor Etienne, tight end Ben Yurocek, big receiver Colbie Young) and others for developmental reasons (quarterback Jaden Rashada and defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod).
As for traditional recruiting, Georgia stands at No. 3 in the team rankings for the 2025 class, as measured by the 247Sports Composite. That’s behind Ohio State and Alabama, which would indicate things still look pretty similar in the post-Nick Saban world. But there’s also plenty of time to go.
5⭐️ EDGE Isaiah Gibson has committed to Georgia…
Wow. A USC commit just a week ago, this one has been a long time coming. He’s that game-changing presence that the Dawgs look for. pic.twitter.com/mtyZxRuXrj
— J.C. Shelton (@JCShelton_) June 25, 2024
As summer recruiting remains in full swing, here are a few quick things to know as Georgia builds this class:
Is Justus Terry next?
Georgia has needed that interior run-stopper it’s lacked since Jalen Carter left after the 2022 season, and thus would love to add Terry to this year’s team. For now, it will hope veterans Nazir Stackhouse and Jordan Hall can become that guy and hope it can reel Terry back in for next year’s team.
Florida State, and maybe Alabama, could still have a say in that. Terry has not made any announcements on another commitment date. In the meantime, Georgia does have another top-100 defensive line recruit: Stephon Silvers from Humboldt, Tenn., who committed in March. Another five-star target is Elijah Griffin from Savannah, Ga.
Reloading on defense
Five-star linebacker Zayden Walker (Ellaville, Ga.) committed in early June. Gibson came three weeks later. The class also has four-stars Darren Ikinnagbon (edge), Jadon Perlotte (linebacker), Christian Garrett (defensive line) and Todd Robinson (safety). For most programs that would be a pretty good top end of the class on defense, but for Georgia it means there’s room for improvement.
Terry would help. Georgia is also in the running for Griffin and four-stars Jaylan Morgan (cornerback), Shamari Earls (a cornerback committed to South Carolina), Julius Holly (edge), Bryce Davis (edge) and Lagonza Hayward (safety), among others.
Skill positions
Missing on Wiley was another reminder that the program has had a tough time recruiting five-star receivers. (This story from February addresses whether it’s really that much of a problem when your three-stars include Ladd McConkey, Dillon Bell and AD Mitchell, and you keep bringing in transfers like Dominic Lovett, Rara Thomas and three more this year.)
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Why has Georgia not been able to land a 5-star WR or produce a 1,000-yard WR recently?
Not surprisingly, the highest-rated offensive commitment for Georgia is a tight end: Elyiss Williams (Kingsland, Ga.), who at 6-foot-7 could fill out and give people flashbacks to Darnell Washington. Four-star tight end Ethan Barbour (Alpharetta, Ga.), is also committed.
Receiver isn’t in bad shape even without Wiley: Four-star Talyn Taylor (Geneva, Ill.), committed a few weeks ago and at No. 71 in the Composite would be Georgia’s highest-ranked receiver signee since George Pickens. Two more four-stars are also committed: Thomas Blackshear (Savannah, Ga.) and Tyler Williams (Seffner, Fla.).
And yes, that’s another Tyler Williams from Florida, not to be confused with the four-star who signed in 2023 and has since transferred to Minnesota.
And on Thursday the Bulldogs added three-star Landon Roldan, which on its face may not seem exciting, but this is the program that has done well with three-star receivers.
Georgia and once-again receivers coach James Coley are still trying for others, notably four-star Travis Smith, who is due to announce next month. Not getting Wiley could help with Smith, an Atlanta recruit ranked just outside the top 100. Four-star Cameron Sparks (Chattanooga) is another potential addition, along with Wiley.
Bo Walker (Ellenwood, Ga.) is Georgia’s only running back commit right now, and while he’s only ranked 29th at the position, Georgia did sign three this past class, so depth would seem OK. Still, in the portal era that may not be enough.
Finally, four-star Ryan Montgomery (Findlay, Ohio) is the quarterback commit for this class, unless of course, JuJu Smith decides to be the latest Georgia native to flip from USC to the Bulldogs. It’s not likely at this point.
Offensive line
Georgia only has two commits so far: four-star Mason Short and three-star Dontrell Glover, both interior linemen. But the Bulldogs are the favorite for Cortez Smith, a top 100-ranked interior lineman from Snellville, Ga., and making a run at five-star David Sanders (Charlotte, N.C.), one of the top overall players in the class.
Offensive line coach Stacy Searels is also pursuing more blue-chippers, especially at tackle. Georgia has recruited some good depth the past few years and has been able to develop some very good offensive linemen. But, to reiterate, in the portal era, there’s only so much that planning gets you.
(Photo of Kirby Smart: Mady Mertens / USA Today)
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5597251/2024/06/28/georgia-college-football-recruiting-2025-class/
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Publish date : 2024-06-28 05:05:56
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