Recruiting continues for No. 3-ranked Georgia Bulldogs

Chip Towers

The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Dec 16, 2021

Marvin Jones Jr.

Georgia needed to close hard Wednesday to be able to hold onto its No. 1 recruiting ranking.

It didn’t.

With four major recruiting prospects left on its board late in the afternoon, the Bulldogs went 1-for-4. In the process, they fell from No. 1 to 2 and finally to No. 3 in the 247Sports Composite national recruiting ranking on the first day of the early signing period for football. With Texas A&M and Alabama holding the first two spots, that’s third in the SEC as well.

But that’s not the end of the story.

The 2022 recruiting cycle won’t end until Feb. 2. At least three other prospects who are committed to the Bulldogs have put off their signings until that date, which is still considered “National Signing Day.” They include 4-star running back Jordan James of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; 4-star outside linebacker Darris Smith of Appling County; and 3-star wide receiver Dillon Bell of Houston, Texas.

In the meantime, two other UGA targets signed their national letters-of-intent Wednesday but won’t reveal their choices until Jan. 8. Those included 4-star offensive tackle Earnest Greene of Bellflower, Calif., and 4-star defensive lineman Christen Miller. They are going to reveal their decisions during the broadcast of the All-American Bowl high school all-star game in San Antonio. Georgia is thought to lead for both.

The point is, it’s not over until it’s over. And in the inexact science that is recruiting evaluation, it’s not like No. 3 is ranking of which to be ashamed. Should the Bulldogs remain right where they are, it will be the sixth consecutive year they’ve finished third or better in the national ratings.

But there’s no sugarcoating the defeats Georgia suffered late in the day Wednesday. Some of them were expected, others not so much.

Four-star cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew to Texas A&M is something the Bulldogs saw coming for a while, even though he was their longest-committed prospect for the Class of 2022.

What they didn’t see coming – at least until very late in the process – was 5-star safety Kamari Wilson and 4-star linebacker Shemar James going to Florida. Those were tough losses not only because they were heading to an SEC East rival, but because they play positions of great need in Georgia’s 2022 class.

Even with those two late flips, the Gators ended the day ranked 50th in the 247Sports composite, or nine spots behind Georgia Tech.

The Bulldogs also remained in pursuit to the very end for Collins Hill 5-star cornerback Travis Hunter, the top player in the state. Hunter, a longtime FSU commit, shocked the world by signing with Deion Sanders’ Jackson State program.

Georgia also lost out on a highly sought target in safety Deyon “Smoke” Bouie of Bainbridge. Not only was coach Kirby Smart unable to lock down a coveted player from his alma mater, but he watched Bouie also land with the Aggies.

That said, Georgia’s one win late in the day Wednesday was significant. In landing 5-star edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr., the Bulldogs got a player at a position of great need and also kept him away from Alabama, but they managed to beat out FSU for a significant legacy player. Jones Jr.’s father, Marvin “Shade Tree” Jones, was an All-American for the Seminoles before going on to an 11-year NFL career.

And while they suffered a couple of late losses on their recruitment of defensive backs, the ones the Bulldogs landed might be the best the program has ever assembled in one class. Daylen Everette, Julian Humphrey, Jaheim Singletary, Malaki Starks and JaCorey Thomas all will contend for playing time as freshmen.

“I’m proud of the group,” Georgia’s Smart said. “We feel like it’s spread out the way it should be, dispersed that way. We hit some needs that we needed. … It’s really a well-rounded class in terms of multiple-sport athletes, high academic achievers, top-ranked guy. I don’t really care about what they’re ranked. I care a whole lot more about how they play.”

RECRUITING TOP 10

  1. Texas A&M
  2. Alabama
  3. Georgia
  4. Ohio State
  5. Texas
  6. Penn State
  7. Notre Dame
  8. North Carolina
  9. Michigan
  10. Oklahoma

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