Georgia recruiting rundown with DawgsHQ

There have been few, if any, teams that have gotten off to a better start to the 2021 season than Georgia. The No. 2 Bulldogs are 5-0 with victories over a then-top-five ranked team in Clemson and then-top-10 ranked outfit in Arkansas.

That hot streak has translated to the recruiting trail. The Bulldogs are building an elite class that has the potential to be the best one in the nation when it is all said and done. On3 talked with DawgsHQ recruiting writer Jake Reuse to chat about who the most important targets still remaining for Georgia, why defensive back is the position of need in the cycle and more.

Who is the most important target still on Georgia’s recruiting board?

Jake Reuse: I think when you’re talking about the most important targets for Georgia left — oh gosh — they’ve got a number of guys out there really. A couple that come to mind for me would be wide receiver Luther Burden (No. 90 in the On300). I think that they want to continue to boost the ranks back there at the wide receiver position. That’s been a big focus for them, keeps the playmakers rolling. They don’t have anybody that’s quite that highly rated yet so Burden would be a huge hit for them. Then I think you want to turn your attention also to the offensive line. Earnest Greene (No. 131) is a guy that they feel good about and would definitely like to reel in. Then on the defensive side of the ball, they’re looking at some pass rushers. Shemar Stewart (No. 11) is a major name for them to watch. Mykel Williams (No. 5) as well.

What is the most important position(s) still to fill and the main targets to fill those spots?

Jake Reuse: There’s a lot of focus, I would say, on the defensive backfield right now. They’re gonna lose a lot of experience there, probably three starters at the position — well, probably four guys who played significant snaps this year. A fifth if you count Latavious Brini at the star position. You’re losing Chris Smith. You’re probably gonna lose Lewis Cine to the draft. You lose Darien Kendrick. You’re gonna lose Brini and then Ameer Speed as well. They’ve really gone hard at the defensive back spot. They’ve got several commits already there: Marquis Groves-Killebrew (No. 124), Malaki Starks (No. 9), JaCorey Thomas (four stars). But they’re still pushing hard for some of the nation’s best. Kamari Wilson (No. 142), a safety out of IMG, is a big focus. Jaheim Singletary (No. 35) out of Jacksonville. Julian Humphrey (No. 229) is another guy that they’re trying to flip pretty hard. He’s a Florida commit out of the state of Texas. They’re working that one incredibly hard. It feels like really there’s a lot of onus on that, that defensive back spot.

How many will Georgia sign in this class and why? Will they hold some spots for the transfer portal?

Jake Reuse: It’s been really tough to kind of gauge that because I’ll tell you this: They’ve proven themselves to be real masters of working both the portal and numbers and commits. I expect at this point Georgia to take a full class every year and I don’t know how those numbers will end up shaking out given some of these NCAA changes we’re seeing to account for transfer spots. But I do think that they’re gonna play to sign 25 before it’s all said and done/ They normally do hold a couple of spots for after the early signing period but I think it’s gonna just depend on how they feel about these guys and who’s ready to really roll. But I do think, before all said and done, 25 in the class and then work the transfer portal from there.

Who is the most important commitment in the 2022 class for Georgia and why?

Jake Reuse: Well let me pull that up real quick, Because I’m gonna forget somebody if I don’t. Let’s see. I would say probably right now, it feels like maybe it’s Malaki Starks just because he’s the lone five star commit of the group, and he plays a premium position for them which is that defensive back spot. He’s a guy who has been a leader for them. In this class, a guy who lives 20 minutes up the road from Athens so he’s always able to get the games and always helps with recruiting. Because of how much experience they’re losing in that defensive backfield, right now, I think, Starks probably holds that title as the top guy. Right behind him, I’d say Branson Robinson (No. 69) because they’re gonna lose a couple of running backs after this season as well so they definitely want to restock there and make sure that they’re able to continue that bread and butter running game that they call their own.

What are recruits saying about Georgia’s start to the season?

Jake Reuse: They’ve been pretty blown away. I think the kids are really impressed with what Georgia has been able to do. Clearly from a defensive standpoint, I think that, anybody who’s watched Georgia has been able to take that away and say this is an elite defense in the NCAA ranks and kids are responding to that. I think you’ve seen guys like Shemar Stewart kind of re-up his interest in Georgia because of that defensive performance. But on the other side of the ball, offensively, I think they’re doing a great job as well. And that’s really connecting with kids, especially kids who wanted to see them open the passing game a little bit more over the years. Georgia’s known as a run-first team, but they really kind of taken to the air this year and had a lot of success doing it. I think a lot of these tight end and receiver commits, especially are taking big notice of that. I think that’s gonna pay dividends also.

What will be the biggest recruiting surprise for Georgia between now and the early signing period?

Jake Reuse: If they’re able to keep on their current pace and keep the way that they’re playing, I think they’ve got a legitimate shot to pull off several flips in this class. I think that they can really get in and affect some top players in some other schools. I think that they’ve got a real chance to do that. They’ve had a lot of visitors from other schools Kojo Antwi (No. 239) from Ohio State’s been to visit. Travis Hunter (No. 2) was in Athens last week. Aliou Bah (No. 276), a Florida State commit, came up this past weekend. They haven’t been shy about hosting other people’s recruits, and I think if the trajectory continues for this team, they’ve got a real shot at flipping several guys.

Which Georgia coach has done the best job recruiting in the 2022 class?

Jake Reuse: It’s pretty hard not to give some credit at this point I think to Jahmile Addae, the defensive backs coach. He’s a guy who you know has come in and connected with kids right off the bat and, like I said, has Georgia in the thick of it for top targets that were on board even prior to his arrival. There’s been no drop off at the defensive back spot. He’s been able to keep guys committed, and, like I said, I think that he’s got them in a really good position for some of the nation’s best and feels good about their opportunity to to get those guys involved.