Commitment superlatives from the state of Georgia

The last weekend of June was a big one for some of the top prospects in the state of Georgia. June saw a heavy dose of official visits and with it a litany of commitments.

Many of the top players in the Peach State came off the board. The class of 2024’s story isn’t over in Georgia, but it feels like a good time to open the presents and take a look at what is what after multiple big-time prospects have pledged to their college intentions.

Mr. Home Run – 4-star TE Amir Jackson, Florida commit

Kyle Pitts’ last season in Gainesville has left Florida in search of a replacement. Portal (Ga.) four-star tight end Amir Jackson will draw comparisons immediately.

At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds Jackson has a ways to go physically to match Pitts getting off the bus but the outline and tool kit are there.

Jackson could be a boom player for the Gators in a few years. He’ll have an elite-caliber quarterback that will be able to throw him the football in D.J. Lagway.

Jackson’s basketball background is clear in his football film. He’s a jump ball specialist at the high school level. He will be asked to do a lot of the same in college. Jackson is the home run because Florida has a history of a player with his skillset working, there’s a quarterback in place and there is a path to the field early on while also room to grow over the next few seasons.

Mr. Perfect Fit – Five-star LB Sammy Brown, Clemson commit

Jefferson (Ga.) five-star linebacker Sammy Brown chose the Tigers over the hometown Georgia Bulldogs. Brown fits Clemson perfectly.

The first is the culture. Brown and his family lean heavily on their faith. Dabo Swinney has been out front on leading his program through his faith and the values that come with it.

Brown could fill a need early. Clemson has a duo of Barrett Carter and Jeremiah Trotter manning the middle right now. Dee Crayton and Jamal Anderson signed in the class of 2023.

Brown could come in and compete alongside Crayton and Anderson in 2024 should Trotter and Carter head to the NFL after 2023.

Clemson has loaded up on young defensive line talent. Many of those players will be in year two when Brown gets to campus. As a linebacker with elite speed, Brown could be extremely productive as he’ll have a lot of free runs with a combination of Peter Woods, Stephiylan Green, Vic Burley, Tomarrion Parker and fellow class of 2024 star Hevin Brown-Shuler coming into their own in 2024.

Mr. Safe Bet – Four-star DL Justin Greene, Georgia commit

Lawrenceville (Ga.) Mountain View four-star defensive lineman Justin Greene didn’t have a lot of noise around his recruitment.

He was set to take multiple official visits in June. He made it to one as he took his official visit to Georiga and committed. Greene’s makeup makes him one of the safe players in the 2024 class.

Greene works hard. He’s a head-down and work type of player. He’s physical and he’s going into Georiga looking to fill a major position of need. Georgia was in need of five technique. Greene fits that bill.

He’ll play early and improve consistently over time.

Mr. Overachiever – Three-star CB Jivan Baly, NC State commit

Lawrenceville (Ga.) Meadowcreek cornerback Jivan Baly has been a productive high school football player for three-plus years. He’s only ranked as the No. 916 overall prospect in the On3 Industry rankings.

He’s earned a reputation as a playmaker in the Gwinnett County area. Baly has a knack for just making plays. His measurables don’t scream superstar. Baly breaks on the football and recognizes routes well as an outside cornerback.

Baly has been a consistent playmaker wherever he’s been. NC State jumped in and landed the three-star prospect on Sunday. Baly fits the mold of one of those guys that just makes play after play and he keeps advancing through the ranks until he’s had an eight-year NFL career.

He has confidence and he’s not afraid to let opponents know about what makes him tick. NC State could be a strong fit as a place where Baly can develop physically and thrive with his playmaking ability.

Mr. Upside – CJ Jackson and Jordan Floyd Georgia Tech commits

Both Tucker (Ga.) four-star edge CJ Jackson and three-star offensive tackle Jordan Floyd are undergoing physical changes that will have them looking very different by the start of year two of college.

Both players pledged to in-state Georgia Tech this month. Jackson is a top 100 prospect in On3’s rankings. He burst on the scene in 2022 with a strong, 12-sack season. Jackson is still adding size and sharpening new tools in 2023.

He’s working on being a more complete ‘Jack’ linebacker moving toward the next level. Jackson is also a little heavier than he was at the start of 2022.

Floyd was a 220-pound basketball player at the start of the year in 2022. He’s pushing 280 pounds and focused on football in 2023. Floyd has the length and the feet of a post player making him and intriguing offensive tackle.

In a few years of college-level training, it will be intriguing to see the physical growth and how his technique shapes up at the college level.

Mr. Production – Four-star TE Jamie Tremble Syracuse commit

Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan four-star tight end Jamie Tremble is going into a situation to be a productive playmaker. The Orange have a tight end in Oronde Gadsen II.

Tremble has a lot of the same attributes that have helped Gadsen explode as a key piece of Syracuse’s offense.

Tremble will have some time to develop physically behind Gadsen. When his time comes he could be a regular target in Syracuse’s offense.

Mr. Foundation – Ashton Woods

Alpharetta (Ga.) Walton four-star linebacker Ashton Woods has played in a lot of high-level high school football games in Georgia’s highest classification.

Woods got a lot of consideration for ‘Mr. Production’. He tallied 128 tackles, five sacks and one interception.

There is more to Woods than his production. Going into North Carolina, Woods has a chance to be a foundational piece of North Carolina’s defense. That’s partly because of his physical tools and his makeup.

At 6-foot-4, 220-pounds Woods has the ability to solve multiple problems on defense. He’s big and long enough to be impactful in passing lanes.

Woods is also an instinctual football player. He diagnoses things well and could act as a major communicator on a defense. Woods is a throwback in the sense that he leads with his toughness.

Woods played with a club on his hand late last season. He also arrives at the ball carrier with bad intentions. He’ll be an easy player for Mack Brown to point at as a guy doing the right things on and off the field.

Mr. Early Impact – 4-star CB Zion Ferguson, North Carolina commit, 4-star OL Caleb Holmes, Pittsburgh commit

Gainesville (Ga.) four-star cornerback Zion Ferguson flipped his commitment from LSU to North Carolina over the weekend. Ferguson has been playing all over the field for Gainesville this spring.

He could do some of the same for North Carolina early in his college career.

North Carolina is close to family for Ferguson, that comfort as well as his size could give him and opportunity to have an early impact in Chapel Hill.

Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside four-star offensive lineman Caleb Holmes has played a lot of football as well. He has size an athleticism that had multiple SEC schools involved in his recruitment.

Holmes could help Pittsburgh immediately have a lasting impact on the Panthers’ offensive front over three or four years.