Georgia secures commitment of nation's No. 1 defensive lineman Elijah Griffin
It was a long road for Five-Star Plus+ defensive lineman Elijah Griffin, but today, the wait is over, as the 6-foot-4, 300 pound star announced his commitment to the Georgia Bulldogs during his official visit to Athens.
Griffin, who hails from Pooler, Georgia and Savannah Christian Preparatory School, ranks as the nation’s No. 6 overall prospect for the Class of 2025 per the On3 Industry Ranking. He is also the nation’s No. 1 defensive lineman and No. 1 prospect in the state of Georgia for the cycle by the same measure.
He chose the Bulldogs over the likes of Miami and USC.
While his commitment to the Bulldogs may not have been a major surprise as he was considered a heavy lean throughout his recruitment, it is still a major coup for Kirby Smart and Tray Scott, who’d long courted the standout defender.
“With Georgia, it started in the eighth grade,” Griffin told DawgsHQ’s Jeremy Johnson in September.
Since that time, Griffin has returned to Athens for numerous visits.
“…I have been to Georgia so many times and I know what I want in a program and I know what I am looking for. Georgia has answered those questions to be honest,” Griffin told On3’s Chad Simmons earlier this season.
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Among the questions answered were what the future might hold for the coveted defender in Athens, and it was a response that rang true with him.
“The Georgia coaches never say I will start if I go there. They always say there is an opportunity to come in and work and earn that spot, but nothing will be given to me and that speaks to me. Georgia always talks work and to stay humble and just be me. I like that a lot,” Griffin told Simmons.
Elijah Griffin becomes Georgia’s twenty-third commitment of the Class of 2025 and the third defensive line pledge of the cycle, joining three-star prospects Stephon Shivers and Jayden-Jamal Hanne on the list.
On3 Scouting Report on Elijah Griffin
Highly athletic, disruptive defensive lineman who looks like the top prospect along the defensive front entering his senior season. One of the top defensive line prospects in several cycles. Measured at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds with 34.5-inch arms and 10-inch hands prior to his senior season. Has continued adding mass and strength. Flies off the snap and darts into the backfield to create disruption with regularity. A very loose and fluid athlete, particularly at his size. Plays with outstanding leverage and body lean. Shows advanced hands at the point of attack and quickly neutralizes offensive linemen. Darts into the backfield to make plays behind the line of scrimmage at a high clip. Consistently wins in a phone booth with his combination of length, strength and first-step quickness. Has the speed in pursuit to track down running backs from the back side. Posted phenomenal production throughout his high school career, with 182 tackles, 61 tackles for loss and 35.5 sacks as a sophomore and junior. Shows his functional strength and short area explosion in track and field, where he’s posted a 52-2 foot throw in the shot put. Posts eye-popping numbers in the weight room, with a 405 pound bench press, 550+ pound squat and 315 pound clean prior to his junior season. Projects as a top defensive lineman with the ability to line up and disrupt from multiple spots on a defensive front.
