Georgia commit superlatives from 2023 football season

Since the calender flipped from 2022 to 2023 this reporter has seen Georgia’s commits in a lot of different settings.

They all made impressions. The high school football season has come to an end in most places. That means it’s award season. Here at DawgsHQ, this reporter wants to give some flowers to a few future Bulldogs.

We’re a little over two weeks from the opening of the Early Signing Period. Eight superlatives need to be handed out.

Most likely to make an immediate impact at Georgia

Five-star cornerback Ellis Robinson IV

The Skinny: Robinson checks every box as an elite cornerback prospect. He’s got long arms. Robinson is physical. Not many can bully him and create separation with physicality alone. Watching him at the OT7 Finals in Los Angeles over the summer was one of the highlights of the year. Robinson had a legendary battle with five-star Jeremiah Smith. Robinson gave up a jump ball against the taller and heavier Smith. He ended the game with an instinctive interception. Georgia’s secondary could see a few key names head to Sunday football. Regardless, Robinson will be a player in practice that does things in a professional manner. It will be tempting to put him out on the field just to see what happens. He’s buttoned up fundamentally and there’s still room to grow with a lot of raw physical talent as well.

Most physical upside

Raymore (Mo.) Raymore-Peculiar four-star tight end Jaden Reddell

The Skinny: The first answers to this were the trio of Chris Cole, Joseph Jonah-Ajonye and Jordan Thomas. All three of those players have physical traits that could make them high draft picks someday. Then, I began to weigh the potential impact. Watching Georgia the last three years has proven just how important the tight end position is to the Bulldogs offense. What if I told you there was a bigger, stronger clone of Brock Bowers out there? You’d probably laugh and deny. Then I’d show you this 6-foot-4, 235-pound monster jumping over people, running through tackles, creating space with nothing but his speed, running go routes and snagging the football with one hand. Adding Reddell to the offense is going to be a jolt. His speed and size could make him not an option on the field, but a potential centerpiece type player at some point.

Most underrated commit

Swainsboro (Ga.) four-star cornerback Demello Jones

The Skinny: Most of Georgia’s commits are ranked high. That’s the norm. Jones is one player who has spent a lot of his high school career without a lot of fanfare. His rankings came. He’s still a bit of a mystery to the nation at large. Watching him in a football game, Jones is regularly the best player on the field. He plays quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, safety, returns kicks and he can pass. Those types of players tend to translate to the college level. Jones has all the speed he needs and he carries the physicality needed to play every secondary position known. Jones is a player who could end up as one of those players who play a lot of football in Athens before becoming a full-time starter. He’ll play a lot of special teams and then turn into a reliable starter because he keeps excelling at that. Earlier this year, I drew a comparison to current Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter.

Likeliest team captain

Avon (Conn.) Avon Old Farms four-star quarterback Ryan Puglisi

The Skinny: Being a captain is more than standing at the coin toss deciding heads or tails. It’s the top spot. It’s the guy that takes the fall (Any Given Sunday recall). Captains tend to be the guys everyone loves and relies upon to do the right thing. Puglisi isn’t a loud personality. He just kind of has that natural thing that attracts people to him. During the Elite 11, Puglisi was usually surrounded by the other quarterbacks. He’s a polite, supportive and hardworking individual. Puglisi is still growing and maturing as a player but he’s very mature as a person. Once his time comes under center in Athens, those intangible things could align with strong play on the field and make him someone that coaches and players alike grow endeared to, thus making him one of the guys in the running to be a captain.

Fan Favorite

Cartersville (Ga.) Cass three-star wide receiver Sacovie White

The Skinny: White is an in-state player who locked into Georgia early. He loves Georgia. He is also a playmaker. White backs down from nothing or nobody and he takes pride in making big plays when everyone is watching. He will be an easy player to enjoy watching. White plays above the rim despite standing just under 5-foot-9.

Most intimidating commit

Roswell (Ga.) Walton four-star IOL Daniel Calhoun

The Skinny: Getting off the bus and in pre-game, Calhoun is a head-turner. The four-star stands 6-foot-6, 370 pounds. He usually wears a visor and a neck roll. That gives him even more of an intimidating persona. On film, Calhoun consistently pancakes whoever is near him. This one is self-explanatory.

Voice of the program

Buford (Ga.) five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola

The Skinny: Raiola has all the tools of a franchise-changing quarterback. That includes a professional knack for leading the physical team and being in front of the media. Raiola’s father spent over a decade in the NFL. He’s used to the media. Raiola will have a lot of expectations and hype coming into Athens. He’s got the mental makeup to live up to it and the talent to be a centerpiece under center.

The Big Play

South Bend (Ind.) Northwood four-star wide receiver NiTareon Tuggle

The Skinny: Four-star running backs Nathaniel Frazier and Dwight Phillips are definitely home run threats because of their speed. Tuggle got the edge here because he’s got a flare for the dramatic. He’s an exciting playmaker that makes circus catches down the football field. Tuggle can also take an intermediate pass and go the distance. He’s a constant thought in the defense’s head during the game. He’s the guy you’re circling and hoping to limit his touches because if he gets enough of them, one will be harmful.