Ryan Puglisi understands opportunity, development awaits for him at Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. — Kirby Smart said on Wednesday what we all know to be true: quarterbacks are supposed to be the leader of your team and recruiting class. That’s exactly what Georgia got in Ryan Puglisi.

A four-star out of Avon Old Farms (Avon, Conn.) ranked the No. 9 quarterback in the county, Puglisi committed to Georgia in October of 2022. He had worked out for UGA coaches that summer and earned an offer from the Bulldogs. A little bit of an under-the-radar prospect, Puglisi committed and proceeded to cause no drama. All he did was lead.

“He’s a really intelligent, fun kid to be around,” Smart said of Puglisi on National Signing Day. “He’s been out here at practices, competing. He’s got a really live arm. He’s another one of these baseball guys that can catch it and get it out really fast, which I think is really important in today’s day and age.”

“The physical traits are size, speed, intelligence. For the intangible traits, character, what the kid’s makeup is,” Smart added. “The velocity with which he throws the ball, we’ve had guys that throw it hard, we’ve had guys that can’t throw it hard. They’ve had different levels of success. The common denominator for us has been intelligence, ability to create and extend plays. So we look at all those things.”

Puglisi, who’s on campus already and going through practices ahead of Georgia’s appearance in the Orange Bowl as Smart noted, walks into a quarterback room where he’s one of three scholarship players. While former five-star Brock Vandagriff entered the transfer portal and found a new home at Kentucky and Puglisi’s once fellow quarterback commit Dylan Raiola flipped late and signed with Nebraska, Carson Beck announced his return for another season in Athens this week. That, assuming health, will have him as the starter and likely puts Puglisi third on the depth chart behind Gunner Stockton.

That’s okay to him though according to Smart. He’s not worried about a starting spot or early playing time. Instead, he understands what’s best for him is to sit back, watch and learn from one of the country’s best while developing his own game at the same time. Furthermore, he’s seen Kirby Smart and Georgia execute that plan to perfection before and has belief that they can do it again.

“He came down here, Ryan came down here, I bet 5 or 6 times. He checked the box every time for the right kind of kid, the right kind of competitor,” Smart said. “He’s embraced the part about learning. He sees himself as a guy that needs to come in and develop under a system. He’s seen Carson’s success, so I think he understands that. He wants to grow and get better.”

“He’s a great kid from what I’ve seen. Super nice, likes talking to people, he’s going to fit in well here,” Georgia tight end Oscar Delp added. “Just from what I’ve seen out there at practice, he looks like a great quarterback. Excited that he’s here, and really happy to have him here.”

Puglisi was one of 28 total signees announced on Wednesday for National Signing Day. He was the only quarterback after Georgia initially planned to try and take two in the class. Smart said that the ideal number for the Bulldogs is four scholarship players at the position and what comes next for them with just three set for 2024 will be something that “(they) have to think long and hard about.” He did not however believe that Beck’s return affected the recruiting situation.

The Bulldogs’ Class of 2024 ranks No. 1 in the country and features a trio of five-star plus+ players and nine top-100 prospects with half of the class, including Puglisi, coming in ranked inside the top-150.

For more on Georgia’s signing class and all things Bulldogs as they prepare for the Orange Bowl), be sure to check out the DawgsHQ YouTube channel!