Georgia Football Adds Four Star Local Linebacker: What Are the Dawgs Getting? (video)
Local four-star linebacker Jakeel Laguins brings Georgia football a step – or two or threee – closer to a 2015 top five recruiting class.
Related: Hey What’s That Comin’ Down the Track
On the eve of his committement announcement, home town Georgia recruiting target Jaleel Laguins (6’2” 213, Watkinsville, Oconee County High) traveled to Auburn.
More from Georgia Football
- Georgia Football: Top 5 Nick Chubb Moments at Georgia
- Georgia Football: Know the enemy UAB Blazers
- Georgia Football: Should laundry list of injuries be a cause to panic?
- Georgia Football: Report cards for Week 3 game against South Carolina
- Georgia football: Sunday afternoon thoughts and feelings
“It went great, just like how all of the Auburn visits go,” Laguins told Chris Kirschner of dawgnation.com.
Michael Carvell, dawgnation.com recruiting analyst, went so far as to change his commitment prediction for Laguins from Georgia to Auburn.
But in the end, Laguins chose the Dawgs.
Auburn, as well as Tennessee, Florida and Nebraska tempted Laguins.
“Maybe it’s not the hometown that’s best for me,” Laguins told the AJC. “Everybody wants you to stay at home. Maybe it’s best for me to branch out as a man and grow as a man and develop as a man, so I need to get away from home so I can think on my own.”
But Laguins chose the hometown Georgia Bulldogs, and Mark Richt continues his march toward a top five recruiting class.
Laguins brings more than his four stars across the Oconee River to Athens Town. He brings a friendship with two of the best players in the country, Archer ‘s four-star offensive tackle E.J. Price (6’6” 311Lawrenceville) and four-star cornerback Jamyest Williams (5’9 170, Lawrenceville).
Scout.com’s Dean Legge notes the pair attended a pre-season scrimmage to support Laguins. And with Georgia hot on the trail of the Archer pair, Laguins commitment is a big step toward gaining their signatures.
More from Dawn of the Dawg
- Georgia Football: Top 5 Nick Chubb Moments at Georgia
- Georgia Football: Know the enemy UAB Blazers
- Nick Chubb is America’s running back, and he will return
- Georgia Football: Should laundry list of injuries be a cause to panic?
- Georgia Football: Report cards for Week 3 game against South Carolina
As far as what Laguins brings to the Bulldog defense, Legge sees raw physical power that could become a “monster” inside linebacker at the college level.
Laguins tallied 64 tackles and four sacks last season. Tyler Donohue of bleacherreport.com finds Laguins blitzing abilities the highlight at this stage of his career and sees in Laguins another prize perimeter Georgia player.
“He fires downfield with tenacity.”
Georgia now holds 16 commitments for 2016, but just as significantly, has room for nine more. If Georgia can keep the home grown parade marching through Athens, the Dawgs will have back to back recruiting classes with the talent to compete with anyone.
Keep an eye on five-star defensive lineman Derrick Brown (6’4” 322, Buford, Lanier High), four star athlete Mecole Hardman (5’10”, 175, Elberton, Elbert County High) , and Laguins buddies Price and Williams. With these players within an hour of Athens, it is reasonable to believe the Dawgs will get them all.
If they do, the Dawgs could have locked down the necessary talent for several future SEC East crowns before Georgia targets Demetrious Robertson (6’1” 175, Savannah, Savannah Christian), the top athlete in the nation, Rashan Gary (6’4” 311, Paramus, NJ, Paramus Catholic), the top defensive lineman in the country, and Kyle Davis (6’1” 218, Lawrenceville, Archer) the top receiver in the country, and Isaac Nauta (6’4” 237, Bradenton, FL, IMG Academy), the top tight end in the country make a commitment decision.