Kyle is pessimistic on Georgia Football’s chance of signing the nation’s top QB in the 2018 class. I am not.
Related Story: Fields isn't coming to UGA.
As the high school football season kicked off last week, you can almost see the play between the hedges. A lot of Georgia Football fans however, are already thinking ahead. Last Friday, the nations #1 high school QB Justin Fields had a heck of a first game in his senior season. He accounted for 6 touchdowns in his teams first game. He looks like the kind of dual threat player that fans dream of.
He’s a hometown kid and his younger sister is going to be playing softball for UGA in 2019. That seems to be enough for a lot of fans to think that he’s going to commit to Georgia. Earlier today, Kyle wrote a great piece about why Fields would not choose Georgia. He’s one of the highest rated prospects in the country and he likely will want to play early. Georgia is the only school that is recruiting him that currently is loaded at QB. In Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm, UGA have 2 5-star QB’s already on their roster. Why would Fields go there and sit for 3 years?
I don’t think he’s going to sit.
Here’s the thing, I don’t think Fields will sit if he comes to UGA. At least, I think that’s the line the Georgia coaches are feeding him. Fields is a true dual threat QB, who might be an even better thrower than his is athlete. Considering he runs the 40 yard dash in 4.51 seconds, that’s impressive.
UGA could use that ability in his freshman season. Is he going to start over a then Junior Jacob Eason? No he’s not, but he doesn’t need to. Georgia can find a way to get him in the game 3 – 5 times a game, much liek Florida did with Tim Tebow back in his first year. Then, if all goes to plan and Eason heads to the NFL, Fields has a chance to battle Jake Fromm for the starting job in his sophomore year.
Being UGA QB is going to be a great gig.
Whoever wins that job and starts in 2019, is going to be a very happy QB. The UGA offense is going to be loaded. Look at the talent that Georgia is briging in on the offensive line. It’s going to be one of the biggest, nastiest units in the country in a couple of years. Sam Pittman is one of the best line coaches in the country and he is bringing in the best players he can find. Whoever plays behind that line, is going to get incredible protection.
They are also going to have weapons. Lots and lots of weapons. 2017’s class had some impressive receivers like JJ Holloman and Mark Webb, both of whom will be just Juniors in 2019. This years class has 2 impressive slot receivers in Elijah Moore and Kearis Jackson. In 2019, the talent base just keeps on growing. Jadon Haselwood and Dominick Blaylock are the nations 2 best receivers that year. Both are committed to the bulldogs.
The running back position will also be stacked with D’Andre Swift and Zamir White and possibly others. It’s safe to say that there is going to be talent up and down this roster for the duration of Fields’ tenure should he pick UGA. Whoever wins this job is going to have all the tools to win championships. All of which is going to help that QB be a very high NFL draft pick.
Iron sharpens Iron.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that while having 2 5 star QB’s on the roster could be a problem, to me, UGA still has a great pitch to make for Fields. I remain a big believer in the idea that ‘Iron sharpens Iron’ and that Fields or Fromm would both be better QB’s if they battled for the job in 2019. That’s especially true if both of them want to play on Sundays. In the NFL, someone is constantly coming in and trying to take your job. Winning a battle like this in college is the best prep a future pro could have.
Next: 2018 class continues to grow.
Ultimately, I still think UGA has a chance to win this recruitment battle. I’m not going to say Fields will be defintley be a dawg, but if I had to bet, I’d put my money on the red and black. Georgia has a unique opportunity that it can offer him and it’s one that I strongly believe he should consider. All we can do now is sit back, and see whether Kyle or myself was right. Considering the wacky world of recruiting, I think we’re both glad, we never put any money on it…