Georgia Football: Getting to know DT target Rick Sandidge
Georgia Football fans have had a lot to cheer about on the recruiting trail this winter already, but Rick Sandidge could help make this class special.
After cleaning up back in December, you’d be forgiven for thinking that recruiting season was over for the Georgia Football team. Kirby Smart signed 20 players. 6 of whom were 5-star players. No, you didn’t read that wrong, 6. That means that UGA currently has the number 1 recruiting class in the country.
But there are still a few more spots to go and UGA is fighting hard to get the best possible players to fill them. With national signing day now 10 days away, I thought I’d start diving into some of the names that Dawg fans should know.
Right now, it looks like the Dawgs have either 4 or 5 spots (depending who you believe) up for grabs in this class. They seem to be actively recruiting about 8 or 9 players for those positions. So let’s take a quick look at another of those players who could end up in Athens.
Rick Sandidge could be just what the doctor ordered.
If there is one area that Georgia might need to strengthen in the 2018 class, it’s the defensive front. With Trenton Thompson leaving, UGA there is going to be a gap in the 2018 rotation. That gap could be even bigger in 2019 is Tyler Clark continues to impress. He and Julian Rochester could both potentially leave early if next year goes well.
Right now, UGA has only signed one defensive tackle in the last 2 classes. Devonte Wyatt is already on campus and should make an early impact, but Georgia needs more depth. Rick Sandidge is the best player at that position group still on the board for UGA. The question is, will they be able to get him.
Sandidge is from North Carolina but his mother went to the University of South Carolina. The Gamecocks have led for much of his recruiting and are considered the favorite to land him. He would instantly become the highest ranked player in their 2018 class should he sign.
But Georgia does have a good pitch. Not only do they have a program that is poised to challenge for titles, but they also have defensive line coach Tray Scott. Scott and Sandidge are very close, dating back to Scotts time at UNC.
Sandidge is an explosive player who is similar in size and style to Tyler Clark. He has a long way to go of course to make that sort of impact, but he’s the same blueprint. I have no doubt that if he does come to UGA, Scott will get him to that level, he’s shown that he can coach them up.
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Hopefully, this is a battle UGA wins over South Carolina. Getting another talented lineman into our rotation who can eventually start is exactly what this team needs to finish this class. It’s not a sure win, but there is a chance that Sandidge ends up in Athens. If that happens, he could well be a guy that we’re all talking about in just a few years.