Georgia football: Two recruits who’ll make the 2019 class better than 2018
Georgia football just signed one of the best recruiting classes ever on National Signing Day. But the 2019 might be even better than 2018.
Kirby Smart has built a wall around the state of Georgia to keep the top recruits home. That’s a big reason why Georgia football signed the no. 1 recruiting class in the nation. And why the incumbant Alabama Crimson Tide fell to seventh according to 247 Sports. Bama didn’t sign a single player from Georgia.
Being the only powerhouse program in the state means all the top talent either comes to Georgia or they leave the state. And thanks to Smart, a lot of these kids aren’t considering leaving. We began to see that in 2017. It was huge for Georgia signing the top class earlier this month.
But Georgia might surpass that effort in 2019. And here are three recruits who’s commitment and eventual signing will ensure Georgia retains the no. 1 spot in the recruiting rankings.
OLB – Owen Pappoe
Georgia already as a wealth of linebackers, signing Owen Pappoe would just be ridiculous. But we would never turn down the chance to sign the no. outside linebacker and no. 7 player overall. Pappoe is from Loganville, just an hour from Athens. And he’s a rising senior at Grayson High School, a program that has become quite the D1 pipeline in recent years.
I’m a guy that hates comparing future stars to all-time greats, especially high school athletes. But watching Pappoe’s highlights, he looks like another Roquan Smith. Remember, Smith was also a an outside backer in high school. Pappoe gets to the ball much like how Smith did. He either makes a beeline, or he sheds blockers quickly. He’s going to get the tackle.
DT – Travon Walker
Georgia also has wealth at defensive line. The Bulldogs have gone two or three-deep on the entire defensive line for a couple years now. That’s not going to change in 2018, and a player like Travon Walker will ensure it won’t change for a very long time.
Walker is listed as a defensive tackle. But at 6’4 255, if he doesn’t somehow add 50 pounds while keeping his athleticism, he’ll probably be a defensive end in a college 3-4 system like ours. With his dimesnions, he’s already difficult to block. Add in athleticism and tackling ability and you’re looking at the total package for a 3-4 defensive end.
Next: Three stories to follow post National Signing Day
If Georgia can get commitments from Walker and Pappoe, they’ll have four of the top five players in the state staying home. Walker is the no. 5 player in Georgia and the no. 3 defensive tackle in the nation.