Georgia Football: Why Travon Walker’s commitment matters

When Georgia Football got a commitment from defensive tackle Travon Walker, they got more than just a 5-star player, they changed a narrative.

Tuesday was a good day for Georgia Football fans. Travon Walker‘s commitment to UGA was a big moment for their 2019 class. His decision helped propel UGA to 5th right now in the 247 composite rankings. Once again, it looks like the Dawgs will be in the running for a top 3 class again this season.

Walker’s commitment, however, was about more than just getting a good player. His decision will lead to some ripple effects that will shape this class. To start with, he is the first 5-star defensive tackle that Kirby Smart has received a commitment from since he arrived back in 2016.

With August just a few days away, fans across the SEC are starting to get quite excited. Teams like South Carolina and Missouri are already starting to get a little bit too excited about their 2018 seasons. Florida and Tennessee also seem to assume that they will instantly be better under their new head coaches.

But here at UGA, things just keep chugging along. Our record-breaking 2018 signing class is in town and seems to be fitting in nicely. The young players that need to step up and fight for positions are working hard. While everyone outside Athens seems to have something to say about this current Georgia team, Kirby Smart and his players are relatively quiet.

Instead, they’re just doing the work they need to on the recruiting trail and the practice field. So why exactly is the Walker commitment such a big deal? Why should the rest of the SEC continue to be worried about what Smart and his coaching staff are building right now?