Georgia football: The top 5 most valuable 2023 recruits to land

Georgia football is looking to land another top-3 recruiting class for the 2023 cycle, and so far, the Dawgs are off to a great start.

However, there are a handful of guys that are extremely valuable that need to sign with the Dawgs.

According to 247Sports Composite team rankings, Georgia currently has the No. 4 overall class and the No. 2 SEC for the 2023 cycle behind the darkhorse Arkansas, which sits No.1 overall.

Georgia has seven pledges, including five 4-stars and two 3-stars. There have been a couple of decommitments from this class, but it’s still so early that they aren’t detrimental to the overall success.

Head coach Kirby Smart knows to remain relevant and contending year-in and year-out is by being consistent. They find high-character players who will thrive on and off the field.

The 2023 class has some of the most intriguing recruits that one recruiting cycle has seen in a while. Georgia is right on track to build relationships and find the perfect players to sign.

Georgia football needs these five highly valuable 2023 recruits to sign with the good guys.

It’s still relatively early, but these will be guys Georgia needs to sign to replace significant playmakers who could leave after the 2022 season.

The seven current players in this recruiting class are 4-star offensive tackle Bo Hughley, 4-star cornerback Marcus Washington, 4-star tight end Pearce Spurlin, 4-star wide receiver Raymond Cottrell, 4-star tight end Lawson Luckie, 3-star guard RyQueze McElderry and 3-star defensive lineman Seven Cloud.

This group is already full of talent, but there is still more to add.

There are a wide variety of players on this list. Some are pretty evident, and others are slightly far-fetched, but the Dawgs are one of the best recruiting schools in the country, so the expectations aren’t too high.

This list could change the closer that signing day gets, but for now, these are the five guys that Georgia must sign.

Justice Haynes: 4-star Running back

Georgia football must land legacy running back Justice Haynes because he is one of the most talented guys in this entire 2023 class.

He is Verron Haynes’ son, so that should tell fans what kind of genes Justice has. He has the same tenacity that his dad does and size. Georgia needs a guy like Justice on this team.

Haynes is 5-10 and 200-pounds as a rising senior at Blessed Trinity Catholic School. According to 247Sports Composite rankings, he is the No. 59 overall, the No. 3 running back and the No. 4 player out of Georgia.

With 35 offers, Haynes has plenty of schools recruiting him, but right now, it seems like Ohio State and Georgia are the two he is most interested in attending.

Don’t count out Alabama, though, because the Tide’s reputation speaks for itself when it comes to running backs, but Georgia has to be the leader at this point.’

His dad played in Athens, so why wouldn’t Justice want to do the same? He should because there is nothing like being a member of RBU and helping the Dawgs stay successful. Plus, Haynes would have a great shot at early playing time with Kenny McIntosh and Kendall Milton eligible for the NFL Draft after next season.

Haynes has 5,873 yards and 72 touchdowns through three years of football, averaging 8.95 yards a carry. He also has gotten used as a receiver with 19 catches for 260 yards and four scores through three years. Not to mention Haynes has return experience, so he can do whatever Georgia needs him to.

I would like to see him used more in the passing game to know where those skills are, but when you visit a name like Haynes and the bloodline — Justice Haynes is someone you sign, point blank period.

Reuban Ownes: 5-star Running back

The second running back on this list has to be Reuban Owens. He is probably the best running back Georgia football could land in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

While Justice Haynes is a legacy name, he would compliment Owens well and could be the next great running back duo to play in Athens.

According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Owens is the No. 23 overall, the No. 2 running back and the No. 3 player out of Texas.

At 5-11 and 190-pounds, Owens is a hot commodity. Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, and USC are the five schools among 41 offers that seem to be his top choices.

The 247Sports analysts compare him to T.J. Yeldon, and Georgia could use a guy like that in its running back room.

Through three years of high school ball, he has 388 carries for 5,308 yards and 76 touchdowns, averaging 13.6 yards a touch.

Owens makes defenders miss and great bursts of speed. He is the running back Georgia usually targets and would fit right in with the other backs currently in there.

Plus, he has excellent vision, and his football IQ is through the roof. Dell McGee would have a lot of fun developing Owens because he has everything it takes to be elite.

Owens is valuable for Georgia to land because they need two elite running backs in this class, and in my opinion, there isn’t anyone who compliments Haynes the way Owens does.

Gabriel Harris: 4-star EDGE

Georgia football needs to hit the Peach State hard for the 2023 class because there are so many talented players, including the third name on this list Gabriel Harris.

The Valdosta edge rusher is a 4-star on 247Sports that currently ranks as the No. 105 overall, No. 8 edge rusher and No. 11 Georgia player.

At 6-4 and 237-pounds, Harris already has 12 offers, including ones from FSU, Arkansas, Florida, and Georgia Tech.

247Sports expert recruiting analyst Rusty Mansell predicted that Georgia would land this 4-star home state player, which is a great sign.

He can put his hand in the dirt or stand because Harris is quick enough to make those plays. Harris was one of the visitors in Athens this past weekend, and that seems to have gone well. He also visited back in November for a game in Athens, so there is genuine interest there.

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Harris plays in a challenging region and classification in the Georgia High School Football Association, so he understands what kind of expectations there will be in Athens.

New linebacker coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe has done a great job creating a relationship and recruiting this young man. Georgia needs to grab more instate defensive linemen because they are talented, and this edge rusher has what it takes to be a part of this program.

Right now, I expect Georgia to land him and for Harris to sign with the Dawgs in December.

Caleb Downs: 5-star Safety

Georgia football will ensure that the best 2023 Peach State players stay home because they are too good to let them slip away to other schools.

One name they must find a way to keep and sign with the Dawgs is Caleb Downs, a 5-star safety out of Hoschton, Ga., where he plays football at Mill Creek — one of the highest classifications in the state.

According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Downs is the No. 13 overall, the No. 1 safety and the No. 1 player in Georgia.

At 6-0 and 185-pounds, Downs is already at a great size to transition into college ball with another year of high school to complete.

He has 33 offers already, including Alabama, Clemson, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Ohio State. Downs visited Georgia back on March 1 and most recently visited FSU, UCF this past weekend. He also took visits to UNC and NC State earlier in the month.

Downs seems to be keeping his options open right now, but expect newly hired defensive backs coach Fran Brown, head coach Kirby Smart and co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp to triple-team this kid.

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He is so intelligent and already possesses so much control over his body. Downs has a high football IQ and knows a lot of different coverages. He is a leader and someone Georgia could use in its secondary.

Downs could be another elite safety to play at Georgia, but he could be someone who gets used as soon as he gets to campus. He has the instincts, and it’s in his blood. Dad is Gary Downs, an NFL running back with the Broncos, New York Giants, and the Falcons.

He is a must-get for the Dawgs because you don’t let a safety like him slip through your fingers and leave the state. Georgia needs to do whatever it takes to get him in Athens for his college career.

Arch Manning, 5-star Quarterback

Arch Manning is the most valuable player in the 2023 recruiting class that Georgia football must land.

Georgia seems to be one of the leading teams for the No.1 overall prospect in the 2023 class, but the Dawgs cannot let off him. After all, Manning will bring so many players with him because so many want to play with him.

That kind of recruiting capability is similar to Richard LeCounte and Jake Fromm when recruiting big-time players to come to Athens.

The New Orleans native comes in at 6-4 and 215-pounds with 14 offers. According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Manning is the No. 1 overall, No.1 quarterback and No.1 player in Louisiana.

Everyone and their brother wants Manning to play quarterback for them, and while the Dawgs have a loaded room, they are on the rise and could use someone like him to keep them elite.

Alabama is in it, and Texas is another team in the hunt for Manning. However, the 5-star just came off a visit to Athens, and it seems to have gone well. He has the Manning blood, and for the Dawgs to get him would be one of the biggest recruiting wins in Georgia history.

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Manning is a guy who will make a decision and stick to it because he wants to enjoy his senior season, so look for him to make one before the fall.

Right now, I would say Georgia has the upper hand, and if he commits, then there are guys out there that would follow because he could be the next generational quarterback following in his uncle’s footsteps.

These five guys are the ones Georgia needs to land because they are the most valuable for the program’s future success. The Dawgs are one of the best recruiting schools out there, and if the success continues, the recruiting will continue to be great.