Georgia Football recruiting round-up

While a few chicken littles were saying that the Georgia football sky was falling, Kirby Smart and his staff were putting together the number one recruiting class in 2024. National Signing Day has come and gone today, and after all the turmoil the Dawgs have faced this month, they still ended up with the #1 recruiting class in the country.

No big shockers or big flips were going against the Dawgs; Georgia got the biggest flip of the day when KJ Bolden, a 5-star defensive back out of Buford, signed with the Dawgs. Bolden flipped his commitment from Flordia State. There were rumors that Bolden could end up at Auburn, and maybe Hugh Freeze took a shot at Bolden? 

Ah, Hugh, have you ever once looked into the mirror? Or have you googled yourself? But all is fair when it comes to love and SEC recruiting tactics, so I do not understand the complaining he is doing. 

Anyway, back to the important stuff. First, I would like to discuss the running back depth that Kirby Smart and Dell Mcgee built in this class. This entire season, I was worried about the running back room. The depth was not there because of injuries, and Georgia did not have that game-changing back. The Dawgs have fixed those problems by signing three backs in this class; they will probably add Trevor Ettinne from the portal. 

Georgia signed Nate Frazier out of Mater Dei High School in California (JT Daniels is an alum). Frazier is the 140th player in the country and 9th overall back, according to 24/7 Sports. Georgia also signed the 19th back in the country, and the 33rd-rated player in Georgia, Dwight Phillips Jr. Phillips, is a 4-star out of Mableton, Georgia. The Dawgs also signed, 39th back in the country, 4-star Chauncey Bowens out of North Palm Beach, Florida. 

The Dawgs now have a ton of depth in their running back room, and hopefully, they can hold on to some of the guys still in that room. The Dawgs will finally have a game-changing back in the next few years. Which one of the three is going to be that guy? I am not sure, but the Dawgs have become much more talented with their additions. 

Speaking of great additions, did you see what the Dawgs did on the lines of scrimmage? In Kirby Smart's introduction press conference in December 2015, he said that Georgia needed to get better in the trenches on both sides. 

Since that day, he has recruited some of the best offensive and defensive linemen. To win championships, you have to be great up front, and we all saw that in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The reason Georgia is not playing for a three-peat is because they lost that battle on the lines of scrimmage. 

Georgia signed six offensive linemen in the 2024 cycle. 5-star Daniel Calhoun anchors the class out of Walton High School in Georgia. Let me tell you something right now: that kid will be special. If you do not believe me, put on his Hudl tape and watch what he does. The guy has great athleticism and feet. I am a big fan already. 

The Dawgs went after size in this year's offensive line recruiting class. 

The giants the Dawgs will have in the next few years are unbelievable. 

The defensive line has been a huge concern for many Georgia fans this year. The dawgs have been spoiled with riches at the DL position the past few seasons. Kirby Smart will be spoiling us again with the class of defensive linemen he has signed in this class. 

Joseph Jonah-Ajonye is the best prospect on the defensive line for the Dawgs. Ajonye is out of Conroe, Texas, and was the 11th-ranked defensive lineman in the country. Georgia also got Nasir Johnson out of Dublin, Georgia. The 4-star is the 12th-ranked player on the defensive line and is expected to make a big impact as soon as he steps on campus. 

Georgia also has an underrated player who is being compared to one of the best DGDs of all time, Jordan Davis. Nnamdi Ogboko, like Davis, hails from the state of North Carolina and is a three-star recruit. But the measurables for Ogboko are incredible. Ogboko comes in at 6’4, 335 pounds, and can flat-out fly. 

Georgia has put together the best class of linemen this cycle than any other program out there, and hopefully, that will show soon. Given the talented players Georgia has gotten, this class could be one of the greatest in Georgia history. 

Other notables from this class are Ellis Robinson IV, the top-ranked defensive back and 5-star; Ryan Puglisi, 4-star QB and 10th-ranked QB in the country; and KJ Bolden. I am not 100% sure if it is accurate, but many reporters say that Bolden probably does not come to Georgia if Railo comes because of N.I.L. money. So, while it sucks not having a 5-star QB in this class, it is a nice trade to get one of the best players in the state of Georgia. 

Like I said a week ago, the sky is not falling; the glory days in Georgia are far from over. We are lucky to have Kirby Smart leading this program and taking this program to heights once thought unattainable. So do not buy into the lazy narratives that Georgia is the new Clemson or they will never win a championship under Kirby. 

All that is a denial of reality from Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, and Alabama fans. They do not want to live in a world where Georgia is the best football program in the country, and I cannot blame them. I was alive when all those programs were in their golden years, and I remember how joyless it was around Georgia football. It is our turn, and Georgia fans will make life insufferable. The main takeaway from this is that recruiting and stars matter!