(photo from Tyson Campbell / Twitter)
We look at several 2018 and 2019 defensive backs on today’s UGA recruiting daily on Bulldawg Illustrated.
WILL UGA TAKE ANOTHER DB IN THE 2018 CLASS?
The Georgia coaching staff have signed three defensive backs for the 2018 recruiting class so far and could sign one to two more before it is all said done when the dust settles at the end of the day on Feb. 7th. With 20 signees and three verbal commitments, it will come down to scholarship numbers. Here are three 2018 signees:
Chris Smith II | CB | 5 foot 11 and 170 lbs | Hapeville Charter Career Academy, College Park, GA
Nadab Joseph | CB | 6 foot 1.5 and 180 lbs | Miami Norland High School, FL
Divaad Wilson | CB | 6 foot 0 and 183 lbs | Miami-Northwestern High School, FL
In addition to Smith, Joseph, and Wilson, the Bulldogs also have one defensive back committed that is expected to sign on Feb. 7th, 5 foot 11 and 190 lbs safety Rachad Wildgoose, Jr. out of Miami-Northwestern High School, FL, a teammate of signee and early enrollee Divaad Wilson.
TOP UNDECLARED TARGETS
At one time Gilbert Frierson was considered a potential flip candidate, but he remained firm on his commitment to Miami and signed with the Hurricanes during the early signing period back on Dec. 20th. Tyson Campbell and Isaac Taylor-Stuart are Georgia’s top remaining undeclared targets at defensive back. Could there be any surprise pickups or flips between now and through Feb. 7th?
That is a good question and we have seen it already happen during the early signing period with the Georgia staff flipping Nadab Joseph from Alabama. Keep your eye on Leon O’Neal, Jr., a safety out of Cypress, Texas. He is scheduled to take an official to UGA on Jan. 12th. I feature him along with both Campbell and Taylor-Stuart below.
TODAY’S FEATURED PROSPECTS
If position ranking is noted, unless otherwise stated, it is 247 Sports latest composite ranking of the player.
TYSON CAMPBELL
CLASS: 2018
POSITION: DB – No. 3 CB
HT, WT: 6 foot 2.5, and 181 lbs
SCHOOL: American Heritage High School
CITY, STATE: Plantation, FL
STATUS: Undeclared
UGA OFFER: Yes, offered on 10/31/2015.
# OFFERS: 22
NEWS & NOTES: Tyson Campbell is a phenomenal CB that has held an offer from the Bulldogs since October of 2015. His recruitment is wide open at the moment, but Georgia could have a shot here as the Dogs are in Campbell’s top five which also include Alabama, Clemson, Miami, and Ohio State.
So when will Campbell make his choice and announce his decision?
The American Heritage defensive back did not plan on signing during the early signing period on Dec. 20th-22nd and will likely announce his decision and sign his LOI on Wednesday, Feb. 7th. Campbell is playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this Saturday, Jan. 6 and could choose to announce then, but I don’t think that is likely. He has some official visits planned for the month of January.
Campbell will take an official to Georgia on Jan. 12 and then Alabama on Jan. 19th. He should still have three more officials he could choose to use as well before National Signing Day. The fact that both Georgia and Alabama are both getting officials should be an indication that they are likely two of the top programs that Campbell is considering, and Miami is a strong contender; however, the Hurricanes have four defensive backs already signed in their 2018 recruiting class whereas Georgia and Alabama each have three.
2016 JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2015 SOPHOMORE HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
LEON O’NEAL JR.
CLASS: 2018
POSITION: DB – No. 9 Safety
HT, WT: 6 foot 1.5, and 190 lbs
SCHOOL: Cypress Springs High School
CITY, STATE: Cypress, TX
STATUS: Undeclared
UGA OFFER: Yes, offered on 02/16/2017
# OFFERS: 33
NEWS & NOTES: The talented Leon O’Neal, Jr. has over 33 scholarship offers including from Georgia, who offered the Cypress, Texas native last February. O’Neal had been committed to Texas A&M but de-committed from the Aggies on the 1st of December, re-opening up his recruitment. He is scheduled to take an official visit to UGA on Jan. 12th after he plays in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this weekend.
Even though he did de-commit from A&M, the Aggies should still be considered a favorite here, and he took an official to College Station just 8 days after his de-commitment. Oklahoma could also be a potential landing spot, and the Bulldogs are certainly a school to keep an eye since he is taking a visit.
2017 SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2016 JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
ISAAC TAYLOR-STUART
CLASS: 2018
POSITION: DB – No. 2 CB
HT, WT: 6 foot 1.5, and 193 lbs
SCHOOL: Helix High School
CITY, STATE: La Mesa, CA
STATUS: Undeclared.
UGA OFFER: Yes, offered on 02/22/2017.
# OFFERS: 50
NEWS & NOTES: The Georgia coaching staff offered Isaac Taylor-Stuart back in February last year after National Signing Day, and the Helix High School prospect is one of the most sought-after CBs in the 2018 class with over 50 scholarship offers. A big reason why is his 6 foot 2 and 193 lbs frame as well as speed, having been clocked at 4.25 in the forty unofficially (he has ran a 4.43, officially, in Nike The Opening) as well as his athleticism and ability to cover.
Isaac put UGA in his top 12 schools he released back on Sept. 25th. Southern Cal is considered a slight favorite here, and the Trojans get one of Taylor-Stuart’s last two official visits on Jan. 12th. He had an official planned at Georgia on Dec. 9th, but due to the inclement winter weather in the Atlanta-metro area, he had to cancel. Taylor-Stuart rescheduled his official visit with UGA for Jan. 26th. In addition to his scheduled officials to Southern Cal and Georgia, he has taken an official visit to Alabama on Dec. 15th and has one planned to Tennessee on Feb. 2nd.
Taylor-Stuart will be playing in this weekend’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl game on team West along with Tyson Campbell.
2017 SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2016 JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2015 SOPHOMORE HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2014 FRESHMAN HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
JAYLEN MCCOLLOUGH
CLASS: 2019
POSITION: DB – No. 4 Safety
HT, WT: 6 foot 1, and 190 lbs
SCHOOL: Hillgrove High School
CITY, STATE: Powder Springs, GA
STATUS: Undeclared
UGA OFFER: Yes, offered on 11/02/2016
# OFFERS: 16
NEWS & NOTES: The Bulldog coaching staff offered Jaylen McCollough back in the fall of 2016 on Nov. 2nd. Although many consider his recruitment an FSU-Alabama battle at the moment, I think his recruitment is more wide open with Clemson, Ohio State, and Georgia also stand a good chance here.
2017 JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2016 SOPHOMORE HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2015 FRESHMAN HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
JALYN PHILLIPS
CLASS: 2019
POSITION: DB – No. 21 Safety
HT, WT: 6 foot 1.5, and 200 lbs
SCHOOL: Archer High School
CITY, STATE: Lawrenceville, GA
STATUS: Undeclared
UGA OFFER: No, UGA target.
# OFFERS: 35
NEWS & NOTES: Jalyn Phillips has over 35 scholarship offers so far, but not one from UGA as of yet. Even though he doesn’t hold an offer from the Bulldogs yet, he is interested Georgia and put them in his top-10 back in the spring.
2017 JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2016 SOPHOMORE HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
JALANI WILLIAMS
CLASS: 2019
POSITION: DB – No. 15 Safety
HT, WT: 6 foot 2, and 170 lbs
SCHOOL: Parkway North High School
CITY, STATE: St. Louis, MO
STATUS: Undeclared
UGA OFFER: Yes, offered on Dec. 20, 2017.
# OFFERS: 17
NEWS & NOTES: Georgia offered Jalani Williams during the early signing period on Dec. 20th. The St. Louis, Missouri prospect is a talented athlete that plays at both QB and safety for Parkway North High School. If Georgia bring on former GA Southern head coach Tyson Summers onto the Bulldogs’staff, this is an offer to keep your eye on.
2017 JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2016 SOPHOMRE HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2015 FRESHMAN HIGHLIGHTS – CLICK HERE
2018 UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICA GAME
When: Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018
Kickoff Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Channel: ESPN2 (or one of the ESPN channels…)
Live Stream: WATCH ESPN
Social Media: #UAALLAMERICA
UGA commits, signees, and target playing
TEAM HIGHLIGHT
Brenton Cox | No. 8 | 6 foot 4.5, 247 lbs SDE | UGA signee
Jacob Copeland | No. 5 | 6 foot 0, 192 lbs WR | undeclared
JaMarr Chase | No. 10 | 6 foot 1, 195 lbs WR | undeclared
Tommy Bush | No. 11 | 6 foot 5, 191 lbs WR | undeclared
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
Justin Fields | No. 1 | 6 foot 3, 221 lbs QB | UGA signee
Quay Walker | No. 4 | 6 foot 4, 220 lbs OLB | Committed to Alabama
Jake Camarda | No. 14 | 6 foot 2, 175 lbs Punter | UGA signee
Anthony Schwartz | No. 10 | 6 toot 0, 172 lbs WR | undeclared
INJURED, NOT PRACTICING or PLAYING
Kearis Jackson | No. 18 | 5 foot 11.5, 203 lbs WR | UGA signee