With the 2020 class signed, what is next for UGA football recruiting?
Now the focus turns to 2021 and beyond, but as Kirby Smart said in his opening statement of his National Signing Day press conference on Wednesday, the Georgia coaching and administrative staff have already been at work on the next recruiting class… and the next… and the next one after that.
“I’ll open with the excitement around this signing class, which started probably well before this day last year. I don’t think a lot of people really understand what goes into a signing class, because most of these kids that signed — two or three years ago was the first time we met them, and it is a long, tough process.”
So let’s take a look at the Bulldogs 2021 recruiting class as it stands today.
Georgia came into Thursday having offered 177 prospective student-athletes for 2021 and with three verbal commits, but West Forsyth High School’s Jared Wilson made the decision to reopen up his recruitment and de-committed from the Dawgs, making the announcement public on his Twitter account.
The Clemmons, NC offensive lineman committed to Georgia back in November after the Bulldogs offered him last summer in June.
Wilson’s de-commitment leaves UGA with two commits currently for 2021 – defensive back David Daniel and quarterback Brock Vandagriff.
Daniel committed to UGA on September 13, 2019 and has been the leader for the ’21 class so far, very much like Richard LeCounte was for the 2017 class.
A 6-foot-2 and 185 lbs athlete out of Woodstock High School in Woodstock, GA, Daniel is rated a 4-star prospect by 247Sports and the No. 3 athlete, the No. 6 player from the state of Georgia, and the No. 45 overall recruit in the nation for 2021. Rivals also rates the junior a 4-star prospect and has Daniel ranked as the No. 2 safety and the No. 9 player from the state of Georgia. So far, Daniel holds over 28 scholarship offers.
You can watch David Daniel’s latest highlights from his 2019 junior season by clicking the video below.
2019 Junior Season Mix-TapeVandagriff is a 6-foot-3 and 199 lbs, five-star prospect per 247Sports, and the recruiting service ranks him as the No. 1 prostyle-QB, the No. 1 player from the state of Georgia, and one of the top-25 recruits overall nationally for the 2021 recruiting class. Rivals also rates Vandagriff a five-star prospect and the No. 1 prostyle-QB while ESPN has him as a four-star and the No. 2 prostyle-QB.
But regardless of his star rating or where he falls at in the rankings, Brock is a talented athlete that can sling the ball around. Vandagriff ran a 4.69-second forty time at The Opening Regionals last spring in April. In addition to football, he plays on Prince Avenue’s varsity basketball team and competes in track and field.
In three seasons at Prince Avenue, Vandagriff has thrown for over 5,928 yards and 61 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions in 34 games, completing 357 of 532 pass attempts (67.1%). He also hurts opposing defenses with his legs having rushed 1,393 yards and 32 touchdowns on 205 carries. As a freshman, Vandagriff caught 35 passes for 472 yards and 4 touchdowns.
You can watch Brock Vandagriff’s latest highlights by clicking on the video below.
So when will UGA get it’s next 2021 commit and who could it be?
I don’t know if the Bulldogs will see one in February, but it is certainly possible. As far as who, I would tell Dawg fans to keep their eye on Bleckley County five-star Amarius Mims. He made a number of trips to Athens on unofficial visits, and the 6-foot-7, 300 lbs offensive tackle is just coming off a recent visit back during the weekend of January 18th for a junior day at UGA. He also recently named his top-12 schools which included the Bulldogs.
Another 2021 prospect to keep your eye on is American Heritage defensive back James Williams. The Bulldogs offered the 6-foot-5 and 218 lbs five-star safety back in November of 2018 and he like Mims has been to Athens a number of times. Williams named his top-five back during the fall that included Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, and Miami and is getting ready to name his top-three schools on his birthday on February 15th in a little over a week.
So saddle up ladies and gentlemen and hop aboard the Kirby Smart 2021 red and black recruiting train.
UGA FOOTBALL 2020 RECRUITING CLASS:
SIGNED (25)
Carson Beck | 4-star QB | 6-foot-4 | 225 lbs | Mandarin HS, FL
Austin Blaske | 3-star OL | 6-foot-5 | 278 lbs | South Effingham HS, GA
Daran Branch | 3-star DB | 6-foot-2 | 178 lbs | Amite HS, LA
Warren Brinson | 4-star DT | 6-foot-4 | 305 lbs | IMG Academy, FL
Major Burns | 4-star S | 6-foot-2 | 175 lbs | Madison Prep Academy, LA
Jermaine Burton | 4-star WR | 6-foot-1 | 190 lbs | Calabasas HS, CA
Jalen Carter | 4-star DT | 6-foot-4 | 305 lbs | Apopka HS, FL
Daijun Edwards | 4-star RB | 5-foot-10 | 201 lbs | Colquitt County HS, GA
Broderick Jones | 5-star OL | 6-foot-5 | 275 lbs | Lithonia HS, GA
Jalen Kimber | 4-star CB | 6-foot-0 | 170 lbs | Mansfield Timberview HS, TX
Cameron Kinnie | 3-star DL | 6-foot-3 | 265 lbs | Collins Hill HS, GA |
Chad Lindberg | 4-star OL | 6-foot-6 | 315 lbs | Clear Creek HS, TX
Ladd McConkey | 3-star WR | 6-foot-0 | 175 lbs | North Murray HS, GA
Kendall Milton | 5-star RB | 6-foot-1 | 220 lbs | Buchanan HS, CA
Tate Ratledge | 4-star OL | 6-foot-6 | 322 lbs | Darlington School, GA
Kelee Ringo | 5-star DB | 6-foot-2 | 205 lbs | Sanguaro HS, AZ
Justin Robinson | 4-star WR | 6-foot-4 | 205 lbs | ELCA, Mcdonough, GA
Marcus Rosemy | 4-star WR | 6-foot-3 | 195 lbs |St. Thomas Aquinas HS, FL
Mekhail Sherman | 5-star OLB | 6-foot-2 | 235 lbs | St. John’s College HS, Washington D.C.
Arian Smith | 4-star WR | 6-foot-2 | 180 lbs | Lakeland HS, FL
Nazir Stackhouse | 4-star DT | 6-foot-3 | 305 lbs | Columbia, HS, GA
Sedrick Van Pran | 4-star OL | 6-foot-4 | 305 lbs |Warren Easton HS, LA
Darnell Washington | 5-star ATH | 6-foot-7 | 260 lbs | Desert Pines HS, NV
David Willock | 3-star OL | 6-foot-7 | 330 lbs | Paramus Catholic HS, NJ
Jared Zirkle | 3-star K |6-foot-3 | 190 lbs |Tivy High School, TX
TRANSFERS (2)
Tre’ McKitty | TE | 6-foot-5 | 245 lbs | Transfer from Florida State
Jamie Newman | QB | 6-foot-4 | 230 lbs | Transfer from Wake Forest
2020 PREFERRED WALK-ONS (10)
Cade Brock | DL | 6-foot-0 | 250 lbs | Darlington School, GA
Chris Brown | OL | 6-foot-5 | 300 lbs | Islands HS, GA
Jehlen Cannady | ATH | 6-foot-0 | 170 lbs | Westside HS, Macon, GA
Miles Johnson | OL | 6-foot-5 | 300 lbs | Fannin County HS, GA
Austin Kirksey | QB | 6-foot-3 | 205 lbs | Transfer from Nevada
Kurt Knisely | ATH | 6-foot-0 | 190 lbs | Athens Academy, GA
Braxton Lee Hicks | WR | 6-foot-2 | 195 lbs | Rabun County HS, GA
Jackson Muschamp | 3-star QB | 6-foot-1 | 185 lbs | Hammond School, SC
Patrick Taylor | DB | 6-foot-0 | 175 lbs | Johns Creek HS, GA
Weston Lee Wallace | 3-star OL | 6-foot-5 | 330 lbs | Gatewood HS, GA
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