For the second time in just over a month, the University of Georgia has extended an offer to a two-way standout from perennial Georgia High School Association powerhouse Buford High School. Isaiah Bond, a receiver and defensive back for the Wolves in the class of 2022, got the call from UGA this past Tuesday, March 2nd. Bond was offered by Cortez Hankton and the Dawgs are recruiting the speedster as a wide receiver. Bond’s Buford teammate Jake Pope, also 2022, was offered by Glenn Schumann and the defensive staff as a safety. Both prospects had a lot to do with helping Buford win its 2nd consecutive State Championship this past season as well.

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Bond, who has posted a 10.73 in the 100-meter dash already this year in track, possesses easy, explosive breakaway speed. A true home run threat for Buford, Cortez Hankton and company, were impressed with the film that Isaiah produced during his junior season. In talking with Bond since the Georgia offer, the in-state prospect described the offer from Hankton and the Dawgs and the interest they expressed in the following way.

“It’s obviously a great feeling. (Georgia) Is an in-state school, that adds a little more to the pot. To have an offer from a second SEC school offer is great. It’s an honor to have an offer from a school like Georgia.” – Bond on the Georgia offer

“It was basically a process of text, text, call and they offered me. Coach Hankton was a great guy to talk to. I can tell already that we are going to have a great relationship with each other going forward. He said that it stood out that I was a speedster, they like my playmaking ability, and also that I have a little bit of length to me as well.” – Bond on his initial talks with Cortez Hankton

“I saw the Georgia offense (last year). They like to put the ball in their most skilled players’ hands and really utilize speed. That is definitely an offense that I could see myself playing in.” – Bond on Georgia’s offense with JT Daniels

As Bond mentioned, and I stated earlier, Georgia was impressed with the speed of the 6’0″ 180-pound wideout. The 10.73 100 meter time that Bond has recorded this year is just the beginning of his display of speed, in his opinion. “That’s just the start; that was really the first time out running this spring,” said Bond. The two-sport star also stated that his goal was to “get down to a 10.3, 10.4, definitely in the low 10’s by the end of the season.” Bond was also quite confident that he would be able to line up and run a low 4.4, high 4.3 40-yard dash on a laser at this time.

When asked if and how his Buford teammate and fellow UGA offeree Jake Pope reacted to news of Bond’s offer from Georgia, Bond responded, “Oh, yes sir. Jake has reached out to me. He basically said good stuff, good work, and grind time now until our senior season. He and I both know that with us both returning we have the chance be a predominant team this year.” Clearly, Bond and Pope understand the pressure to win at Buford, and they embrace it. Literally, the 2 recent Georgia offerees have helped to reestablish the standard at Buford as nothing less than a State Championship victory and the dynamic duo is looking forward to chasing a 3rd straight ring in the 2021 season. “We just love playing in big atmospheres. Most of us have been playing at a really high level growing up and we are just making the most of our God-given talents. It’s a lot of fun and we love having Buford at the top,” said Bond.

Isaiah McKenzie, Mecole Hardman, and Arian Smith are speed demons that come to mind when thinking of Georgia receivers in recent memory. Of course, Arian Smith is just getting started and showed glimpses of greatness in his brief availability at the end of his freshman season. Bond expressed he’d be watching intently to see how Smith and the other Georgia receivers are used this fall. There is no doubt that if all goes according to plan, both Smith for UGA and Bond for Buford, each will get a plethora of downfield targets in 2021. You can follow Isaiah Bond via @isaiahbond_ on Twitter and of course, Bulldawg Illustrated will keep you up to date on all recruiting developments of the promising receiving prospect as well.