Over the next couple of weeks, we here at Bulldawg Illustrated are going to be looking at Georgia football’s incoming freshman class of 2020 in a new series called First Year Look. The Bulldogs’ 2020 class features 25 signees that collectively finished as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, according to 247Sports and Rivals.
All 25 of Georgia’s incoming freshmen have reported to campus before workouts started on June 8. Now, they are prepping for their first preseason camp. Over the past couple of days, Bulldawg Illustrated has taken a look a good portion of the 2020 class, and today we will move on to Jalen Carter.
Carter’s Story: Per the 247Sports Composite. Carter is ranked the No. 18 overall prospect in the class of 2020, No. 4 defensive tackle, and No. 3 ranked player out of Florida. He became a big-time prospect after his junior year and started to visit some in-state schools before committing to UGA in May of 2019. There never was any drama because after he committed, he never took any officials visits elsewhere.
Scouting Report:
“Has a thick, barrel-chested build from top to bottom with very little bad weight. Has a strong base through his lower body and is a naturally powerful with thick arms midsection and neck. Has a unique blend of athleticism and strength. Has tested well athletically in the offseason prior to his senior season along with finishing as a runner-up in the state weightlifting meet. Has a basketball background and can throw down some impressive windmill dunks. Won’t have to add any mass or strength to be ready to play early in his college career. Played out of position as a tight end as a junior before making the move to defensive line. Has a desirable blend of finesse and power to his game, already showing some pass rush moves along with a speed-to-power bull rush. Capable of fork-lifting interior offensive linemen into the backfield on any given snap. Shows the ability to finish with violence once he arrives. His rapid progression as a defensive lineman points towards a high upside. Will need to keep progressing from a technical standpoint. Projects as a major contributor early in his college career with the upside of developing into an all-American candidate and early round NFL Draft pick.”
Charles Power, 247Sports
Where he fits: Carter has the ability to be a situational player or he can be a part of UGA”s rotation at defensive tackle. There were some scenarios last year when the Georgia defense would have two true defensive tackles on the field at the same time, and Carter can easily be one of those guys. We can see him also moving over to defensive end and helping out against the run. In the dime package, he also has the chance to play nose tackle as well. His pure athleticism and skills could help him achieve that.
2020 Impact: We are confident that Carter will have an immediate impact this year because of his talent. Georgia has got depth on the defensive line, but this is the perfect opportunity for a newcomer to come in and be a part of helping the team right away. Last season, UGA had the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense, and they used nine or 10 defensive lineman. The Bulldogs have proven that they have a stout defensive line, but Carter has opportunity to move his way up the depth chart because how great he is already. He has the easiest path out of any freshman to earn playing time next season.
Check out the these other First Year Look profiles as well: