FOOTBALL RECRUITING: UGA Hosting A Number of Official Visits this Weekend

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FOOTBALL RECRUITING: UGA Hosting A Number of Official Visits this Weekend

Isaiah Wilson, Class of 2017 OT, Poly Prep School (photo from Isaiah Wilson - Twitter)
Isaiah Wilson
Class of 2017 OT
Poly Prep School
(photo from Isaiah Wilson – Twitter)

 

The University of Georgia will host a number of prospective student-athletes on visits this weekend. And could the Bulldogs pick up a commitment or two as well?

Updated as of Friday, 12/09/2016, 4:35 p.m. ET

 

So far, Bulldawg Illustrated has been able to confirm that UGA will host 7 recruits on official visits and at least 2 on unofficial visits which include a number of junior college prospects – defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr., defensive tackle Rosheem Collins, and offensive tackle D’Marcus Hayes.

 

It looks like Head Coach Kirby Smart is pulling out all his “big guns” to help with recruiting by having 2017 UGA commits Richard LeCounte III and Jake Fromm in town; who, just last week, were part of the Malik Herring and Jeremiah Holloman commitment video. Plus, Cedar Grove High School teammates and current UGA commits Netori Johnson and Justin Shaffer plan to be Athens after the Saints take on the GAC Spartans at 1 p.m. on Friday in the Class AAA GHSA Football State Championships in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.

 

Are they hoping to flip current Alabama commit, 2017 JUCO OT Elliot Baker? Not anymore as Baker cancelled his OV to UGA late Thursday night which is not a big surprise. Baker is pretty solid on his commitment to the Tide. He told SEC Country just this past Sunday that he would only flip his commitment from Bama if Nick Saban got fired.

 

“I am 100 percent sure of that,” Baker told SEC Country late Sunday night. “Maybe if Coach Saban got fired, but I don’t think that’s happening.”

 

While anything is possible, the chances of flipping Baker are about the same as me being dealt a royal flush and picking the winning lottery numbers all on the same day, especially since he cancelled his visit. Most likely, it is to help convince D’Marcus Hayes along with 5-star 2017 offensive line prospect Isaiah Wilson to pick the Bulldogs as they are in need of an immediate influx of experience and talent at the offensive tackle spot looking ahead to next season with starters Tyler Catalina and Greg Pyke finishing up their eligibility after the bowl game is in the books.

 

You can also bet that Kirby Smart’s number 1 recruiter, Richard LeCounte, will also be doing his best to convince Lonnie Johnson Jr. to come to Georgia to play in the secondary with him next fall. Johnson is scheduled to announce his decision on Tuesday, December 13th at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) from West Side High School in Gary, Indiana.

 

I know the question many of you are asking and wondering is … does that mean the Bulldogs will pick up some commitments this weekend?

 

While nothing is concrete, I get the feeling that, yes, Georgia could get a commitment or two over the weekend. I would put both D’Marcus Hayes and 2017 inside linebacker Leonard Warner on commitment watch. The Dawgs could also get a couple of more over the next 5 to 7 days as in addition to Johnson announcing in the coming week, 2017 inside linebacker Monty Rice is scheduled to announce his decision on Monday, December 12th at 12 noon, and the Bulldogs are a heavy favorite with Rice at the moment. Both Johnson and Rice are expected to be early enrollees as well as D’Marcus Hayes.

 

And what about Isaiah Wilson? He is scheduled to announce his decision on December 25th, and right now, I think it is a Georgia-Michigan battle. That means it is possible that Bulldawg Nation could get a Christmas Day present.

 

PROSPECTS VISITING UGA THIS WEEKEND

OFFICIAL VISITS – Friday, December 9th, 2016
Rosheem Collins – 2017 JUCO DT (undeclared) – East Central C.C.
Jake Fromm – 2017 QB (committed to UGA)- Houston County HS, Warner Robins, GA
D’Marcus Hayes – 2017 JUCO OT (undeclared) – Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.
Christopher Henderson – 2017 Athlete (undeclared) – Columbus HS, Miami, FL
Lonnie Johnson Jr. – 2017 JUCO DB (undeclared) – Garden City C.C.
Richard LeCounte III – 2017 DB (committed to UGA) – Liberty County HS, Hinesville, GA
Isaiah Wilson – 2017 OT (undeclared) – Poly Prep Country Day School, Brooklyn, NY

UNOFFICIAL VISITS – Friday, December 9th, 2016
Netori Johnson – 2017 OG (committed to UGA) – Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA
Justin Shaffer – 2017 OL (committed to UGA) – Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA

 

Update 12/08, 22:36: 2017 JUCO OT Elliot Baker, who is currently committed to Alabama, cancelled his official visit to UGA he had scheduled this weekend.

Update 12/09 16:35: 2017 CB Stanford Samuels, who is currently committed to Florida State, cancelled his official visit to UGA he had scheduled this weekend.

 

 

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The University of Georgia 1991-1994. Lanier Tech 2009-2012. Writer and graphic artist covering UGA athletics, college football, and recruiting. Peach cobbler fears me!