[su_spacer size=”20″] The Georgia Bulldogs have placed a large amount of emphasis on increasing their speed on both sides of the ball. This was evident in last year’s class with their recruitment of players like Roquan Smith and Trent Thompson, who do not have the ideal size but make up for it with their technique and speed. Roquan Smith was quick enough to play wide receiver and running back in high school while also becoming a star inside linebacker.
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Trent Thompson became the top player in the country and he fits the bill of a defensive tackle in a 4-3 system or a 3-4 defensive end, but Thompson has taken a lot of reps in practice at the nose guard which differentiates to Georgia’s typical size for their nose guards. Thompson has the perfect blend of size and speed which allows him to play a position that usually requires a larger player.
[su_spacer size=”40″] This emphasis on speed has carried over to the Bulldog’s 2016 class and this is especially noticeable in the type of wide receivers that have committed to Georgia and the receivers that they continue to pursue. Georgia has take a large number of speedsters in the 2016 class and they continue to try and add more speed to their offense through this class.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia currently has four receivers committed in the 2016 class and a couple of these wideouts may switch over to the defensive side of the ball. The main speedster that the Bulldogs have managed to bring in on the offensive side of the ball is Texas wide out Davion Curtis.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Curtis is known to be a field stretcher and will provide future Georgia quarter back Jacob Eason with a target who can use his speed and beat coverage by just simply out running it. Curtis had 40 catches for 901 yards in his junior year of high school and he may improve on that now that his high school should become more reliant on passing after their two top rushers graduated last year. Curtis will be a player to watch during his time as a Bulldog and his speed will play a huge part in how productive he is for Georgia.
[su_spacer size=”40″] A recruit that is not committed to Georgia but is a heavy lean to the Bulldogs is the number one tight end in the country, Isaac Nauta. Nauta not only has the prototypical size for an elite tight end at 6-4 and 240lbs but he also has impressive speed.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Nauta has been clocked as fast as a 4.59 on his forty time which makes him the undisputed number one tight end in the country. Nauta’s size along with his speed draws comparisons to NFL players like Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas, and even Rob Gronkowski. Nauta is the type of tight end that is almost impossible to cover because he is too big for a safety or cornerback and too quick to be covered by a linebacker. If the Bulldogs can add Nauta to this recruiting class then they will have yet another speed threat to their receiving corps.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Finally, on the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs have landed Coconut Creek speedster Malek Young. Young has a 4.42 40 yard dash time and he even likes comparing himself to former Georgia great Champ Bailey, who was known to have blazing speed. Young loves to play man to man and his speed compliments that style of coverage. Young’s speed could make him one of Georgia’s best cover corners in the next few years but only time will tell.
[su_spacer size=”40″] As we draw ever closer to the college football season, we can see how speed is becoming more and more prominent in the Bulldogs system on both offense and defense. These speedsters along with the other recruits in this class and future classes will make the Bulldogs a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
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