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Georgia football: Ranking the Bulldogs’ 2019 recruiting class by position group
By Tom Brew
Published:
Georgia’s 2019 recruiting class is ranked No. 2 in the 247Sports team composite rankings just two days out from the Early Signing Period that runs Wednesday through Friday. The Bulldogs trail only Alabama in the national rankings, and have a 19-member class with 4 5-star recruits and 13 4-star recruits.
Best of all, the Bulldogs have done a good job of filling some immediate needs. Here’s how we rank the Bulldogs’ class by position:
No. 1: Defensive line
5-stars: Nolan Smith, DE, IMG Academy; Travon Walker, DT, Thomaston, Ga.
4-stars: Bill Norton, DE, Memphis, Tenn.; Jermaine Johnson, DE, Independence (Kan.) CC; Zion Logue, DE, Lebanon, Tenn.
3-stars: Tymon Mitchell, DT, Nashville, Tenn.; Tramel Walthour, DT, Hutchison (Kan.) CC.
Skinny: Depth along the defensive line and the ability to get to the quarterback were concerns all season for the 2018 Bulldogs. This position group — the largest with 7 commitments — should be able to help immediately in both areas. Any time you can grab two 5-stars in one position group, you’ve hit a home run. Nolan Smith and Travon Walker have star power written all over them. The depth in the class is great, too, especially with two JUCO transfers thrown in.
No. 2: Offensive line
5-stars: Clay Webb, C, Oxford, Ala.
4-stars: Xavier Truss, OT, Warwick, R.I.; Warren McClendon, OT, Brunswick, Ga.
Skinny: There aren’t a lot of numbers here, but the quality sure outshines the quantity. Stealing 5-star Clay Webb from Alabama was a huge get, and he might even be able to help right away next fall. Georgia has recruited well along the offensive line of late, and you can add this group to that haul. Offensive line coach Sam Pittman will do wonderful things with these guys.
No. 3: Wide receivers/tight ends
5-stars: Dominick Blaylock, WR, Marietta, Ga.
4-stars: Ryland Goede, TE, Acworth, Ga.
Skinny: There’s plenty of returning talent at wide receiver, but getting Dominick Blaylock was big. The 5-star wide receiver is the son of former NBA star Mookie Blaylock and he has a ton of talent. He’ll fit right in at Georgia in its electrifying receivers room.
No. 4: Linebackers
5-stars: None
4-stars: Rian Davis, OLB, Apopka, Fla.; Trezmen Marshall, ILB, Homerville, Ga.; Makiya Tongue, OLB, Baton Rouge, La.
Skinny: No 5-stars in this group, but Georgia’s coaches love all three of these linebacker commits. There’s not a huge need for any of them to step in and help immediately, but the talent is certainly there with all three of them to compete for playing time in the fall.
No. 5: Defensive backs
5-stars: None
4-stars: Lewis Cine, S, Cedar Hill, Texas; D.J. Daniel, CB, Milledgeville, Ga.
Skinny: Same thing here in regards to respect from Georgia’s coaches. Both guys had stellar high school careers and they’ve got plenty of skill and football smarts to hit the ground running in Athens. It always takes DBs awhile to get acclimated — just as 2018 5-star CB Tyson Campbell how his first year went — but these two will help that backline sometime soon down the road.
No. 6: Backfield (QB/RB)
5-stars: None
4-stars: Kenny McIntosh, RB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; John Rhys Plumlee, QB, Hattiesburg, Miss.
Skinny: Georgia is very deep with talent at quarterback and running back, so small numbers — especially at running back —shouldn’t be a concern. There’s plenty of great talent returning and, don’t forget, 2018 5-star RB Zamir White will be back in the fall, too, after missing all of this season with a torn ACL. In other words, don’t be concerned here.
Tom Brew is an award-winning journalist and author who is covering SEC football for Saturday Down South.
