Georgia Football: Kirby Smart and Staff Recruiting at the Next Level

2019 Class Highlights

This year’s early Bulldog signees are led by edge defender Nolan Smith of IMG Academy in Bradenton Florida. Nolan is the number one rated recruit in the entire nation, and the second highest rated UGA recruit of all time.

Nolan Smith was the first player to sign on Wednesday by his own request, as he’s been committed to the Dawgs for quite some time.

The Georgia Bulldogs were also able to land one of the big undecided recruits, as linebacker Nakobe Dean committed to UGA. Dean hails from Horn Lake Mississippi. He chose the Dawgs over Alabama and his home state school Ole Miss.

The aforementioned Nolan Smith and Nakobe Dean are the top players at their respective positions, edge defender and inside linebacker. Additionally the Dawgs were also able to land the number one center Clay Webb out of Alabama and the number one Junior College player in Jermaine Johnson, an edge rusher from Kansas.

Kirby Smart and company were also able to land the number two defensive tackle in the nation Trevon Walker out of Thomaston, GA and the number two cornerback DJ Daniel from Georgia Military College, in addition to Dwan Mathis, the number two dual threat quarterback.

Safety Lewis Cline of Cedar Hill Texas also committed to the Georgia Bulldogs. He is the nation’s third rated safety and gives the Dawgs eight players that rank in the top three at their respective positions or categories.

The Bulldogs recruiting class landed the number one player out of several states. Nolan Smith out of Florida, Nakobe Dean out of Mississippi, Clay Webb out of Alabama, Jermaine Johnson from Kansas, Xavier Truss an offensive tackle from Rhode Island, and of course DJ Daniel, the number one player from the home state Georgia.

The main disappointment on early signing day, was number one running back in the nation Trey Sanders of IMG Academy in Florida, choosing to sign with the Alabama Crimson Tide over the Dawgs. UGA was believed to be the favorite to land the talented back.

Jaden Haselwood, the nation’s number one wide receiver was verbally committed to UGA for one and a half years, before de-committing in early October. He is now expected to sign elsewhere. He’s reportedly considering teaming up with Justin Fields, should Fields be granted an immediate transfer.

Here is the complete list of the Georgia Bulldogs recruiting class so far:

Five Star Recruits

Nolan Smith – edge defender – Florida

Nakobe Dean – inside linebacker – Mississippi

Clay Webb – center – Alabama

Travon Walker – defensive tackle –

Dominick Blaylock – wide receiver

Four Star Recruits

Jermaine Johnson – edge defender – Kansas

DJ Daniel – cornerback – Georgia

Lewis Cine – safety – Texas

Rian Davis – edge defender – Florida

Trezmen Marshall – inside linebacker – Georgia

Bill Norton – defensive end – Tennessee

Xavier Truss – offensive tackle – Rhode Island

Kenny McIntosh – running back – Florida

Ryland Goede – tight end – Georgia

Makiya Tongue – athlete – Louisiana

Warren McClendon – offensive tackle – Georgia

Dwan Mathis – Quarterback – Michigan

Zion Logue – defensive end – Tennessee

Three Star Recruits

Tramel Walthour – defensive tackle – Kansas

Tymon Mitchell – defensive tackle – Tennessee

Stetson Bennett – quarterback – Mississippi

247sports.com has a comprehensive list of the New Dawgs here.

The Dawgs are still pursuing several recruits and it’s not out of the realm of possibility, that UGA could still over take Alabama for the top spot, and finish number one for the second straight year.

Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, a four star player out of Mississippi, has been verbally committed to UGA since June. He’s still strongly considering signing with the Dawgs. Four star cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Kalir Elam, both from the State of Florida, are also two remaining players of interest.