Georgia recruiting class filled with some certainties, some questions on early signing day

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 19, 2018

College football’s early signing period begins today, and some of the nation’s top recruits will make their college decisions.

This marks the early signing period’s second year in existence. Traditionally, recruits cannot sign with a school until National Signing Day in February. Now, recruits have the option of signing during an earlier window, which is between today and Friday this year.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart looks to maintain his hot hand on the recruiting trail. Last year, the Bulldogs finished with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. Georgia looks to pick up undecided prospects while also securing already committed recruits. Here’s a look at the prospects on Georgia’s radar this early signing period.

Undecided targets

Nakobe Dean: Dean is one of the top undecided targets left for Georgia in the 2019 recruiting class. He’s a five-star inside linebacker from Horn Lake, Mississippi, and is reportedly picking between Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss.

Dean, a senior at Horn Lake High School, is considered the No. 1-ranked inside linebacker in the country and the No. 14 overall recruit. His decision and potential signing with Georgia could be huge for the Bulldogs, who will be dealing with the imminent departure of seniors Juwan Taylor and Natrez Patrick at the same position. He reportedly intends to not only sign today but also enroll early at the school he chooses.

Dillon Gabriel: Gabriel is a three-star quarterback from Mililani, Hawaii, and is reportedly choosing to sign with either Georgia, UCF or USC today. A senior at Mililani High School, Gabriel is ranked as the 90th pro-style quarterback recruit in the Class of 2019.

Gabriel intends to not only sign but also enroll early with the team he chooses, which could bode well if he chooses Georgia, as the Bulldogs reportedly could be losing freshman Justin Fields and might be in need of another scholarship quarterback.

Trey Sanders: A five-star running back from Bradenton, Florida, Sanders holds offers from programs including Alabama, Florida and Texas. The IMG Academy product is the No. 1 running back prospect and the No. 5 overall player in the Class of 2019. Georgia has a long history of recruiting and cultivating top running back talents, but the team’s already crowded backfield could discourage Sanders from picking Georgia.

Tyrique Stevenson: All-American cornerback Deandre Baker will depart from Athens after the 2018 season, but the Bulldogs can build depth at the position with Stevenson’s commitment. The four-star prospect from Miami Southridge High School is rated the fourth-best corner in the 2019 class. Stevenson has received offers from hometown team Miami as well as Auburn, but Georgia continues to be in the mix.

Noah Cain: Four-star running back from Bradenton, Florida

Evan Neal: Five-star offensive tackle from Bradenton, Florida

Already committed

Jermaine Johnson: Johnson is a four-star defensive end who committed to Georgia on Aug. 2. He attended Independence Community College in Indendepence, Kansas, and is considered the No. 1 junior college prospect in the Class of 2019.

An original native of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Johnson has already made his way to Athens to participate in practice ahead of the Sugar Bowl, although he is not eligible to play in the game. Johnson’s arrival should help bolster an already stacked group at the outside linebacker position, which features the likes of current freshmen Brenton Cox and Adam Anderson.

Nolan Smith: The No. 1-ranked player in the entire Class of 2019, Smith has been verbally committed to Georgia since 2017. The defensive end from IMG Academy has also received offers from Alabama, Clemson and Penn State, among others, but never backed off his commitment to Georgia. The Bulldogs took a step back on the defensive front in 2018, and Smith’s presence could boost the team’s run defense.

Travon Walker: Walker, a five-star defensive lineman from Thomaston, Georgia, committed to Georiga on July 24, and he looks to make it official today. A senior at Upson Lee High School, Walker is the No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 24 overall recruit in the country. His commitment and potential signing comes at a good time for Georgia, who will be losing senior Jonathan Ledbetter to graduation.

Clay Webb: Webb is a recent commit, announcing his decision to play in Athens on Dec. 10. The Oxford, Alabama, native is the top-rated prospect in the state of Alabama and the No. 1 center in his class. As the Bulldogs lose senior center Lamont Gaillard to graduation in the offseason, Webb looks to be Georgia’s future at the crucial position.

Dominick Blaylock: Five-star wide receiver from Marietta, Georgia

Lewis Cine: Four-star safety from Cedar Hill, Texas

Rian Davis: Four-star linebacker from Apopka, Florida

DJ Daniel: Four-star cornerback from Griffin, Georgia (junior college transfer)

Ryland Goede: Four-star tight end from Acworth, Georgia

Zion Logue: Four-star defensive end from Lebanon, Tennessee

Trezmen Marshall: Four-star linebacker from Homerville, Georgia

Warren McClendon: Four-star offensive tackle from Brunswick, Georgia

Bill Norton: Four-star defensive end from Memphis, Tennessee

Makiya Tongue: Four-star linebacker from Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Tramel Walthour: Four-star defensive tackle from Hinesville, Georgia (junior college transfer)

All recruit rankings are courtesy of the 247Sports Composite.

Printed with permission from The Red & Black independent student media organization, based in Athens, Georgia. For more UGA sports news, visit www.redandblack.com/sports.