ATHENS, Ga. — The old-timers will belabor what has been lost to the new recruiting calendar: the event that used to be national signing day — fans gathering at Georgia’s athletic facility, cheering as recruits’ names were announced; Georgia coaches speaking to the fans excitedly about the class and even taking questions. It was like Christmas morning but in February.
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Now the big signing day is actually four days before Christmas but feels anticlimactic. Most of Georgia’s class is locked up, and the most intrigue involves the transfer portal. You probably could invite the old-timers back for a portal watch party, but the problem is you don’t know when, or if, there will be anything to tell them.
This has taken a lot of the romance away from signing day. But it’s also more realistic: Recruiting was always a year-round thing, and that’s especially the case now.
Still, this week most of the traditional — i.e., high school — class becomes official. So it’s a good time to assess where things stand as Georgia, still working toward winning the national championship, also works toward putting together next year’s roster.
Where there’s Smoke …: Sometimes the portal is about filling needs, sometimes it’s about raiding smaller schools, and sometimes it’s just about a do-over. The latter appears to be the case with Deyon “Smoke” Bouie, who last year spurned home-state Georgia — he’s from Kirby Smart’s hometown of Bainbridge — to go to Texas A&M. Part of the reason was Bouie’s relationship with another Bainbridge native, then-Georgia staffer Nick Williams, who has since left for Colorado. So when Bouie entered the portal last week, it looked like a chance to come back home, and all signs since then have reinforced that.
How much does Georgia need Bouie, who is a cornerback and nickelback? The Bulldogs are in good shape with the way cornerback Kamari Lassiter and nickelback Javon Bullard played this year. But Bouie is one of those players you get in the fold and let it sort out from there. He played only seven games this year for the Aggies but was a five-star recruit, and the Bulldogs didn’t see anything to dissuade them from thinking he can help.
Travis Hunter sweepstakes: Also available is another five-star defensive back and the nation’s No. 1 recruit from last year’s class. Hunter famously spurned Florida State to go to Jackson State, but he entered the portal over the weekend. Maybe he is just going to follow Deion Sanders to Colorado. Or maybe Florida State will get its own do-over. But Hunter played high school ball in Suwanee, Ga. (he moved there from Florida), so Georgia is certainly going to explore what it will take to get him. Hunter could slide right into Christopher Smith’s spot at safety.
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Receivers: This has remained the biggest area of immediate need and thus the biggest focus in the portal. Two SEC receivers have visited Georgia already: RaRa Thomas, who was Mississippi State’s leader in receiving yards, and Dominic Lovett, who was Missouri’s leading receiver. There has been less buzz about Georgia Tech’s Nate McCollum and Kent State’s Dante Cephas, but they could come back up if Georgia isn’t feeling good about Thomas or Lovett.
This could be a fluid situation. Georgia wants multiple wide receivers who can help right away, but the competition for Thomas and Lovett is steep, and other names still could pop up in the portal. (There has been plenty of speculation about Evan Stewart, one of the prizes of Texas A&M’s 2022 class, but he hasn’t entered the portal.)
Enrolled early: Based on social media posts and other sources, nine members of Georgia’s high school class are already on campus: linebacker CJ Allen, receiver Anthony Evans, cornerback AJ Harris, outside linebacker Gabe Harris, receiver Yazeed Haynes, defensive lineman Jamaal Jarrett, tight end Lawson Luckie, linebacker Raylen Wilson and receiver Tyler Williams.
Others expected to sign: There are 15 other commits in the class, the highest-rated being outside linebacker Samuel M’Pemba, safety Joenel Aguero, tackle Monroe Freeling and linebacker Troy Bowles. They’re all in the top 100, along with early enrollees AJ Harris, Gabe Harris, Wilson, Allen and Williams. There has been some worry that tackle Bo Hughley (No. 127 overall) could flip to Auburn, but it hasn’t happened. There could be attrition elsewhere in the class depending on what happens with portal additions.
But since there are no signing limits anymore — teams just need to be at the 85-scholarship limit — Georgia doesn’t have to make room in its class just to hit the 25 number.
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Uncommitted targets: Five-star edge rusher Damon Wilson has been trending to Georgia for a while. Two other highly rated four-stars are also favorites to pick Georgia: cornerback Daniel Harris, who had been committed to Georgia before decommitting, and defensive lineman Jordan Hall. Those three would make Georgia coaches happy, but more additions could happen, particularly at running back. Four-star Roderick Robinson is Georgia’s only commit at the position so far, and with Kenny McIntosh expected to turn pro, Kendall Milton also a candidate to leave and Andrew Paul coming off ACL surgery, depth is a big concern. Running back Kyron Jones, an NC State commit from Charlotte, N.C., is among the late names to watch. Another elite tight end, five-star Duce Robinson, also remains on Georgia’s board, even with Luckie and four-star Pearce Spurlin already committed.
Departures to come: Defensive end Bill Norton is the only Georgia player to announce his departure. (He’s headed for Arizona.) But conversations already have taken place about turning pro and going into the portal once the season is over. Jalen Carter is projected to be one of the first picks in the draft, Kelee Ringo has also gotten first-round projections, and three offensive linemen could declare: tackles Broderick Jones and Warren McClendon and center Sedrick Van Pran.
Several seniors also have the COVID-19 year of eligibility if they want it, but McIntosh’s good season probably has elevated his stock, and kicker Jack Podlesny probably will head to the NFL unless he just likes being at Georgia that much. (He might!) The most intrigue revolves around players who could return for another year, turn pro or transfer somewhere else for one more year to play more and showcase. These are among the players who walked on senior day, just in case it is their final year at Georgia: receivers Kearis Jackson and Dominick Blaylock, offensive linemen Xavier Truss and Warren Ericson, tight ends Ryland Goede and Brett Seither and defensive lineman Tramel Walthour.
A handful of younger players could also enter the portal seeking more playing time, following Norton’s lead. But so far no players have announced their intention, seeking to ride along with this effort at a national championship repeat.
(Top photo: Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
