Everyone knows about Georgia’s recruiting. The Bulldogs signed one of the highest rated classes of all time in 2018. And they’re trying for an encore in 2019. They currently have the No. 1 rated class, with an incredible five five-star players and another 11 rated as four-stars. Georgia has more recruits in the Top-150 (10) than the rest of the SEC East combined (6).
Georgia is reloading its defensive line via the recruiting trail
Georgia has only had one defensive lineman picked in the last 4 drafts. Expect that to change.
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One area in particular the Bulldogs are trying to address is defensive line. Over Kirby Smart’s first two classes, the Bulldogs signed and enrolled just five blue-chip defensive linemen.
And the draft results over the last four years have not been good at the position, with only Lorenzo Carter being drafted (third round, 2018). It’s an anomaly for a program which produces as much elite talent as the Bulldogs do.
This year? UGA already has commitments from four defensive linemen rated four- or five-stars, including ends Nolan Smith, Bill Norton, Jermaine Johnson, as well as a tackle in Travon Walker. One more would give the Bulldogs as many as Kirby Smart had in his first two classes combined.
Smith is one of the most explosive defensive end prospects I have ever seen. He’s 225 pounds, amazingly quick, and very strong for his size. Here he is power cleaning 330 pounds in February.
His game will remind you of that of Vonn Miller.
Norton is a versatile player. And Walker has rare athleticism for a player of his size (6’5, 275).
Three-stars Zion Logue, Tymon Mitchell and Tramel Walthour are also highly sought after to various degrees. I am a big fan of Logue, who is just now coming into his own and was pursued heavily by Alabama and other elite powers.
Expect Georgia’s defensive line to start sending more talent to the league in the coming years
All rankings via the 247Sports Composite unless otherwise noted.
