Georgia commit Wray speaks boldly on future coach and recruiting class

A lot of the focus is on the recruiting class of 2017, as a ton of talent is on the way to Athens. But the 2018 class looks to shift that focus, and the first addition to the class, offensive lineman Max Wray, shows true dedication to Georgia.

Wray, as a high school junior, ended his recruiting process fairly quickly. The Franklin, Tennessee, native decided not to stay close to home and committed to Georgia in March.

The deciding factor to pull the four-star offensive lineman away from other contenders was the relationship with his future position coach, Sam Pittman. Wray speaks highly of the well-traveled coach and believes his mindset and experience can help Wray reach his potential.

“Numbers don’t lie (about Pittman),” Wray said. “He’s sent eight guys to the NFL in the last three seasons. He has a wisdom about him that I didn’t sense in any other coach. As soon as I met him, I knew I needed him as my coach. He’s going to help me be the best player possible.”

Pittman, when recruiting the junior lineman, didn’t have to be too creative when trying to persuade Wray to land in Athens.

Wray said when he discussed his accolades and his focus, it was a no-brainer.

“In recruiting, it wasn’t a pitch,” Wray said. “He simply had a confidence about himself, knowing he was the best. He was just himself, and that’s all I needed. Even though I’m not in this upcoming class, we still talk often.”

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound offensive lineman is rated as the eighth best offensive lineman nationally for the Class of 2018, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.

In addition to Georgia, Wray also had offers from numerous Power 5 schools. Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas A&M were among those showing interest in Wray.

Although those teams still contact Wray, he respectfully turns down further dialogue. As two years remain until Wray heads to college, he said Georgia will definitely be his destination.

“I just try and be respectful,” Wray said. “I thank them for their time, but then tell them that my recruitment is closed. I’m not going anywhere else.”

Wray was very straightforward in describing Georgia. He believes a bright future and a great chance to enhance his game lies ahead.

And Wray seems ecstatic for the opportunity to play for head coach Kirby Smart and his staff.

“Georgia is exciting because everyone who is about to go there are all fantastic players,” Wray said. “The coaches are the best in the business, and the facilities will be the nicest in the country. What’s not exciting?”

The 2017 recruiting class is highly regarded due to the numerous four-star and five-star recruits who have announced their pledge to Georgia. Wray believes that his 2018 class will be thought of in the same manner.

Wray said that having early commitments serves as ignition for more talent to make its way into Athens.

“This 2018 recruiting class will turn out to be special,” Wray said. “If you look back at the 2017 class, it didn’t have two commitments until Christmas. It’s August, and we already have two.”

Georgia is hoping to land a top-ranked quarterback for the third consecutive recruiting class. The Bulldogs have the nation’s top overall quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, at the top of their board.

Wray had a confident demeanor about the potential of Lawrence landing in Athens. But he said his announcement won’t come for some time as he’s currently on “lockdown.”

“I’m really focused on adding Trevor right now,” Wray said. “Once he gets on board, this class can get (going).”

Wray, currently playing at Franklin, believes that there’s a big jump from the high school ranks to college football in a Power 5 conference. As a result, he’s always jumping at an opportunity to improve.

This summer, many recruits showcased their skills at satellite camps and showcases. Wray thought it would be best to stay away from that and put his high school team as a top priority.

“I’m trying to improve my game because the difference between high school and the SEC is huge,” Wray said. “I need to be able to hang with them, so I can always get better. I’m currently trying to focus on this high school season, I haven’t been out (at recruiting functions) very much.”

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Georgia commit Wray speaks boldly on future coach and recruiting class."