3 factors that molded Georgia’s top recruiting class for 2020
Georgia football and dominant recruiting are terms with a strong correlation. By the end of each cycle, it’s nearly a foregone conclusion that head coach Kirby Smart will land a haul of top prospects.
The 2020 cycle ended Feb. 5 gave the Bulldogs a favorable result: No. 1 in the recruiting rankings. A group of 25 signees had an average rating of 92.96, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, with four prospects with five-star ratings.
Each group has a uniqueness to it, and it took a few twists and turns in order for Smart to build his latest class of newcomers to his liking.
Here are three factors that put Georgia atop the recruiting leaderboard once more.
Immediate transition to Matt Luke as offensive line coach
Sam Pittman was beloved during his four years at Georgia. Every offensive lineman loved playing for their ferocious, yet sometimes goofy, position coach. For nearly every offensive line recruit who signed with Georgia, Pittman became the biggest reason why Athens was a desired destination.
Once the speculation mill churned, Smart had to act. Pittman packed up for a promotion and left for a head-coaching role at Arkansas, his previous school before Georgia. Two days later, Georgia had its response by landing a former head coach in Matt Luke.
Luke was dismissed from Ole Miss after a rocky season. Smart added Luke quickly after Pittman’s dismissal and gave him the title of associate head coach. Within days the duo made their recruiting rounds on helicopters and gave their pitch about playing at Georgia.
“Coach Luke was a big part of that energy,” Smart said in reference to signing six offensive linemen. “Getting him on staff fast was probably one of the critical roles to that transition. It wasn’t a long time and a process where they had to sit in the unknown.”
Luke’s quick recruiting work impressed because he kept top targets on board. He also added his own touch with lesser-rated recruits (three-stars Devin Willock and Austin Blaske) that Luke had previous relationships with.
He had four Pittman recruits to keep in the fold. Five-star Tate Ratledge and four-star Chad Lindberg affirmed their pledges in December before the early signing period. Five-star Broderick Jones and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger waited until the February period to remain with the program — after taking a few more visits. Regardless of timing, Luke kept each of those big-name recruits who Georgia needed to restructure its offensive line.
“He’s got a lot of energy, and he’s been a blessing for us — an addition that helps me from a head coach standpoint,” Smart said. “It did help a lot with the offensive line.”
Balancing needs and strengths
As Georgia evaluated the 2020 class, it saw the current state of its linebacker position as a benefit. The Bulldogs had many returners, both at the inside and outside linebacker spots. Two of its top performers at linebacker, Azeez Ojulari and Monty Rice, will be back for next season.
Therefore, Georgia’s only add at the position was four-star Mekhail Sherman — an outside linebacker from the Washington D.C., area. Smart could then focus on his other needs, and offensive line became the biggest on that checklist.
Aside from the big-bodied run blockers and pass protectors, Georgia needed offensive playmakers. Freshman George Pickens stood out at wide receiver last season, but depth (especially experienced depth with the injury to graduate transfer Lawrence Cager) lacked. The Bulldogs went on to add four wide receivers to the 2020 group — Arian Smith, Marcus Rosemy, Ladd McConkey and Jermaine Burton. Tre’ McKitty, a graduate transfer from Florida State, also joined the program at tight end.
At running back, Georgia had to replace the departures of leading rushers D’Andre Swift and Brian Herrien. Four-star Kendall Milton had been a long-time pledge, but the Bulldogs pushed for a second running back. UGA released five-star Zach Evans from the national letter-of-intent. Georgia then looked in-state and landed four-star Daijun Edwards out of Colquitt County.
That offensive focus piloted Georgia to landing the best classes based on ranking. But that status is something the Bulldogs can re-evaluate in four years.
“What matters when they leave is, number one, how many of them are present?” Smart said. “How many have graduated? How many lives did you change? They’re not going to be judged just on wins and losses. They’re going to be judged on what kind of people (they are) when they leave your program, because that’s what’s going to allow you to recruit the next kid.”
A strong season with chances to impress
Georgia experienced a rarity last season when it hosted Notre Dame inside Sanford Stadium. Under the prime-time lights, the Bulldogs claimed a season-shaping win with all of the fanfare, special effects and LED flashing lights to go along with it.
Looking back, Georgia won that game again in February. A number of recruits were in attendance on that September night, and took notice.
“The Notre Dame atmosphere was one of the keys to this signing class,” Smart said. “... I don’t think people really understand that recruiting never sleeps.”
Georgia has many opportunities to impress recruits — through on-campus visits, with facility upgrades or with a Saturday afternoon in Athens. The Bulldogs spent $3.7 million during the 2018-19 fiscal year on football recruiting alone, according to an open-records request obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald. That total is the highest nationally, and is over a $1 million increase from the previous fiscal year.
Georgia also helped its case with on-field play. An 11-2 season included a win against Florida and at Auburn, and a capping victory over Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. After finishing the season in New Orleans, Georgia had two more five-star additions — tight end Darnell Washington and cornerback Kelee Ringo.