Tony Grimes picked UNC, but don’t be alarmed. Georgia recruiting is operating as usual
Each of Georgia’s recruiting cycles under Kirby Smart have told a similar narrative. The latest development might not be too much of a surprise.
One of the Bulldogs’ biggest recruiting targets, five-star cornerback Tony Grimes, announced his decision Tuesday evening. He didn’t pick Georgia, but instead spurned all of the powerhouses for North Carolina — led by title-winning head coach Mack Brown, of course. Georgia’s recruiting class doesn’t look too shiny or appealing right now as the 17th-ranked group nationally, according to 247Sports.
As the calendar turns to July, Georgia’s 2021 class sits behind Iowa, Maryland and Minnesota in the recruiting world’s Top 25. The Bulldogs have finished within the top three in national recruiting rankings by the time Smart’s classes are complete. But they always get off to a slow start, and Georgia’s lower ranking is based off of one factor: number of commitments. The volume of pledges plays a factor into the ranking, and 11 of the 16 programs have nearly double the number of commits as the Bulldogs.
Therefore, time rests on Georgia’s side as almost six months remain until the early signing period in December.
“You can make the case that they’re committing because they can’t go anywhere,” Smart said in a media session prior to June’s voluntary workouts beginning. “I would make the case that they’re sick and tired of being barraged by phone calls and virtual activities.”
A staggering increase in commitments nationally could be the result of a drastic shift due to the pandemic. There were more than 900 commitments from rising senior recruits to FBS schools as of June 1, according to 247Sports — that’s more than double the 396 at the same time a year ago.
The last four months were expected to be busy recruiting months. Smart and staff would’ve had loaded weekends of prospects on visits and visiting spring practices to evaluate players. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s all virtual and recruits can be contacted by any coach at any moment — sometimes at an overwhelming rate of Zoom video calls and Twitter direct messages.
There’s no clear end in sight, either, after the NCAA recently extended through the end of August the dead period that forbids face-to-face contact between coaches and recruits.
“It’s a bit overwhelming and it’s tough on these kids,” said Jake Reuse, a recruiting analyst for Rivals and UGASports.com. “By the same token, when there’s this much money involved and you’re paying coaches with these expectations, you can’t let anybody get a leg up on you in any way. It kind of necessitates that they have to stay in touch.”
Smart wouldn’t divulge every method of communication, but said there’s no “magic potion” to recruiting while the coronavirus changes things. Since the pandemic shut down sports in early March, the Bulldogs kept adding pledges — although rather quietly in comparison to other programs. Seven of the Georgia’s nine commitments have come since March, six of whom are given a four-star rating.
March 6: Three-star defensive tackle Marlin Dean, Elbert County
March 23: Four-star defensive end Jonathan Jefferson, Douglas County
April 8: Four-star offensive tackle Micah Morris, Camden County
April 9: Four-star running back Lovasea Carroll (who recently confirmed rumors of interest in Florida, but affirmed his pledge with Georgia), IMG Academy
April 19: Four-star defensive end Elijah Jeudy, Philadelphia (continuing the pipeline that began with former running back D’Andre Swift and senior defensive back Mark Webb Jr.)
May 26: Four-star outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss, Carrollton
May 30: Four-star offensive guard Dylan Fairchild, West Forsyth
One recruiting cycle after Georgia landed a large number of prospects out of state, seven of its current pledges are Peach State natives. The group is led by five-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff, the Athens-area product out of Prince Avenue Christian.
Georgia has top targets on its board, and those with a lofty recruiting stature include five-star offensive tackle Amarius Mims (Cochran) and five-star defensive back James Williams (Miami). The Bulldogs are co-leaders for those prospects.
“It’s completely different,” Smart said of the new recruiting process. “A lot of this is who had the best relationships leading into this. At the end of the day, you can only develop so much of a relationship through a phone, through a text or through a virtual activity.”
Georgia hasn’t yet found its recruiting peak in 2021. That’s usually the story. Ten history shows the Bulldogs rising atop the rankings with a surge of commitments closer to the signing periods. This time, however, the frantic activity might be taken to another level as prospects could reopen a line of communication with coaches.
The Bulldogs could be back in the mix for those who, for now, opted to go elsewhere. There’s plenty of time left.
“It’s going to be a nightmare for a lot of teams (once decommitments begin),” Reuse said. “You’ll have kids commit to a program that they’ve been to only once or twice. Maybe some of them haven’t been there, but are excited about that offer. How does that change once you’re back on the visit trail and get the chance to see other things? It’s yet to be determined, but I think it’ll get crazy.”