Ahead of season, 3 areas of need for Georgia recruiting in 2024
With Georgia’s season set to kick off on Saturday, the Dawgs will be laser-focused on the march toward a third National Championship. Still, Kirby Smart and company are never turning a blind eye to the recruiting trail. With much of the Class of 2024 locked in ahead of the season, the staff has the luxury of zeroing in on the remaining needs. But what are those? Look for the Dawgs to focus their efforts in the senior class on these areas moving forward.
Defensive back
What once felt like a strength in the cycle, the secondary has become a bit of a headscratcher following the summer defections of Jaylen Heyward and Peyton Woodyard. The Dawgs have two of the nation’s best corners committed and seemingly solid for 2024, with both Ellis Robinson and Demello Jones on board. Still, Georgia has never been shy about spending spots heavily at defensive back, so a duo at the spot feels pretty light given the depth most are used to. What’s equally interesting is that there aren’t names being tossed around at this point outside of Kam Mikell, who’s leaning toward keeping his talents on the offensive side of the ball. That likely points to two outcomes — 1) the staff is waiting on senior film to paint a clearer picture of who’s emerging or 2) Georgia is set to move on names committed elsewhere, potentially once the teams they’re committed to begin to slip. Either way, the Dawgs appear to be taking a calculated and measured approach, and if there’s an air of urgency around the spot, it certainly isn’t something being heard in back channels. As of now, look for Georgia to add at least one player in the secondary at some point. Who that may be is going to be quite interesting to watch, though.
EDGE
Georgia looks to have found a gem in Quintavious Johnson, as our man Jeremy Johnson detailed earlier today. The big-bodied senior moves incredibly well for his size and looks to possess the rare athleticism the Dawgs value at the EDGE spot. Still, he’s just one man at one of the premium positions on the defense, so it’s not hard to believe the Bulldogs will continue to search for reinforcements moving forward. Could they look to loop back around on a committed guy like Dylan Stewart, Kameryn Fountain, or CJ Jackson? Four-star pass rusher Booker Pickett has Georgia in his final five, but family ties to Miami may prove a bit much to overcome and his isn’t a name we’ve heard frequently. Don’t forget that Georgia moved into December last year with just a single prospect committed at the spot, though they were locked in on both Samuel M’Pemba and Damon Wilson and won for both. Let’s see if Chidera Uzo-Diribe has something else up his sleeve for Georgia in the Class of 2024.
Wide Receiver
With three prospects on board, the Dawgs aren’t hurting for bodies at the spot, and early returns suggest the trio committed — Ny Carr, Nitro Tuggle, and Sacovie White — could bolster their stock where the rankings are concerned. Rusty has mentioned that Georgia is still in talks for another name at receiver, however, so it’s clear Bryan McClendon and the boys are still in the market. While it feels like ships have likely sailed with Mike Matthews and Jeremiah Smith, Georgia isn’t going to wave a white flag on anyone. That they’re still keeping their eyes open should keep all options on the table. Still, the first couple of games of the season by the guys already on the list should be calming any nerves as to where things stand from a talent standpoint.
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