Commitment Day Primer: Stage set for 5-star KJ Bolden’s decision

Buford (Ga.) five-star safety KJ Bolden is set to step into the Saturday night spotlight. The No. 8 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings is set to announce his college commitment on On3’s YouTube page.

The five-star safety will decide between Auburn, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State. Bolden has been on campus in Athens 14 times throughout his recruitment.

The Bulldogs offered Bolden back during his freshman year of high school. Kirby Smart and staff have been a major contender throughout Bolden’s recruitment. Bolden took an official visit to Georgia on June 9.

He also took official visits to Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State. Bolden was at Auburn’s ‘Big Cat’ weekend last week.

When and where for KJ Bolden’s announcement

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: On3’s YouTube page. Here: https://www.youtube.com/@On3sports

Finalists: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State

What has he said about Georgia?

A few themes have consistently come up during Bolden’s recruitment regarding Bolden. First, Georgia has made Bolden a priority. He’s been personally recruited by head coach Smart for some time.

The Bulldogs have gotten Bolden on campus more than any other program. Bolden has acknowledged feeling special at Georgia.

“Georgia definitely made me a top priority,” Bolden said on July 27. “I think I’ve been there 16 times. It’s crazy. Every time I go up there, coach Kirby makes sure to have a meeting with me. Coach Fran (Brown) and coach (Will) Muschamp all sit me down and talk about the defense and how they’re going to use me. Georgia is definitely a top priority for me.”

Smart himself is a big selling point for Bolden.

“It would probably playing for coach Kirby Smart,” Bolden said. “He’s going to be there a long time. He’s a great coach. I feel like me and my relationship is great. I feel like no other relationship with a head coach is like me and his…There is a different flavor. At the end of the day, he’s going to be your coach but he’s not just trying to be your coach. He wants to be like one of your friends and you can talk to him every day, like a brother.”

Being in-state is another factor for Bolden to consider.

“It’s the in-state school. You don’t have to go far from home. You can always come to visit your parents on the weekends. All of your friends can watch the game on Saturday. You can just never go wrong choosing an in-state school. You never have to feel that homesick vibe or feeling.”

The big picture for Georgia

Georgia sports the top-ranked class in the 2024 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings at the moment. They have one blue chip safety committed in Peyton Woodyard.

Adding Bolden would further solidify Georgia’s championship-caliber secondary. Bolden isn’t an important recruit simply because of his position.

As mentioned, they have a safety committed. Four-star cornerback commit Demello Jones has played safety before. Bolden has an opportunity to be a game changer at multiple positions in a secondary.

He’s played mostly safety in high school but Bolden is working on potentially being more at the next level. Bolden’s speed and size give any program options as far as being schematically amphibious.

In a pinch, Bolden could adjust and slide down as a dime corner, outside corner, star, or play as a deep safety just based on ball tracking skills, size and speed along.

Bolden takes a strong defense and makes it faster and a little more positionless which could come into play facing hurry-up offenses of today.

The post Commitment Day Primer: Stage set for 5-star KJ Bolden’s decision appeared first on On3.