4-star safety Joenel Aguero commits to Georgia

Last summer, Danvers (Mass.) St. John’s Prep four-star safety Joenel Aguero took his first visit to Georgia. Following his trip to Athens, he wanted to “commit so bad” to the Bulldogs. But he chose to let his recruiting process play out.

Georgia eventually made the top four for Aguero, who also considered Florida, Miami and Ohio State. In the end, the Bulldogs won out by landing Aguero’s commitment on Saturday.

“I feel like it’s the best fit for me because it feels at home to be honest,” Aguero told On3. “It feels at home to me and my family. I feel that the development, that’s No. 1 for real for me, getting developed and they do a good job to develop us. That’s something I wanted to be a part of. A goal of mine is to get to the league. I know the people at that school will help me do that.”

Aguero mentioned that Florida and Miami finished behind Georgia. The way the Bulldogs’ staff treated him and recruited him was hard to beat.

“I’ve been a priority. To be honest, I already knew that,” said Aguero, the No. 42 overall prospect and No. 5 safety in the 2023 On3 Consensus. “The players even told me like, ‘Listen, you’re a priority to these coaches. They wanted to get you… They want you.’ And then, I’ve just seen the way they treat. When I come down there, they show all love. It’s all love from everybody.

“From the head coach all the way down to the equipment manager, it’s everybody just showing me love. It just felt right to be honest.”

Aguero excited to be a part of Georgia’s defense

One of the people who had an impact on Aguero right away was Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who played defensive back for the Bulldogs in the late 1990s. Aguero watched Smart work with safeties in meetings and said that he puts them in position to make plays. He also was impressed by co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Will Muschamp, who played safety for the Bulldogs in the early 1990s.

“With Muschamp, the way he develops his players and every time I go there, we sit down to talk about plays and we just talk about my technique and stuff,” Aguero said. “I like the way he’s teaching me and helping me understand the game better.”

Aguero feels like he’s part of Georgia already since he has communication with a lot of players and knows his way around the campus and facilities in Athens. He visited Georgia five times, more than any other school during his recruiting process.

What Aguero is especially looking forward to is helping Georgia maintain its standard of winning and contending for national championships. He believes that the Bulldogs will be one of the best teams in the country again.

“It’s going to be just great being a part of that and just learning from those type of coaches,” Aguero said. “Georgia obviously puts so many players in the league and that’s something I want to be a part of. I want to be a part of that legacy, where they help me get to the league and I can just keep going with my dream.”

Aguero has a message for Bulldogs fans

Aguero, a 5-foot-11, 190 pound defensive back, did not reveal his commitment plans to Georgia’s staff before his Saturday announcement. But now that he is a member of the Bulldogs’ 2023 recruiting class, he has a message for Georgia fans.

“I want the fans to know that and just all the coaches, man, they got a great player,” Aguero said. “They got a player that (is) going to give his all no matter what, no matter what I go through. I’m going to make sure I’m giving my 100%.

“Georgia just got a dog and I’m gonna be ready. Whenever I get my chance, it’s go time. I’m gonna just shock the world and be the best safety to ever come out (of) the program.”