4-star athlete Robert Stafford picks up Georgia offer
Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie athlete Robert Stafford has amassed more than 40 offers, but there likely isn’t one bigger than the offer extended to him Saturday.
The do-it-all four-star can now add defending national champion Georgia to the list of schools pursuing him. Stafford is the No. 194 prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 8 athlete and the No. 37 junior prospect in Florida.
The 5-foot-11, 171-pounder has offers to play cornerback and wide receiver on the next level. He is keeping his options open and still working towards his first list of favorites, but three schools have captured his attention early in 2022.
“Arkansas, Oregon, and Ohio State are three schools that I am talking to a lot and they are standing out,” Stafford told On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons earlier this week.
Stafford was back at Arkansas on Jan. 29 after attending the Mississippi State game during the season. He’s receiving a lot of attention from the Razorback staff and he likes the environment in Fayetteville.
“Arkansas loves me. They are like family, they are so genuine, and they are recruiting me hard. I talk to Coach Fountain a lot, I really like Coach Pittman, and it is a great school.
“Coach Pittman is a great man, and he treats everyone equally. I hung out with Raheim Sanders on my last visit and he was telling me about coach Pittman and how all are equal. Coach Pittman loves all his players the same and that stands out.”
First visits to Ohio State and Oregon could come this spring for Stafford
Stafford has not visited Ohio State or Oregon yet. He hopes to spend time on each campus in the coming months. Ryan Day has already established a connection with Stafford and that means something to him.
“To be recruited by a head coach feels great. Coach Day has been the coach talking to me, recruiting me, and he is a top head coach. He talks about me, what he likes about me, and he is getting to know me.
“Now I want to get up there. Ohio State is a great school, they produce a lot of defensive backs, and I plan to visit in the spring.”
He wants to check out Eugene too. The staff under Dan Lanning is doing a great job early.
“Coach Locklyn and coach Martin are recruiting me hard and I am definitely getting up there. I grew up watching them, it was a dream program of mine, and they are recruiting me the right way.
Georgia, meanwhile, has two cornerbacks already committed in the 2023 class, but could use Robert Stafford as either a defensive back or wide receiver. The Bulldogs currently have the No. 3 class in the country, according to the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings.