Georgia an option for elite 2028 cornerback Giovanni Tuggle
Winder-Barrow (GA) defensive back Giovanni Tuggle is a name to know in the class of 2028.
Tuggle already has an impressive sheet, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Texas A&M, among others. However, he has a soft-spot for the in-state Bulldogs, living less than 30 minutes from campus.
Tuggle can’t communicate with the Georgia staff yet because he’s a 2028 prospect, but he loves what Kirby Smart, Travaris Robinson, and Donte Williams are doing with the secondary.
“We try to bond a little bit more when we can, but the coaches can’t talk to 2028 kids yet, so when I get a moment, that’s when I really enjoy that,” Tuggle told UGASports.
At the moment, Tuggle said is still developing a relationship with the three Georgia coaches.
Tuggle pays attention Georgia’s secondary
One thing Tuggle can do is watch the Bulldogs play on Saturday. He’s watched KJ Bolden and Malaki Starks closely, as they both grew up around his hometown of Winder.
Tuggle can potentially see him replacing them one day, playing between the hedges. He likes how the staff rotates guys around the secondary.
“One day, I want to be in that starting spot, but I’ve just got to keep working,” Tuggle said.
Tuggle will continue to watch Bolden and how Georgia uses its other defensive backs this year.
Drawing a unique comparison
Tuggle gets comparisons to Travis Hunter because of his ability to perform well on both sides of the ball. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound prospect also plays wideout at the high school level.
“I get compared to Travis Hunter, but I don’t play both sides all the time yet,” Tuggle said.
Tuggle especially shines on defense, though, specifically in the secondary. He totaled 39 tackles, with 32 being solo, and a team-high six interceptions as a freshman last year.
Tuggle likes to think of himself as a ballhawk. He enjoys forcing quarterbacks to make mistakes.
“It’s a strength of mine,” he added.
Tuggle’s biggest strength is rotating around at any position in the secondary and finding the ball. Tuggle said that his high school coaches are still easing him into the offense this summer.
He is aware that Georgia’s secondary coaches like players who are versatile.
“I’d be willing to do that. I feel like I could do that,” Tuggle said. “I could play both sides of the ball, but I like playing cornerback and safety. Honestly, I just like playing football.”
From ‘Doggs to Bulldogs
Tuggle’s high school football team’s mascot is the ‘Doggs.
Tuggle likes to represent the Winder-Barrow Doggs on Fridays, but he can envision himself playing for the Georgia Bulldogs in a few years on Saturdays. It’s been a lifelong dream of his.
Tuggle said Georgia would be a great fit for him because his family could easily come watch him play. He values family and the proximity the Bulldogs present is appealing to him.
“It would probably be good for my family, because [most of] my family is all in Georgia,” Tuggle said. “Some of them live down the street from Sanford Stadium. It would be big.”
To play for Smart, Tuggle understands that he must keep working and keep his head down.
Tuggle plans to possibly attend a game at Sanford Stadium this season.