Ellis Robinson, KJ Bolden among exciting early enrollees getting time at Georgia started
Monday starts a new semester of classes at the University of Georgia, and with that comes the arrival of early enrollees. Among the several members of the Class of 2024 that’ll be on campus already are a pair of five-star plus+ defensive backs – Ellis Robinson IV and KJ Bolden – both of whom bring with them their fair share of excitement and hype.
Robinson, who ranks as the No. 3 overall player in the country and No. 1 cornerback, was with the Bulldogs during prep for the Orange Bowl. After committing to Georgia on February 1st of 2023, he stuck with Kirby Smart and company all the way through, despite a coaching change and several suitors.
“He’s young, but he’s very good,” NFL bound Bulldog Kamari Lassiter said of Robinson ahead of the Orange Bowl. “He wants to learn. He wants to get better. He wants to get better so fast, you can tell he’s definitely one of those guys that wants to come in and play day one. I believe that with his work ethic and his talent, he can.”
Robinson will have his work cut out for him to earn early playing time, but as Lassiter stated, the talent is obvious – and he just might accomplish the goal of playing day one. Georgia has Daylen Everette returning as a starter at cornerback plus the likes of Julian Humphrey, Daniel Harris and Chris Peal who showed potential in 2023, but a player like Robinson could simply be too talented to keep off the field.
As for Bolden, he too is naturally talented. But as is the case at cornerback, Georgia has a returning starter at safety in Malaki Starks and the No. 3 player at the position from the Class of 2023 in Joenel Aguero. Add in veterans like Dan Jackson, David Daniel-Sisavanh and JaCorey Thomas, and Bolden also will have to earn his opportunities.
“His ability to be around the ball, when you watch his film, he’s always around the ball, always making plays. He has that instinct,” Starks said when asked what stands out about Bolden. “To watch that, it looks natural. It doesn’t look forced. He looks comfortable. I’m very excited to get to work with him, when he comes in. Excited that he chose to come here.”
Bolden announced his flip from Florida State to Georgia on National Signing Day, and as a result, did not get in the early work with the Bulldogs during Orange Bowl prep. He and Robinson headline the defensive back class Georgia signed, one that Kirby Smart says is best characterized by its speed.
“Oh, it’s fast. I mean, they can go out and run a 4×1 team and probably win a national event because they can fly,” Smart said on Signing Day. “They’ve all got good speed. Demello’s a track guy, can run. Ondre Evans can run, Ellis can run, and KJ runs track and can run. They all four have got great speed. They all four have really good length. I think the wing span on Ellis and those guys is extremely long. They’re all tremendous character kids. I mean, like, they’re fun to be around. Demello is a fun guy to be around. Those other guys are fun guys to be around.”
“You know, they’ll have growth to do. They’ll have to grow up, but we’re in need at that position. We’re under our — what I call our ‘quota.’ We’re under our quota there, and they’re going to get thrust into some opportunities to get to go out there and play and compete,” he continued. “But they all have toughness. They all have speed. You know, I saw KJ play one night, and he had a defensive touchdown, a kickoff return touchdown, a running touchdown, and a receiving touchdown, and I don’t know that I’ve ever, you know, witnessed that and seen something like that in person because he’s a dynamic player.”
