Georgia expected to host several top prospects in month of June
It’s a big recruiting weekend for the Georgia Bulldogs, and it feels safe to say that probably applies to the entire next month around Athens. Several of the top prospects in the Class of 2024 have announced their official visit plans within the last week with a trip to see Kirby Smart and company on the books.
Charles Lester – CB (Sarasota, Fla.)
The No. 13 overall player according to the On3 Industry Ranking and No. 2 cornerback in the country, Charles Lester took to Twitter this week to clear up where his recruitment stands.
According to Lester, he’s down to three schools – Georgia, Alabama and Florida State – with official visits planned for all three. He’s also planning to take a trip to Colorado to see Deion Sanders and company in Boulder. Ohio State was also considered to be in the mix at one time.
Lester visited Georgia twice in the spring, once in March and again in April.
Florida Sate holds a sizable RPM advantage to land the commitment of Lester at 91.7%. Georgia is second with a 2.1% chance.
Scouting Report: “Two-way monster who consistently makes plays on the football at wide receiver and cornerback. Hip fluidity and ball skills jump off the tape. Able to comfortably high point the football consistently and naturally catch the football away from his frame. Can flip his hips with ease when run up on in man and when breaking to the ball in zone coverage. High quality short area quickness and excellent trigger to the football. Willing tackler, solid physicality and ability to play in the box. Tough runner with the ball in his hands. Like the size and growth potential. Stands in around 6-foot-1, 180 pounds with excellent length. Overall top end speed is solid at best, could determine his true ceiling as a corner prospect. Can cover sideline to sideline as a center field safety so the speed is good enough but is it elite? Will create turnovers and will constantly meet receivers at the catch point at the next level.” – Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting
KJ Bolden – S (Buford, Ga.)
A priority prospect from the Peach State, Georgia holds an RPM advantage for KJ Bolden. He’s considered to be a five-star plus+ prospect with all four of the major recruiting services rating Bolden as a five-star, coming out to No. 5 overall and No. 1 for his position according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
Bolden spoke with On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons earlier this week, letting him know he’s locked in five official visits. Bolden plans to see Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama and Auburn. He does not plan to commit until seeing those schools.
“I feel like a priority, but they’ve always been recruiting me the same, as one of their top guys,” Bolden told On3 about Georgia. “… Georgia, they’re down the road. I could always go down there any time I want.”
Bolden has taken several trips to Athens including multiple this spring. He is expected to be in town this weekend for an unofficial visit alongside several others in the Class of 2024.
Scouting Report: “One of the top overall athletes in the 2024 cycle early on. Has a plus frame checking in at 6-foot, 185 pounds with a 6-foot-4 wing-span prior to his junior season. Has a personal best mark of 10.76 seconds in the 100 meters, showing outstanding high-end speed early on in his high school career. Also tests well in the combine setting. Plays both ways for Georgia powerhouse Buford High as a receiver and defensive back. Projects as a defensive back and likely at safety long-term, where his combination of athleticism and length makes him one of the nation’s best. Will need to improve his ball skills to be a top receiver prospect, but has the coordination to be well above average as a defensive back in that regard.” – Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting
Eddrick Houston – DL (Buford, Ga.)
Bolden’s Buford teammate Eddrick Houston will also be making a trip to campus for an official visit. Also considered to be a five-star, Georgia also holds the RPM advantage for the No. 15 overall player and No. 4 defensive lineman according to the On3 Industry Rating.
Houston also spoke with Chad Simmons about his summer official visit schedule and commitment timeline. He hopes to commit on his birthday, August 22nd, but things could change based on if he schedules any more visits.
“They practice a lot like we do at Buford. It is fast, they hit a lot and it reminded me of how we practice in high school,” Houston said about Georgia. “I got to see coach (Chidera Uzo-) Diribe and coach (Tray) Scott coach and work with their players. Georgia still isn’t sure if they would use me as EDGE guy or more of a four-technique or along the defensive line. I kind of bounce back and forth between those two positions and I am okay with that. Georgia is a program with great players that work hard.”
Scouting Report: “Twitched up edge defender who wins with get off and burst. Ran a solid 56.46 400m during his sophomore track and field season and also competed in the shot put and discus. Has positional flexibility due to size and athleticism, could potentially move off the ball to an inside linebacker prospect or gain serious mass and kick inside to a 3-technique. Shows off athletic ability and physicality at the point of attack on offense as well at the tight end position. Lacks ideal length for the edge but makes up for it with his hand usage and understanding of leverage.” – Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting
Georgia also saw an official visit from linebacker Edwin Spillman (Nashville, Tenn.) announced this week. Spillman visited Georgia for the first time in March. His top six announced in April includes Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee and UAB. The in-state Volunteers have the RPM advantage with Georgia third behind Ohio State as well.
Top Schools
Georgia also made the top schools list for several top prospects this week including tight end Jaden Reddell and running back Jerrick Gibson.
Reddell is expected to be in Athens for an unofficial visit to this weekend with an official visit coming next month. His top five included Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon and Tennessee. Like Reddell, Gibson also had an official visit on the books to see the Bulldogs prior to announcing his list of top schools. His top five included Florida, Georgia, Miami, Tennessee and Texas.
Georgia holds the RPM advantage for Reddell while that title goes to Texas for Gibson. The Bulldogs are fourth behind Florida and Miami as well.
Georgia added the commitment of the No. 1 overall player in the country on Monday as five-star plus+ quarterback Dylan Raiola decided to come on board. The Bulldogs were already ranked No. 1 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings with 12 total commits.
On the offensive side, Georgia also has commitments from wide receiver Ny Carr, running back Dwight Phillips, quarterback Ryan Puglisi, wide receiver NiTareon Tuggle, wide receiver Sacovie White and offensive tackle Malachi Toliver.
While the Bulldogs’ defensive class isn’t quite as strong in numbers with just five commits to the offense’s seven, the quality speaks for itself with all in the top-100 according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Commits alongside five-star cornerback Ellis Robinson IV include linebacker Demarcus Riddick, safety Jaylen Heyward, safety Peyton Woodyard and cornerback Demello Jones.
