WATCH: New Georgia pledge Nitro Tuggle dazzles in junior highlights
Kirby Smart’s ability to stack blue-chip talent at Georgia is the main reason his program has won back-to-back National Championships. But the ability to find three-star prospects who either rise up the rankings or out-perform said rating is also a factor. That brings us to the latest Georgia commitment for the 2024 class, Northwood (South Bend, Ind.) wideout Nitro Tuggle.
The 6-foot-3 185-pound playmaker committed to the Bulldogs on Tuesday, giving Smart and Company an even dozen in their No. 1-ranked class. As his junior film shows, he’s not a typical three-start.
Despite being on the bigger side for a wideout, Tuggle is a tough guy to hem in. The seven-minute, 19-second feature shows him making men miss regularly and turning short gains into big plays.
Tuggle is currently ranked No. 476 nationally by the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average of the four different recruiting coverage sites. He comes in as the nation’s No. 80 overall wideout and the No. 4 prospect in Indiana.
Why Tuggle chose Georgia…
“I love the energy around the program right now,” said Tuggle, the No. 476 overall prospect and No. 80 wide receiver in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking. “Back-to-back national championships, I just love that. When I went up there, the coaches had great energy and hype. I have a great relationship with coach B-Mac outside of football, not just in football. He can teach me how to be a man and that’s what my parents want, the best for me.
“They want somebody that’s going to make sure I’m being developed into a man, not only a football player. I want to compete at the highest level and be developed as much as possible and obviously, Georgia’s the place to be for that.”
Tuggle added that the fact that Georgia is on top right now factored into his decision. The three-star prospect wants to be a part of what’s cooking in Athens right now.
Bryan McClendon, Georgia’s receivers coach and pass-game coordinator, also played a big role. He spearheaded Tuggle’s recruitment and the two built quite the bond.
“He’s been there, done that,” Tuggle said. “He knows what he’s doing. For me, I’m gonna get developed… He’ll get me where I need to be, and obviously that’s the NFL. Me being under him, learning technique and him taking me under his wing, I feel like I can get where I need to go.”
