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Georgia secures commitment of four-star DB Jontae Gilbert

Jake Reuseby: Jake Reuse08/10/24ReuseRecruiting

It’s been a long and winding road for Jontae Gilbert, but in the end, all roads led home for the four-star defensive back from Atlanta’s Douglass High, as he announced his commitment to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.

The nation’s No. 135 overall prospect in the Class of 2025 per the On3 Industry Ranking, Gilbert becomes the twenty-third commitment of the cycle for the Dawgs. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 16 overall cornerback and No. 16 player in the Peach State for the cycle according to the same metric.

He joins a secondary class for the Bulldogs of fellow four-star prospects Shamari Earls, Todd Robinson, Jaylan Morgan, and Rashad Johnson.

A former Ohio State commit, Gilbert has long been connected with the Bulldogs.

“It feels like home, to be honest. It was the love I got when I got down there from the whole coaching staff. It’s been about how they’ve built the relationship,” he told DawgsHQ in March of 2023. “(The National Championships are) really big. They like winning. All you do is win. That’s the place to be, really.”

That pledge to the Buckeyes ended in July of 2023, and since that time, multiple teams, such as North Carolina State, South Carolina, Louisville, and UCF, made strong efforts to land the Atlanta-based defender.

But the Bulldogs emerged as a major factor over the course of the last two months, despite not initially making the cut for his top seven schools in May.

Late push sealed the deal for Jontae Gilbert

So, what changed? A late visit in July helped shape the race heavily.

“This time was the best. I got a real great vibe from everybody,” Gilbert said following the trip. “I spent time with the recruits and players and staff. The difference (in this trip) was that I got to get a feel for everybody that I’d be surrounded by if I do decide to be in Athens for the next three years.”

Additionally, the full staff push showed Gilbert how he stacked up in the eyes of the Dawgs. 

“Coach Kirby Smart has been recruiting me himself and that showed me a lot. Then you have coach Donte Williams, coach T-Rob (Travaris Robinson) and coach Glenn Schumann involved, too,” Gilbert told Chad Simmons recently. “Georgia is a school in my backyard and it is a great program with a great defense. They have really made me feel like a priority.”

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