Meet Georgia's 25 new signees from the Early Signing Period

On3 imageby:Jake Rowe12/23/22

JakeMRowe

Barring a completely unexpected turn of events, Georgia is done for the early signing period. There are only about 12 hours left anyway. There wasn’t a ton of drama involved, but there aren’t many teams out there who improved their team more over the last couple of days.

Georgia has inked 23 of 25 commitments in the 2023 class, a group that ranks No. 2 nationally. It also added a pair of transfer wideouts. Below, DawgsHQ lays it out there for you. We provide you with info on each of the players who put pen to Georgia Bulldog paper this week.

WR Rara Thomas (Eufaula, Ala.)

On3 Consensus (2020 class): No. 769 overall, No. 113 wide receiver, No. 31 in Alabama

On3 NIL Valuation: $39,000

2022 stats (Mississippi State): 44 catches for 626 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.

Thomas has good size but he plays a little bigger than 6-foot-1. He attacks the ball in the air and has proven that he can be productive against good SEC defensive backs. Thomas has come a long way since his time as a recruit when South Carolina and Mississippi State were the only two big programs battling it out for him. He can help Georgia at either of its outside receiver positions — X or Z.

WR Dominic Lovett (Belleville, Ill.)

On3 Consensus (2020 class): No. 290 overall, No. 42 receiver, No. 3 in Illiniois

On3 NIL Valuation: $147,000

2022 Stats (Missouri): 56 catches for 846 yards and 3 touchdowns in 12 games

Lovett is dynamite in a small package. He, too, plays bigger than his listed height of 5-foot-10. Georgia adds a lot of speed and quickness to the table with Lovett, who shows the ability to quickly separate on film. He’s physical enough to play on the outside but he’s built more like a slot receiver. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Georgia stick him in the slot and really let him learn that position during spring drills.

Ohio State-Ohio State Football-Ohio State Recruiting
Damon Wilson (Chad Simmons/On3)

EDGE Damon Wilson (Venice, Fla.)

On3 Consensus: No. 17 overall, No. 2 EDGE, No. 4 in Florida

On3 NIL Valuation: $220,000

Bio: Damon Wilson was already a well-known name in the Sunshine State, but he became a household name on the national scene with an unforgettable performance for Venice High in the 2021 Florida Class 8A championship game. Wilson had a monster pick-six in the 35-7 victory over Apopka. He was also in on eight tackles, had a half of a sack to tie the school record in a season with 14.5 and recorded two tackles for a loss to go along with his interception for a touchdown, pass breakup and quarterback hit, the latter three occurring on the same play. When he’s not making plays on the football field, Wilson is likely in the weight room or competing for the school’s powerlifting team. Wilson has a 370-pound bench press and he has hopes of topping the 400-pound mark by the time he graduates.

EDGE Samuel M’Pemba (St. Louis, Mo.)

On3 Consensus: No. 34 overall, No. 4 EDGE, No. 9 in Florida (IMG Academy)

On3 NIL Valuation: $223,000

Bio: Samuel M’Pemba didn’t start playing football until he was in the seventh grade. “It was weird, but I was still just trying to figure things out and learn all the rules and stuff,” he said. M’Pemba transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., from St. Louis’ Ladue Horton Watkins High School before the 2021 season. M’Pemba helped Ladue Horton Watkins to the Missouri Class 4 state semifinals as a sophomore. His parents are Martial and Mimi. He has five siblings: PJ, Rolanda, Anne-Marie, Marie Grace and Akou. M’Pemba plans on majoring in business in college.

CB A.J. Harris (Phenix City, Ala.)

On3 Consensus: No. 37 overall, No. 3 cornerback, No. 4 in Alabama

On3 NIL Valuation: $216,000

On3 Scouting Report: Polished, developed defensive back with positional versatility. Has good stature and size, checking in at 6-foot-1 and around 180 pounds prior to his junior season. A smooth mover and shows some technical refinement to his game. Coordinated and looks to have good ball skills for the position. Was a top performer at The Opening Finals prior to his junior season, showing anticipation and ball skills in picking off a number of passes while lined up as a safety. Played subpar competition at a small private school prior to transferring to a powerhouse public school as a senior. Has not shown high-end long speed to this point and may be best fit as a safety long-term, despite being considered as a cornerback prospect to this juncture.

Top 50 prospect Joenel Aguero

S Joenel Aguero (Danvers, Mass.)

On3 Consensus: No. 43 overall, No. 4 safety, No. 2 in Massachusetts

On3 NIL Valuation: $230,000

On3 Scouting Report: Head-hunting, twitched-up safety who is the biggest hitter in the 2023 cycle. Delivers crushing blows over the middle of the field. Explodes into ball carriers and receivers. A top athlete who tests very well in the combine setting. Ran a 4.48 electronically-timed 40-yard dash prior to his junior season. Was considered the top athlete on the loaded IMG Academy defense as a junior. At his best when he can use his athleticism and physicality to play fast and move forward as a cover down defender. More of a strong safety type at this stage. Not overly long and may not have much more room for growth on his 5-foot-11 frame. Will need to continue developing his man coverage skills.

ILB Raylen Wilson (Tallahassee, Fla.)

On3 Consensus: No. 49 overall, No. 3 linebacker, No. 11 in Florida

On3 NIL Valuation: $241,000

Bio: Raylen Wilson was named the 2021 All-Big Bend Defensive Player of the Year after leading Lincoln with 139 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss and five sacks. In addition, he had 380 yards on kick returns and one touchdown. “I’m fast and big so I can really do anything on the field,” Wilson told the Tallahassee Democrat. “When you’ve got those tools and the mindset I have, you can really accomplish anything.”

DL Jordan Hall (Jacksonville, Fla)

On3 Consensus: No. 58 overall, No. 6 defensive lineman, No. 13 in Florida

On3 NIL Valuation: $139,000

Bio: Jordan Hall is the ultimate team player. Hall said he used his national-level recruitment to bring attention to his teammates that might not have gotten exposure on their own. Hall said it was an important part of what he wants to be as a friend, teammate and leader. It’s something his high school coach, Randy Randall Jr., quickly picked up on. “Jordan is a great kid, but I know we have other great kids in our program that we’re really trying to push forward and shine some light on them also to get them where they want to go,” Randall said. “Jordan helped get them some attention, and that’s a great thing.” Hall said that’s just who he is. “It’s been fun going through the motions and everything,” he said. “Honestly, it’s a dream come true. It’s a blessing. I never take it for granted. I work as hard as anybody else and I try to separate myself from the majority of people, not trying to get myself mixed into too much stuff. But honestly, it’s just fun overall.”

Monroe Freeling
Photo from Monroe Freeling

OL Monroe Freeling (Isle of Palms, S.C.)

On3 Consensus: No. 57 overall, No. 6 offensive tackle, No. 1 in South Carolina

On3 NIL Valuation: $148,000

Bio: Monroe Freeling has wowed coaches on the football field and on the hardwood. Joe Call, Freeling’s high school football coach at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, raves about his toughness on the field and huge upside. But Freeling is also known to recruiters and college sports fans for his high-flying dunks and blocks on the basketball court — several of which have gone viral on social media. When he’s not playing football or basketball, Freeling likes to spend time in the weight room or playing video games. He plans on majoring in engineering in college. His favorite food is ramen. His parents are Brandy and Michael Freeling. Freeling has three siblings — Tristian, Bridger and Grayson.

ILB Troy Bowles (Tampa, Fla.)

On3 Consensus: No. 70 overall, No. 5 linebacker, No. 14 in Florida

On3 NIL Valuation: $169,000

Bio: Troy Bowles is the son of longtime NFL coach Todd Bowles, and he was an immediate impact player at Tampa Jesuit. Racked up nearly 100 tackles as a sophomore. Then as a junior led Jesuit to a perfect 15-0 record and earned MaxPreps Junior All-America honors. After playing basketball as a freshman and a sophomore, Bowles took up track as a junior and was timed as fast as 11.73-seconds in the 100-meter dash in his first-ever meet. Bowles plans on majoring in business. His mother is Taneka Bowles. His siblings are Todd, Tyson and Syndi.

EDGE Gabriel Harris (Valdosta, Ga.)

On3 Consensus: No. 77 overall, No. 10 defensive lineman, No. 16 in Florida (IMG Academy)

On3 NIL Valuation: $158,000

On3 Scouting Report: Highly physical defender who could play a number of spots on the defensive front at the next level. Measured a shade shy of 6-foot-4 and around 245 pounds prior to his junior season. Has requisite length for the position with 33-plus inch arms. May not have much more room for growth on his frame. Plays against top competition at a top high school program in South Georgia. Embraces contact. Physical at the point of attack. Effective in setting the edge and excels as a run defender. Sheds offensive linemen to make plays against the run. More of a power and straight line pass rusher as opposed to winning with pure speed and bend. A solid not spectacular athlete. Plays with a high effort level. Has the look of a high floor prospect.

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Photo by Chad Simmons/On3

WR Tyler Williams (Lakeland, Fla.)

On3 Consensus: No. 84 overall, No. 13 wide receiver, No. 18 in Florida

On3 NIL Valuation: $156,000

On3 Scouting Report: Former basketball-first athlete who blossomed as a wide receiver after transferring to powerhouse Lakeland High as a junior. Has a natural, well-rounded skill set at receiver. A big, fluid mover at around 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. Has plus length for the position with 33.5-inch arms. Draws on his basketball background to win at the catch point. High-points and attacks the ball in contested situations. Shows good lateral agility and spatial awareness as a runner after the catch. Continues to be a top basketball player, averaging over 15 points per game as a junior. Will need to continue progressing in the technical aspects of his game given his lack of football focus to this point.

ILB CJ Allen (Barnesville, Ga.)

On3 Consensus: No. 99 overall, No. 9 linebacker, No. 5 in Georgia

On3 NIL Valuation: $157,000

On3 Scouting Report: Explosive linebacker who wins with processing and ability to sort through the trash to bring down ball carriers. Good tester in the combine setting who jumped a 30-inch vertical and 9’7” broad jump in 2022 as well as an electronically-timed 4.62 second 40 in 2021. A three-sport athlete that ran a 23.72 200m in 2022 and 11.18 100m in 2021. Also plays basketball. A two-way player on Friday nights, playing running back and linebacker. Rushed for 1,080 yards and 16 touchdowns along with 91 tackles and 3 interceptions as a junior. Shows excellent field vision and awareness. Rarely caught out of position and quick to trigger and come downhill. Efficient tackler that gets his face across ball carriers consistently. Lacks Ideal length for the position, but is always around the football and should be productive at the next level.

OL Bo Hughley (Fairburn, Ga.)

On3 Consensus: No. 112 overall, No. 9 offensive tackle, No. 7 in Georgia

On3 NIL Valuation: $130,000

Bio: Bo Hughley, also known as Big Bo, has always been larger than everybody else. In fact, he said he wore a size 16 shoe – when he was in middle school. Hughley’s coach, Daniel Williams, says his star lineman loves life on and off the field and that passion for everything makes him one of a kind. “There’s nobody else in the world like him,” Williams said. “From a positive attitude in everything he does to his God-given talent. He’s unique. He’s destined for big things just like his nickname.” Hughley plans on taking that positive attitude into sports medicine in college. He says his favorite food is pizza. His mother is Angel Hughley.

Pearce Spurlin Georgia in-home
Pearce Spurlin / Twitter

TE Pearce Spurlin (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)

On3 Consensus: No. 118 overall, No. 4 tight end, No. 28 in Florida

On3 NIL Valuation: $140,000

Bio: South Walton coach Phil Tisa is a huge fan of his star tight end Pearce Spurlin. Not only does Tisa love Spurlin’s playmaking ability, the coach also is enamored with his work ethic. “He’s a kid that likes to work extremely hard,” Tisa told the NWF Daily News. “Even when we’re done with practice, he stays out and runs gassers just to do that.” Both of Spurlin’s parents – Pearce and Christy – attended school at Georgia. He has two siblings, Riley and Reese. Spurlin plans on majoring in business and pre-law in college. When he’s not playing football or basketball, he enjoys playing Xbox.

TE Lawson Luckie (Norcross, Ga.)

On3 Consensus: No. 149 overall, No. 9 tight end, No. 11 in Georgia

On3 NIL Valuation: $156,000

On3 Scouting Report: Well put together tight end prospect who excels in all phases of the position. Catches the ball naturally. Totaled 33 receptions for 358 yards and 3 touchdowns during his junior season. Looks comfortable getting in and out of breaks. Smooth mover with wiggle as a route runner. Dominant high point ability. Strong blocker that finishes with tenacity and violence. Lacks ideal top end speed and overall mass. Has the frame to put on quality weight. Has the athletic ability and receiver qualities to carve out a role early in his career. Will become a more complete player in college once he adds the necessary weight.

RB Roderick Robinson II (San Diego, Calif.)

On3 Consensus: No. 160 overall, No. 9 running back, No. 11 in California

On3 NIL Valuation: $37,000

Bio: Robinson will enroll early and attended the same high school as NFL Hall of Fame running backs Terrell Davis and Marcus Allen. He racked up 399 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in Lincoln High School’s final two games of a state championship run in 2022. He had well over 2,000 yards as a senior and scored 39 total touchdowns. He was committed to UCLA but flipped to Georgia in November.

Daniel Harris
Photo by Chad Simmons/On3

CB Daniel Harris (Miami, Fla.)

On3 Consensus: No. 165 overall, No. 21 cornerback, No. 39 in Florida

On3 NIL Valuation: $6,600

On3 Scouting Report: Tall corner who has one of the best size and speed combinations among prospects at the position in the 2o23 cycle. Has plus stature and length for the position, checking at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds with arm length over 32 inches. Doubles as a strong sprinter with a personal best of 10.74 seconds in the 100 meters through the middle of his junior track season. The physical skill set results in a pure outside corner who excels at turning and running with receivers downfield. Smooth in his transitions, particularly for a taller cornerback. Understands how to best position his body when in-phase with receivers. Capable of locating and turning to track the football. Shows encouraging signs of physicality as a run and cover down defender. Willing to throw his body around and has some striking power. Can continue improving his ball production and tackling form. The physical traits give him one of the more tangible and projectable skill sets among top corners in the 2023 cycle.

DL Jamaal Jarrett (Greensboro, N.C.)

On3 Consensus: No. 172 overall, No. 18 defensive lineman, No. 4 in North Carolina

On3 NIL Valuation: $54,000

On3 Scouting Report: One of the bigger defensive line prospects in the 2023 cycle. Measured at 6-foot-5 and around 365 pounds prior to his senior season. Strong, physical interior presence who overwhelms smaller offensive linemen with his girth and strength. Can forklift offensive linemen into the backfield when he plays with good pad level. A pure pocket pusher. Shows effort in running down plays in pursuit. Lacks ideal length at the position. Could also potentially play interior offensive line long-term. Does not test as a top athlete in the combine setting and could see some gains on that front as he reshapes his body at the college level. Significantly younger for the class, turning 17 years old in July prior to his senior season.

CB Chris Peal (Charlotte, N.C.)

On3 Consensus: No. 175 overall, No. 23 cornerback, No. 5 in North Carolina

On3 NIL Valuation: $25,000

On3 Scouting Report: Athletic cornerback with smooth coverage skills. Measured at 6-feet tall, 175 pounds as a junior. One of the faster top cornerback prospects, running 10.78 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior. Also tested very well in the combine setting prior to his junior season. Technically clean in coverage. Stays in phase with receivers and shows the ability to locate and make plays on the ball. A smooth mover both in games and the camp setting. Also flashes his athleticism and playmaking ability as a running back. Finished with 56 tackles and 2 interceptions along with 865 yards and 11 touchdowns from scrimmage. Lacks ideal length with a neutral wing-span and can continue getting strong to aid in his tackling.

Kelton Smith Georgia (1)
Kelton Smith/Instagram

iOL Kelton Smith (Columbus, Ga.)

On3 Consensus: No. 207 overall, No. 7 interior offensive lineman, No. 17 in Georgia

On3 NIL Valuation: $22,000

On3 Scouting Report: Big-bodied offensive lineman with an outstanding combination of length and functional strength. Plays with the power of an interior offensive lineman with the plus length (arms over 35 inches) of a top offensive tackle. Measured at around 6-foot-4, 330 pounds prior to his senior season. Has primarily worked at right tackle for a top talent-producing high school program in west Georgia. Shows some dominant tendencies as a drive blocker, moving defenders 10 to 15 yards downfield at times. Functional strength is also validated with some strong results in the shot put, including a 53-8 foot toss as a sophomore. Still has room to refine his technique and pass set. Can also tend to bend at the waist at times. Unique combination of play strength and length makes him one of the higher upside offensive linemen in the 2023 cycle.

WR Anthony Evans (Converse, Texas)

On3 Consensus: No. 210 overall, No. 28 wide receiver, No. 37 in Texas

On3 NIL Valuation: $68,000

An ultra-quick, ultra-fast play-maker who almost got away from the Bulldogs. Evans was supposed to commit to Georgia this summer but instead chose Oklahoma. Bryan McClendon continued to pursue and UGA flipped him soon after he visited for the Tennessee game.

CB Justyn Rhett (Las Vegas, Nev.)

On3 Consensus: No. 299 overall, No. 36 cornerback, No. 3 in Nevada

On3 NIL Valuation: $39,000

The one-time Notre Dame pledge flirted with Oregon but chose the Bulldogs after a spring visit. There was zero drama after that. There wasn’t a peep about Rhett until Georgia announced his letter of intent on Wednesday.

Georgia Yazeed Haynes
Yazeed Haynes (Ryan Snyder/BWI)

WR Yazeed Haynes (Lansdale, Pa.)

On3 Consensus: No. 306 overall, No. 41 wide receiver, No. 6 in Pennsylvania

On3 NIL Valuation: $52,000

On3 Scouting Report: Twitchy receiver with the athleticism and skills to develop into one of the top deep threats in the 2023 cycle. Has a slender build, checking in at over 6-foot-1, 165 pounds in the off-season prior to his senior year. Turned in strong performances on the college camp circuit, running sub 4.4 second marks in the 40-yard dash. Transferred that athleticism over to the field as a senior with a very productive final campaign. Hauled in 55 catches for 1,212 yards and 13 scores as a senior. Shows an easy, long stride with a high level burst. Consistently separates downfield on vertical routes. A smooth, fluid mover. Has made progress both as a route-runner and pass catcher. Makes some high-difficulty catches in traffic and shows the ability to track the ball over his shoulder. Also rips off long chunk gains after the catch. Did not face terribly stiff competition and will need to continue honing his technical skills at the position, but shows noteworthy athletic upside.

iOL Joshua Miller (Colonial Heights, Va.)

On3 Consensus: No. 599 overall, No. 52 interior offensive lineman, No. 15 in Virginia

On3 NIL Valuation: $12,600

Penn State really wanted Miller and felt like he could be a really good player for a long time. It even had him on the commitment list. Georgia, however, had other ideas. It flipped the mammoth guard over the summer. Miller can really move and might be able to help at four or all five positions.

ATH Kyron Jones (Charlotte, N.C.)

On3 Consensus: No. 699 overall, No. 27 athlete, No. 20 in North Carolina

On3 NIL Valuation: $6,300

North Carolina State was in line to land Jones as a running back. Georgia offered him in November and said that ie wanted him to give defensive back a shot. Jones de-committed from the Wolfpack a couple of days ahead of National SIgning Day and inked with the Bulldogs.

PK Peyton Woodring (Lafayette, La.)

On3 Consensus: No. 1,811 overall, No. 2 place-kicker, No. 63 in Louisiana

On3 NIL Valuation: $9,800

Woodring’s leg earned him a number of scholarship offers but Georgia stood out the most. He hit a 60-yard field goal earlier this year, setting a Louisiana state record for the high school football ranks.

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