Last weekend, Georgia coach Kirby Smart personally extended an offer to class of 2019 tight end Ryland Goede out of Kennesaw Mountain High School (Acworth, GA).

Needless to say, Goede was pleased with the news.

“I was ecstatic about this offer, especially since I have known [coach Smart] for a couple of years now,” Goede told 247Sports.”That was very special for me to have him offer me first, he has some good things going on over there.”

Goede didn’t commit — he’s only a sophomore, after all — but the Bulldogs did win over his father, Chris.

“We are grateful, we are excited about this, we love Kirby,” said Chris Goede. “As matter of fact when Ryland was in the 8th grade, Kirby was the first one to speak with him and got us over to a visit at Alabama last year. He gave Ryland some really good advice and really connected with us so we are real excited.”

Already measuring at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, it’s easy to see why Goede is garnering SEC interest this early on in his recruitment. Though his 247Sports page indicates this is his first real offer, he’s been getting looks from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, and Tennessee, too. Expect that trend to continue now that he has an offer from the Dawgs in his back pocket.

As a freshman, Goede collected 11 receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns in seven games of action. We can only assume that those numbers will increase as he continues to develop and progress as a top prospect in his class.