What you need to know about Georgia's 2020 recruiting class
The 2020 season will be one of change for the Georgia football program.
We know that Brian Herrien will be gone, as well as Lawrence Cager and Tyler Simmons from the wide receiver corps. Andrew Thomas is a virtual lock to declare for the NFL Draft. Georgia’s 2 tight ends, Eli Wolf and Charlie Woerner, will play their final games on Jan. 1 at the Sugar Bowl, as will a host of defensive players, including ends Justin Young and David Marshall, tackle Tyler Clark, inside linebacker Tae Crowder, cornerback Tyrique McGhee and safety J.R. Reed. Popular kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is also set to say farewell.
But there are a few question marks. What will the decision be for junior quarterback Jake Fromm, as well as running back D’Andre Swift? Others, including offensive linemen Solomon Kindley and Isaiah Wilson and safety Richard LeCounte, face stay-or-go situations. Fromm’s departure could put pressure on the incoming quarterbacks, while the team has plenty of options in the backfield and along the front 5, both on campus and incoming, if Swift and one or more of the offensive linemen exit.
Kirby Smart and his staff hope that their current crop of players can join some exciting incoming recruits to finally push the program to a long-awaited national championship. Here’s what you need to know about what could potentially be yet another top-5 class:
Rankings
- National rank: 6
- SEC rank: 4
- 5-stars: 2
- 4-stars: 12
- 3-stars: 1
Best player: 5-star OLB Mekhail Sherman
A testament of Kirby Smart’s deep defensive background is his ability to recruit high-level players on that side of the ball. Sherman, considered the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country by 247Sports’ composite rankings, hopes to make his mark at the college level.
He’ll play in the 2020 Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando on Jan. 2 in Orlando. And while he’ll join a crowded OLB room that includes Jermaine Johnson, Walter Grant, Azeez Ojulari and Nolan Smith, his level of talent should be enough for him to push his way into the rotation and have a strong shot at becoming a starter in 2021.
Assessing the QBs
If Jake Fromm returns, he is the unquestioned starter and all is well. The Dawgs have Stetson Bennett IV as Fromm’s backup as well as D’Wan Mathis, who is still recovering from brain surgery.
Georgia has 1 quarterback committed to the 2020 class: 4-star pro-style player Carson Beck from Florida. The program could also add another 4-star in CJ Stroud, who will take an official visit to Ohio State the weekend of Dec. 14 but who was offered by Georgia over Thanksgiving week just days after an official visit. Could either push Bennett for the QB2 slot?
Biggest need that has yet to be filled: Tight end
John FitzPatrick, Ryland Goede and Brett Seither make up Georgia’s returning crop of tight ends. The staff would love to add another piece to the puzzle by bringing in super-prospect Darnell Washington from Las Vegas. We’ve seen with Florida’s Kyle Pitts, and really with Isaac Nauta, how a tight end can acclimate himself into an offense, and the 6-7, 261-pound Washington can not only add depth to the tight end corps but have a chance to see significant playing time immediately.
Best position group: Offensive line
Part of the pride of the Dawgs is their offensive line, and they will have another strong haul at his disposal as 5 linemen are committed ahead of the Early Signing Period (Dec. 18-20).
The clear headliner of the group is Lithonia (Ga.) tackle Broderick Jones, a top 20 player nationally and the No. 2 player at his position in the class of 2020, according to 247Sports. And he might stand as good a chance as anyone to be a Day 1 starter. Thomas is a near guarantee to leave for the NFL, Georgia might also have to contend with redshirt sophomore Isaiah Wilson doing the same unless he feels he can return in 2020 and improve his draft stock. New Orleans offensive center Sedrick Van Pran is a redshirt candidate with Trey Hill and Warren Erickson returning in 2020, as is 4-star tackle Joshua Braun from Florida.
But a name to keep an eye on is the No. 3 tackle in the country in Tate Ratledge, who might figure heavily in the rotation as soon as he arrives on campus. That is if he gets to Athens after Arkansas hired former Georgia OL coach Sam Pittman.
On the day the news was announced, Ratledge posted this tweet:
I will not be answering questions on my current situation. This will stay between me and my family for now. Thank you
— Tate Ratledge (@tateratledge22) December 9, 2019
The next day, quarterback Harrison Bailey, a Tennessee pledge, tweeted this:
https://twitter.com/HBailey_05/status/1204079204612149253
Ratledge, who grew up a Volunteers fan, picked the Bulldogs over Tennessee. Could Pittman’s departure lead him to flip? Or can former Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke, who was hired to replace Pittman on Tuesday, keep this group together?
Best remaining players on Georgia’s radar
We mentioned Washington, a player that could remake the tight end spot for the Bulldogs. Keep an eye on Kelee Ringo as well, as the No. 1 cornerback in the country and No. 8 player overall took an official visit to Oregon and is likely to take one to Georgia as well. Houston running back Zachary Evans is on Georgia’s radar too, but he will commit at the Under Armour All-American Game.
The 2020 OL recruits’ decisions following the loss of Sam Pittman is the major concern right now.
Guess we’ll find out soon enough (December 19 – 21).
Not too worried about the defensive side of the ball. It’s a highly rated defense and players will want to come. Gonna miss Tyler Clark though.
Sam Pittman has great appeal but I think being at Arkansas mitigates that appeal and most won’t go to a cellar-dweller in need of a massive rebuild.
For a some of these kids they are already looking towards the NFL. College is just a stop along the way. Winning is just icing on the cake. Pittman would allow them to get some good film for NFL scouts, given that scouts don’t really look at scores, they look at 1-on-1 match-ups and how often a guy wins his match-up.
No flips as of this writing, 2:30pm Wednesday. I hope we can keep this group together and add a few more big names.
Braun just flipped.
He did not flip. He decommitted. Says he will decide later. Georgia is still a school he is considering.
Just when I though the people on SDS couldn’t get any dumber this guy shows up
A few thoughts:
1. It could be argued that Georgia has need in the receiving corps.
2. We could have trouble recruiting tight ends because they haven’t been as Well-utilized as they could be.
3. It could be said that Georgia has had lackluster offensive production for two years now, especially against tough competition. That could be spun as a positive to recruits (“We need you and you’ll get playing time”), but it also could give recruits pause. If the trend continues, it could become even more of a Tuen-off to recruits.
4. I’m still waiting to see how hard Pittman tries to flip any UGA o-line commits. Don’t know how appealing Arkansas would be to them, but I fully expect him to try to take some talent with him.
Yeah but not just any WRs. UGA has 100 tall, big, possession receivers. What they don’t have much of are guys that can take the top off of the defense. Guys who can run sub 4.4.
Honestly I’m not too worries about the TE position. Like you said it’s hard to get recruits there cause you don;t utilize that spot but you don’t utilize that spot so do you really need a lot of recruits there?
While I don’t think Pittman is going to be able to pull any of these recruits to Arkansas (he might be able to if he was going there as the OL coach and not the Head Coach) it might make recruits look other places like Jones with Auburn and Ratledge with Tennessee or Lindberg with Texas. Matt Luke was the right hire and the timing was essential but it’s not always easy to replace that bond they had with Pitman. If Luke doesn’t get these guys on board you could see that OL group fall apart fast.
I’ve noticed that Florida has been mainly recruiting tall receivers as well. Great to have tall receivers but I’d like a few Jaylen Waddles on my team as well.
I thought Robinson would be that guy for us. Disappointing the way he has turned out so far.
You mean Robertson? He was that guy at Cal before he broke his leg. He’s been hampered by soft tissue injuries since then. Hasn’t been able to reach that same gear quite yet. I think if he stays he’ll have a breakout year next year. He was starting to break open on deep routes late this year.
I don’t think Robertson has ever fully recovered/gained on-field confidence yet, if that makes sense. He didn’t become a freshman All-American for nothing before his injury.
Yeah my bad. He catches so few balls I don’t even know his name
He’s shown some flashes of great play. UGA needs to really use him more as a deep threat. He’s not great at breaking tackles or juking guys out of their shoes. He’s not even an uber talented route runner. But when he’s healthy, he’s a burner. If they start using him to take the top off of the defense, it’ll allow Pickens and Jackson to work the middle and Blaylock too once he’s healthy.
Oh no..Tyler Simmons is gone??? Who is going to drop all our passes??
Landers
Dammit
Landers :)
Fromm and Swift will both declare for the NFL. But Jawja always has 5 stars in the waiting which would mean something ordinarily. Smart can’t get over the hump and win a NC with all that dang talent. Jawja fans are blind to that. Jawja fired Mark Richt because he couldnt win the big games. Well it seems neither can Smart. And the East is not what it used to be when Richt had to play them. Smart has a much easier path, plus Richt left him a loaded team. The Pittman lose was big for Jawjas o-line. New QB with Pittman gone could spell trouble for Smart. Especially if Tennessee and Kentucky get better. If Tennessee beats Jawja next year, might as well put all Jawja fans on bridge jumping watch.
Yeah if Tennessee beats Georgia that would definitely be bad. Especially considering that Tenn lost to Ga. St. and is the laughing stock of the entire conference. I’m honestly not worried about it.
Ignore him. Chippy fell for the Grumors not once but twice. Fell hard. Like PTSD hard. He lives in his own little ChippyLand.
And Jawja lost to a horribly bad SC team that Tennessee curb stomped. We can go to for tat here.
Except we “curb stomped” Tennessee. The transitive property doesn’t work in football especially when you lost by 30 at home
He’s not necessarily after transitive, he’s living vicariously. Going 6-14 against UGA the last 20 years, and 2-8 the last 10, he’s desperate to sniff any twisted semblance of win over UGA he can.
You already lost the argument when you bring in “well this team we beat, beat you”. Fact is you have not beat us in a very long time, and Tenn. is probably the last source we need on coaching or anything else. Go enjoy your own mess.
Richt didn’t leave him a loaded team, Smart has seven top 10 wins in his first four years of head coaching, and the likelihood of Jake leaving is pretty low.
And Georgia has never had legions of 5-stars at the pass catching position.
Richt always had top ten in recruiting almost his whole time at Jawja. Most were top 6 and above. His last class was #5 and had Jacob Eason in it. Same guy that brought y’all Sony Michele and Nick Chubb to name a few. Look at all the great QBs Richt had and used. Hardly any transfered. Jawja still had a loaded team and Smart didn’t have to rebuild anything.
That last class wasn’t really his. The problem with Richt’s recruiting is that it wasn’t very deep and it was very weak on both sides of the line.
UGA lost its entire receiving core from last year. What do you think UT would be like this year without Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway. Hint: 1-11 / 2-12 / 3-13 range.
I dunno how they’d get to 3-13.
*1-11 / 2-10 / 3-9
So how many 5 star WRs do y’all brag about having? Next man up right? Bama always has receivers leave for the NFL and doesn’t slow them down. What’s y’all’s excuse?
Pretty sure we have one 5* WR. He’s a true freshman. What’s y’alls excuse for losing to Ga St?
The problem was the gap in between. Marlon Brown was the last 5 star receiver before George Pickens. Technically Godwin was an “Athlete” but he also graduated before the next 5 star stepped on campus. But UGA recruited the WR spot really poorly between 2015 and 2018 and it came back to bite them this year.
You can’t beat UGA in Knoxville, can’t hardly score on us and now you come back to Athens for the next game. Don’t get your hopes up for a different result.
You might be right..it would be hard losing to a team UGA has beat 122-26 over last 3 years… feeling little confident after finally beating Vandy…
This dude clearly doesn’t know football. The sec is stronger now than it was the first few years of the richt era and its not even close. Is the east weaker? Relatively yeah… but aince when has kirby had problems beating the east? 3 sec east titles in a row and only 1 loss to an east team in that span… soubds like your argument just got destroyed.
@bryanchip………..BS!!!!!!! Both the SEC EAST and the schedule is tougher now than when Richt got fired!!!!! And Smart has lost exactly 1 SEC EAST GAME IN THE LAST 3 YEARS!!!!
He has DOMINATED both Tennessee and Florida!!!!! Kirby is the reason y’all are down so don’t talk!!!!! Florida was 11-2 this year. To bad UGA was 12-2!!!!! So Kirby and UGA have been $CREWED a few times in huge games and played LSU without a WR and everyone playing injured. But hey LSU BEAT EVERYONE!!!!!
We were 1 blown coverage from winning a National championship in Smarts second season. And we have been in it every year!!!! AT LEAST WE DON’T LOSE TO GA STATE AND BYU!!!!! Don’t act like Pruitt is tearing it up simply because y’all beat a few POWDER PUFFS to end the season!!!!! You needed a comeback to beat INDIANA!!!!! Tennessee is NOT BACK!!!!!!!
Do something before you talk!!!! I’ll bet you Tennessee hicks would gladly take Kirby Smart and the so-called not winning the big game deal. Y’all can’t even hardly win a little game. SO DON’T CONCERN YOURSELF WITH BIG GAMES!!!! Leave that to UGA!!!!!!
For your info. Beating Florida and Tennessee 3 straight ain’t bad. Add to that winning the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP over an auburn team that was supposed to beat us. That was a big game!!!! How about the rose bowl??? Was that a big win????? Alabama survived by luck and REFS twice now!!! And we kicked the crap out of 11-2 Baylor who lost 2 times to OU by 3 and in OT!!! Was the sugar bowl a big game???? 12-2 again and we can’t win big games???? YEA YOU WISH!!!!!!
PS. GO POLISH YOUR CHAMPION OF LIFE TROPHY AND DON’T MENTION TEAMS THAT OWN YOU!!!!!!!
King Negan
Must gets: Kelee Ringo, Darnell Washington, Arian Smith.
Would love to have: Dontae Manning
Long-shots: Jordan Burch, Zach Evans, CJ Stroud, Jermaine Burton
Cannot let go: Broderick Jones, Tate Ratledge
Shoulda-woulda-coulda: Theo Johnson, Tank Bigsby, Noah Sewell.
I saw a player development graphic of the top 10 schools measured by number of players drafted over 4 stars recruited. Alabama was at number 1, Florida was at 3. LSU and Clemson were in the top ten. Georgia wasn’t in the top 10.
LOL. I guess on the field results don’t matter. This clearly shows you are the better school. Congrats!
Well, Florida has a four-to-one winning advantage over Georgia since 1990, so not sure which on the field results you’re referring to.
The last 3
But Mullin is 0-4 vs Kirby!
I love when Florida fans pick dates that best benefit their argument. Florida football didn’t exist before 1990 I guess. Not to mention the series is 6-4 Dawgs over the past decade.
So your relevance left flordia about the time they became less known for retirees and more known for flaka and being a cesspool of drugs and hilarious meme worthy crimes… wow the pride must swell within you.
Well, it seems both fair and reasonable to go with the “modern era” since 1990, especially if you want to be selective about the last three games. However, if you like, we can go back to 1980 and include your Herschel Walker NC, or back to 1942 and include your NC against competition severely depleted by WWII military service (and yes, I know most of those 1942 Georgia players entered military service the following year).
And it’s true: Georgia leads the series 6-4 during Florida’s “Lost Decade.” I’m actually not sure how we won four.
But when all is said and done, the University of Florida football program still has three Heisman winners, three national championships since 1996, and eight SEC championships (seven since winning a championship game became a requirement). And we’re tied with Alabama for most SEC championship game appearances at 12.
So I’m pretty satisfied with our poor, second rate program.
Let’s just say Florida has an all time losing record to Georgia 53-43-2. You will need at least 10 years just to tie. That makes us your daddy!
You just keep on thinking that.
@NashvilleGator…….4 to 1??? Since 20 years ago?????? Why are you going back 20 years???? How about THE OVERALL SERIES THAT UGA LEADS BIG-TIME???????
If you can go back to the 90s or 20 years ago. Then I’ll go back to the 80s when we owned you!!!!! And apparently given the lead we have in the series. We must have owned you long before that to.
But now is what matters, TODAY!!!! And we have OWNED YOU 3 YEARS STRAIGHT!!!!! And the media can say what they like. WE WILL OWN YOU FOR A FOURTH SEASON IN A ROW!!!
By the way. As of January 30th, are you enjoying the 247 standings in recruiting??? Or does it remind you that WE OWN YOU THERE TO???? UGA CURRENTLY #1 IN THE COUNTRY IN RECRUITING!!!!! Me might beat y’all for 15 or 20 more seasons!!!!!
Well the bright side is. At least you don’t have to worry about Alabama anymore. Since you have their equal in the east now!!!! But SC proved on any given Saturday. Except we never overlook the gators!!! Mullen won’t allow that with his big mouth!!!!!
PS. Like it or not. Your best shot to dethrone UGA just came and went!!! We bring back 9 of 11 STARTERS from the #1 DEFENSE in the country!!! And we’re only getting better!!!!!!!!! Y’all couldn’t beat us because you couldn’t score!!!! If we had an offense in that game you lose by 30!!!!! We will have one this year!!!!
King Negan
Over how long of a span?
Apparently on field results don’t matter to many on here..I can understand trolling from Lsu, and Bama fans…UGA is 0-4 against them last 3 years..but 33- 2 against everyone else in regular season…and for all the trash talk from others, those teams lost to this UGA offense..looks like they would be more concerned with their own coach and team problems..instead of CKS and UGA problems… which I admit there are more than a few…
I’m not trolling. Just stating that numbers show that regardless of recruiting outlook, CKS will destroy player confidence, stifle their development, and they’ll leave Georgia as completely undesirable players, unless they transfer. But yes, 5 star players will beat 3 star players more often than not.
Idiot
Troll claims not to be a troll. We know one when we see one. A prick is a prick.
@ gatoroutwest – So how’s Brenton Cox working out at Florida. One of those “Dawg 5-stars” to transfer? Must not be too terrible if the gators want him.
Also, UGA had a 15-5 record vs Florida in the 70/80’s. As like most Gator fans of a certain age I speak to, they think UF football started in 1990 when Spurrier got there. If you’re going to use history, try using all of it, not just the part that supports your side of the story. You sound like MSNBC & CNN….
ATTENTION FLORIDA FANS…………
Y’all have a great program. Nothing to be embarrassed about. So why are y’all trying to hate on UGA???? Is it just because we lead the all time series? That you would have to win for a decade just to tie us????? Or is it because we have OWNED YOU FOR THREE YEARS STRAIGHT??? I mean what is it???? Why all the hate???
Personally I think there is more to it than that. I THINK ITS THE FACT THAT UGA IS #1 IN RECRUITING AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS???? Maybe the fact that we really were #1 last year to and were ROBBED by 247. We only finished #2 in the country!!!!
Yep, that’s what it is isn’t it????? You see UGA being #1 in recruiting basically 3 years in a row. And that bothers you. Because it reminds you that you’ve already been OWNED THREE YEARS STRAIGHT. AND THAT IF RECRUITING IS ANY INDICATION. YOU CAN PROBABLY LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER DECADE OF THE SAME OR WORSE!!!!!
And the worst part for gator fans is. You realize with this kind of recruiting. It’s only a matter of time before UGA CELEBRATES ANOTHER SEC CHAMPIONSHIP AND WORSE A NATIONAL TITLE!!! Then you won’t even have that to hold over our head. Then to make it worse. Y’all have been praying for years that Alabama would fall so you would have a chance. Now that they have stumbled a little you simply can’t enjoy it. Because now it’s like UGA is becoming Alabama all over again!!!!
You think that. If UGA can recruit this way without a recent NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Then what happens when they win one???? Then it will be even worse!!!! They might have a bigger better and longer lasting DYNASTY than Alabama. That is what scares you!!!!!! Well it’s understandable. I get it I really do.
So your anger is not really against UGA. ITS AGAINST ALABAMA!!!!! Your just acting out against UGA because you see Alabama all over again. Possibly even a longer stronger version of their DYNASTY!!!! Well I have your answer!!!
Instead of worrying 24/7 and hating on UGA. Just go out and buy yourselves a UGA team jersey and a helmet. And officially make UGA YOUR NEW TEAM!!!!!!! If you can’t beat them then JOIN THEM!!!!! Then your new team can recruit in the #1 spot and instead of hate you’ll be happy!!!!
Alright I’ve given you your answer!!!! Even Emmet Smith saw the light. He wore UGA colors when he was trying to get his son to pick UGA!!! I think he has a daughter at UGA to. So if Emmet and family can change then YOU CAN TO!!!!!! No need to hate or give up on football. Just switch your love and support to UGA!!!!! We promise we won’t treat you as second class fans!!!!!!!
Drop Mullen and embrace your better future at UGA!!!!! Look how many elite Florida recruits have done so lately. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. THIS IS A SAFE PLACE….RIGHT GUYS???? Make that change.
King Negan