2024 Five-star quarterback prospect Dylan Raiola committed to Georgia on Monday afternoon.
With Dylan Raiola committing to Georgia on Monday afternoon, the Dawgs are shaping up to have an elite recruiting class for 2024.
Raiola is the No. 1 player in the country for the 2024 cycle. The Phoenix native picked the Dawgs over USC and his father Dominic's alma mater of Nebraska. Raiola decommitted from Ohio State late last year, but has been tied to Georgia for the better part of the last six months. He became the 12th hard commit for the Dawgs, as well as this particular UGA class' third five-star prospect.
So with Raiola committing to the G, here are three more blue-chippers Kirby Smart has to have.
Dylan Raiola commits to Georgia: 3 top-flight recruits Kirby Smart needs to land
Take one good look at Sammy Brown, and don't tell me he ain't no Dawg, bruh?!
No doubt about it, Georgia is an immensely talented high school football state. Five five-star prospects hail from The Peach State, as well as 25 top-150 prospects, according to the 247Sports Composite. While not everyone in-state will end up teeing it up Between the Hedges, one guy who just looks the part of the next defensive star for the Dawgs is five-star linebacker Sammy Brown.
Brown is the No. 1 linebacker prospect in his class, the No. 3 overall player from Georgia and the No. 12 overall prospect. The Jefferson standout has 28 official offers, but is taking official visits with these five programs: Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Glenn Schumann is his primary recruiter to Georgia, and Brown will be taking his official visit on June 2.
I would think Georgia has a fantastic chance at signing him, but Clemson and Tennessee could be enticing for him as well. Keep in mind this one very important thing about Brown's recruitment, though. His former high school teammate is the Dawgs' up-and-coming defensive back star Malaki Starks. They could play on the same defense again to help make their home state proud.
Whatever team Brown ends up signing with will be getting epic flow, and potentially the next Boz.
Let's get the best safety in the 2024 class in KJ Bolden to stay in-state, alright?
Georgia already has the top-rated defensive back in the 2024 cycle in cornerback Ellis Robinson IV by way of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Of course, Smart is a former all-SEC safety, so one would think he would prioritize building up the back end of his defense constantly. Not only that, but defensive coordinator Will Muschamp also played the position for the Dawgs in college.
That brings us all down to the top safety prospect in the class in KJ Bolden out of Buford. He may be labeled as an athlete coming out, but we typically see Smart's staff put its best athletes on the defensive side of the ball so they can play freer faster. Defensive backs coach Fran Brown is his primary recruiter with recruiting coordinator David Cooper serving as Bolden's secondary in this.
Bolden has 40 official offers, but is taking official visits with these four programs so far: Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State. Historically, Buford hasn't always been a guaranteed place that sends its best players to Athens, so Brown, Cooper and the rest of Smart's staff will need to continue to put in the work to make sure Bolden is a Dawg. His recruitment should be fascinating.
With Brown being the primary recruiter on Robinson's commitment, you have to like his chances.
Let's get Dylan Raiola a five-star to throw the ball to with WR Mike Matthews!
Outside of a bookend tackle or an edge rusher, the next best thing to pair a five-star quarterback coming in would be a five-star wide receiver. The state of Georgia definitely has one of those in five-star wideout Mike Matthews out of Parkview. The Lilburn native has 33 official offers. He is looking hard at Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee and USC, but is only visiting USC thus far.
As with Bolden, Matthews' primary recruiter is Brown and his secondary recruiter is Cooper, who just so happens to be from the same hometown as Matthews. What makes Matthews' recruitment so interesting is Parkview is a high school sports powerhouse that sends star players everywhere. The Stinchcomb Brothers may have played for Georgia, but there are no guarantees.
Ultimately, Matthews' visit to USC may have had something to do with potentially linking up with Raiola. Then again, playing in Lincoln Riley's offense is a great way to end up being a first-round draft pick at the wide receiver position. Georgia has not had a first-round wide receiver drafted since A.J. Green left school year early to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft. Green has recently retired.
It would so be hard to turn down Georgia in-state, especially with Raiola possibly throwing to you.
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