Fansided

Trent Thompson commits to Georgia: Bulldogs get nation’s No. 2 recruit

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 2, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; A Georgia Bulldogs helmet sits on the sideline during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; A Georgia Bulldogs helmet sits on the sideline during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

In a move that had been expected for months, five-star defensive tackle Trent Thompson (Albany, Ga. Westover) committed to the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday evening, technically he committed at Dawg Night, but made it public today.

More from College Football

“When I went to Dawg Night,” Thompson said when asked when he knew Georgia was the team for him. “It just felt like home. A lot of the players talked to me and everything. Based on their opinion and my facts, it is the better place to go. I like the coaching staff. Coach (Tracy) Rocker, he’s a great coach. He won the Lombardi Trophy and the Outland Trophy in the same year, and he can tell me inside and out how to play defensive tackle.”

The 6-4, 292-pound Thompson nearly committed to Georgia on two occasions over the last year, but made the news official on his grandparent’s anniversary. Thompson dropped from the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite Rankings after Nike’s The Opening in July when he did not participate.

“We definitely feel like he’s a future first-round NFL draft pick. His ceiling is so high. He hasn’t reached it yet.

Thompson is still ranked as the No. 2 recruit in the nation, No. 1 defensive tackle and the top recruit in the Peach State.

He narrowed down his options for Tuesday’s announcement to Auburn and Alabama, but there was no suspense when he made his decision public in front of a large crowd at his high school. In fact, all 60 crystal ball predictions on 247Sports had predicted he’s commit to Georgia.

“Georgia has been his leader since day one — he really feels comfortable on their campus,” Westover coach Octavia Jones told Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “And he has a great relationship with the coaches at Georgia.”

In a loaded class for defensive tackles this season, it’s Thompson who stands out among the rest with his first step, hand quickness and explosiveness at the tackle position is unrivaled in a loaded class for 2015.

Thompson had 83 tackles and 12 sacks last year as a junior and Jones thinks he has only begun to scratch the surface with how great he can become.

“We definitely feel like he’s a future first-round NFL draft pick. His ceiling is so high. He hasn’t reached it yet.

Live Feed

Georgia Baseball: UGA Adds Purdue Transfer Paul Toetz
Georgia Baseball: UGA Adds Purdue Transfer Paul Toetz /

South Bound & Down

  • Georgia Football: The hype Is real For Ladd McConkeyDawn of the Dawg
  • What-if's in Georgia football History: 2012 SEC ChampionshipDawn of the Dawg
  • Georgia Football: Looking back at the Bulldogs career of Kirby SmartSouth Bound & Down
  • Georgia Football: The dawgs Offensive line Gets disrespected againDawn of the Dawg
  • Georgia Football recruiting at an unfair level right nowSaturday Blitz

    • “He’s going to be so much better on the next level when those college coaches get to spend more and more time with him. They’ll improve his technique, and he’ll get a lot of experience going against other top-notch players from across the country. That’s all going to be make him that much better.”

    Thompson is the type of player who will thrive in Jeremy Pruitt’s defense and start as a freshmen and could be on the fast track for the NFL as his high school coach believes.

    With the commitment from Thompson, Georgia now has 18 commitments, including two from five-star recruits and owns the nation’s No. 8 class and the No. 5 class in the SEC, according to the 247Sports team rankings.

    Home/College Football