Georgia Football Recruiting 2017: 5 must-have recruits for Bulldogs
By John Buhler
The Georgia Bulldogs have the No. 3 2017 recruiting class heading into National Signing Day. Here are the five recruits they’ll need land to finish strong.
Heading into the second season of the Kirby Smart era in Athens, the Georgia Bulldogs are crushing it on the recruiting trail. Smart cemented a reputation as an elite recruiter while he worked for Nick Saban with the Alabama Crimson Tide. In his second season leading his alma mater’s program, Smart and Georgia are reaping the benefits.
With National Signing Day rapidly approaching on Wednesday, Feb.1, Georgia has the No. 3 class according to 247Sports. Georgia has 23 commitments, six of whom enrolled early. The Bulldogs have two five-stars, 18 four-stars, and three three-star commitments.
Georgia pretty much has the bulk of its 2017 recruiting class already. Smart and his coaching staff will need to protect its stockpile of football talent on National Signing Day. Here are the five players Georgia needs to land on February 1st.
Netori Johnson
Offensive Guard, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, GA)
Smart and his coaching staff have made two things a massive priority in this recruiting cycle: 1.) Keep the best players from Georgia in-state. 2.) Sure of a porous offensive line. By garnering Netroi Johnson‘s commitment on April 19, Georgia did well in both.
Johnson is the No. 6 guard, the No. 10 player from Georgia, and the No. 89 player nationally. 247 Sports has him as a four-star recruit with a 0.9564 grade. The senior guard from Ellenwood is 6’3″, 341 pounds. He projects as an absolute road grader on the interior of the offensive line.
Johnson’s primary recruiter was defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, with offensive line coach Sam Pittman quickly coming on a secondary recruiter. Schools like Auburn and Ole Miss could potentially pry Johnson away from Georgia, but that seems a bit farfetched.