The one 5-star recruit Georgia football can’t afford to lose in 2021

James Williams would be a wonderful commitment for Georgia football.

If Georgia football gets James Williams‘ commitment, then its 2021 class will be coming into form.

Williams is one of 31 five-star recruits in the 2021 recruiting class in the 247Sports Composite. At 6-foot-5 and 218 pounds, the Opa Locka, Florida native is the No. 1 athlete in his class, the No. 3 player from Florida and the No. 10 player nationally.

The Western High School standout projects to be heading to the Georgia Bulldogs to play his college ball over the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers. We could soon be getting a commitment from the five-star athlete who projects as a safety, but can play on the offensive side of the ball as well at receiver. The other team vying for his commitment is the Miami Hurricanes.

Williams’ primary recruiter is Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, who also coaches the outside linebackers. While at Georgia, Lanning has netted the Dawgs two five-stars in defensive end Nolan Smith and linebacker Nakobe Dean. Lanning may be on the fast track to becoming a Power 5 coach with the way things are going for him at Georgia.

Williams’ secondary recruiter is new Georgia special teams coordinator Scott Cochran. This is Cochran’s first time as a position coach, as he was Alabama’s strength and conditioning coach under Nick Saban for years. While Cochran is new at this, he also has four-star athlete David Daniel on his belt as a secondary recruiter. Watching Cochran grow as a recruiter will be exciting.

With Georgia being a defensive-minded football team under head coach Kirby Smart, the Dawgs need to continue to be exceptional in the back-end. Adding a guy with that frame and that versatility in Williams could be key in Georgia winning a national title within the next half decade. If the Dawgs think Williams is better equipped to be a high-end possession receiver, so be it.

Georgia football needs to land James Williams as part of its 2021 class.

Though Georgia has a way to go in putting together a great 2021 recruiting class, landing a player like Williams will be a tone-setter. The Dawgs already have one five-star committed to play for their football team in dual-threat quarterback Brock Vandagriff from nearby Bogart, Georgia. Had he been uncommitted, he’d be the undoubted top gotta-have-it commit for Georgia in 2021.

Outside of Williams and Vandagriff, Georgia has strong interest from three other five-star players in offensive tackle Amarius Mims (No. 6, Cochran, GA), cornerback Tony Grimes (No. 7, Virginia Beach, VA) and outside linebacker Smael Mondon (No. 26, Dallas, GA). Though Grimes feels like he’s leaning towards the North Carolina Tar Heels, Mims and Mondon have strong UGA leanings.

Though we fully understand the value of Vandagriff at quarterback, why does a guy who doesn’t even have a confirmed position from Florida edge out a can’t-miss offensive tackle or an outside linebacker in-state? It’s a bit more complex that this, but getting Williams’ commitment means he’s not staying in Florida to play his college ball, nor will he be going to Alabama or Clemson.

Not to say getting Mims is a given at this point, but he’s in-state and Georgia offensive line coach Matt Luke is a phenomenal recruiter. Georgia doesn’t miss on great offensive line talent in-state very often. As for Mondon, he too is in-state and plays in the position group Lanning coaches. Don’t think for a second he’s not firmly on Lanning’s radar.

But by adding Williams, it would kind of in a way be like Georgia getting Mecole Hardman, Isaiah McKenzie or Terry Godwin again. We knew they were great high school football players, but once the UGA staff figured out what position worked best for them, it was off to the races. To get a Kam Chancellor safety or a Mike Evans wide receiver out of state, how can Smart not love that?

Williams gives the Dawgs the upside and versatility needed to make for a great 2021 class.

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