The annual National Signing Day arrived on Wednesday, allowing college football clubs to finalize their 2024 signing class. There wasn’t much going on for the Georgia Bulldogs, which isn’t awful given their December success.
Georgia had not signed another scholarship player as of 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, but is still expected to bring in the nation’s top-ranked class. The Bulldogs were unable to sign five-star athlete Terry Bussey, but missing out on him was not a major disappointment given what the team has already added to this year’s roster.
Georgia finished December on a high note, signing all 27 of its commitments and flipping Florida State safety commit KJ Bolden. Kirby Smart and his team were able to produce yet another top-tier recruiting class.
With Georgia’s 2024 signing class signed, sealed, and delivered, we at Dawgs247 decided to take a deeper look at the group and bestow a number of accolades onto the newest Dawgs. Here is what we came up with.
ALPHA DAWGS
Nate Frazier is Ben Wolk. At the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, the Mater Dei running back may have been the most popular among other recruits. He finished an entire practice session with a big touchdown catch, which he repeated at the all-star game. Frazier conducts himself like he’ll be a leader in Athens, and he has the explosive playmaking ability to back it up.
Kipp Adams is Ryan Puglisi. His confidence was never questioned. Whether quarterbacks were recruited or turned down, Puglisi kept his head down and concentrated on his own route. At the Elite 11, it was evident that his appearance had piqued the interest of his fellow competitors. While he spent nearly a year being compared to Dylan Raiola, he lands in Athens as the only freshman quarterback with the physical capabilities and mental makeup to be QB1 in the future.
Jordan Hill: Puglisi. Puglisi gets high respect for how he managed his recruitment. Puglisi had already committed to Georgia when Raiola did, but the Connecticut native never wavered in his decision. That paid off for Georgia when Raiola switched to Nebraska, and Puglisi’s performance during bowl practice boosted the team’s confidence. Puglisi has demonstrated his self-confidence for more than a year, and I believe it will serve him well in the future.
POISED TO START
Ben Wolk: Ellis Robinson. All eyes will be on the nation’s top cornerback as Georgia attempts to determine who its cornerbacks will be for the 2024 season. Despite his freshman status, Robinson will be given every opportunity to secure the starting role. Robinson’s length and athleticism give him everything he needs to challenge Daylen Everette, Daniel Harris, and Julian Humphrey this season.
Kipp Adams is KJ Bolden. While Robinson is likely the most physically gifted cornerback since Champ, he is not the only five-star freshman defensive back in Athens. Bolden has an equally obvious road to starting in the secondary. While Jacorey Thomas and Dan Jackson are expected to compete early on for the opportunity to replace Javon Bullard, Malaki Starks could follow Bullard’s lead and swap positions, going from free safety to strong safety, to get Bolden on the field. Bolden is the type of guy who can make plays deep in coverage while using his quickness to force turnover.
Jordan Hill: Robinson. Ben addressed the most important points here. Robinson is a top talent who happens to be at a position of need for the Bulldogs. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a starter come September.
FUTURE FIRST-ROUNDER
Benjamin Wolk: Joseph Jonah-Ajonye. It still amazes me that Jonah-Ajonye has only recently turned 17 years old. His progression from 185 pounds as a freshman to 280 pounds as a senior has been impressive. There is also no reason to believe this will slow down anytime soon. Jonah-Ajonye has the potential to be one of college football’s top defensive linemen after a couple more offseasons of strength and conditioning work. He witnessed his stock grow and fall during the process, but after everything is said and done, his upside leaps out the screen.
Kipp Adams mentions Ellis Robinson. Georgia has signed several five-star cornerbacks throughout the years, including Branden Smith, Damian Swann, Tyson Campbell, and Kelee Ringo. But with Robinson, Georgia appears to have added its most complete cover corner to compete with the electric playmakers of today. Given how tough it is to predict how linemen will develop in college, Robinson is the best bet in a class loaded with extraordinary talents to hear his name called on Day 1 in 3-4 years.
Jordan Hill: Justin Williams. Williams is an athletic freak, and Georgia has a reputation for producing exceptional talent at his position. Williams has a long way to go before he can compete with Roquan Smith or Quay Walker, but he is well-positioned to continue the Bulldogs’ long tradition of elite inside linebackers.
OFFENSIVE PLAYMAKER.
Ben Wolk is Jaden Reddell. What does Georgia need to do to rebound from Brock Bowers’ NFL departure? Consider another tight end with a larger body who is known for his ability to make plays with the ball. That’s what Todd Hartley brought in alongside Reddell. He’s more physically conspicuous than Bowers, and his athletic stats will give Bowers a run for his money. The only question now is whether his output will be comparable to that of the best tight end in college football history. There are enormous shoes to fill, but there is plenty of talent to do so.
Kipp Adams: Reddell. The 6-foot-4 tight end arrives in Athens after the program lost its all-time finest player. There is no need to have similar expectations for Reddell, but there are plenty reasons to be enthusiastic about his presence on the Dawgs’ roster. Reddell has already gained 10 pounds of muscle during offseason exercises with the program, and his explosiveness has Hartley and the offensive coaches excited about the new addition to the system.
Jordan Hill: Sacovie White. White personifies the phrase “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” White, who stands 5 feet 8 and weighs 170 pounds, went off as a senior at Cass and led every GHSA division in receiving yards. You don’t accomplish that without genuine skill. White may need some time to adjust, but I believe he has a promising future as a slot receiver.
