Georgia Lands Safeties Gibbs and Bishop along with LB Rice to Start New Year

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Georgia kicked off the New Year making a run on the recruiting trail landing three recruits in two days. The festivities started off with in-state safeties Deangelo Gibbs and Detravion “Tray” Bishop followed by Alabama linebacker Monty Rice.

Bishop and Gibbs gives the Bulldogs bookends to their 2017 class in the secondary, UGA already had cornerbacks William Poole and Richard LeCounte onboard. Gibbs (6-2, 204) seemed destined to be a SEC recruit despite having over 30 offers from top teams across the country. The Grayson High School playmaker took unofficial visits to Auburn, Tennessee, and South Carolina while taking official visits to Alabama (Oct. 22), Auburn (Dec. 3), and Georgia (Dec. 11). Gibbs committed to the Bulldogs during the Under Armour All-American Game on New Year’s Day.

The Bulldogs have options with Bishop once on campus. The 6-3, 200 pound, talent played safety and quarterback for Terrell County helping the Greenwave to a 7-4 mark in 2016. Bishop was a one-time commitment to Auburn siding with the Tigers on July 25. After three unofficial visits to Athens from October to November, Bishop decommitted from Auburn on Dec. 13 committing to UGA on Jan. 1.

Rice is another flip for Georgia. The James Clemens High School star had offers from every other SEC school committing to LSU on Dec. 12 after taking an official visit to Baton Rouge on Dec. 5. The relationship with the Tigers did not last long with the 6-1, 227 pound, inside linebacker decommitting on Jan. 2 by pledging to the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs have the No. 3 ranked recruiting class in the nation per 247Sports, No. 2 in the SEC. Gibbs and Bishop are both considered four-star talents by 247Sports. Rice is a three-star despite his large recruitment.

Georgia 2017 Verbal Commitment List (24)

CB Richard LeCounte III, 5’10”, 180, Liberty County, Riceboro, GA

CB William Poole III, 5-11.5, 180, Hapeville Charter, Atlanta, GA

SS/ATH Detravion Bishop, 6-3, 200, Terrell County HS, Dawson, GA

SS Deangelo Gibbs, 6-2, 204, Grayson HS, Loganville, GA

LB Walter Grant, 6-4, 236, Cairo HS, Cairo, GA

LB Jaden Hunter, 6-3, 205, Westlake HS, Atlanta, GA

LB Nate McBride, 6-2, 220, Vidalia Comprehensive, Vidalia, GA

LB Monty Rice, 6-1, 227, James Clemens, Madison, AL

DE Robert Beal, 6’3”, 217, Norcross HS, Norcross, GA

DE Malik Herring, 6-3.5, 265, Mary Persons HS, Forsyth, GA

DT Devonte Wyatt, 6-4, 300, Towers HS, Decatur, GA

OG Netori Johnson, 6-3.5, 340, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA

OG Justin Shaffer, 6-5, 330, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA

OT D’Antne Demery, 6-5.5, 319, Brunswick HS, Brunswick, GA

OT D’Marcus Hayes, 6-6, 320, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Perkinston, MS

OT Andrew Thomas, 6-5, 310, Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA

OT Isaiah Wilson, 6-7, 350, Poly Prep, Brooklyn, NY

QB Jake Fromm, 6-3, 220, Houston County HS, Warner Robins, GA

RB Toneil Carter, 5-10.5, 197, Langham Creek HS, Houston, TX

RB D’Andre Swift, 5-9.5, 214, St. Joseph’s HS, Philadelphia, PA

WR Trey Blount, 6-2, 185, Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA

WR Jeremiah Holloman, 6-2, 195, Newton HS, Covington, GA

WR Matt Landers, 6-5, 182, Admiral Farragut Academy, St. Pete, FL

WR Mark Webb, 6-3, 202, Archbishop Wood, Warminster, PA

 

Photo credit: Under Armour All-American Game; Deangelo Gibbs commits to UGA.