Georgia May have the Best 2017 Offensive Line Recruits in the Nation

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: HogManInLA

On Friday, Georgia got a big boost to their 2017 class with the addition of five-star New York offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson. The addition of the Brooklyn area product to the Bulldogs class now gives Georgia five offensive lineman heading to Athens next season, which maybe the best line haul in the nation.

Wilson alone does not make UGA’s class superior, but it helps. The Poly Prep talent is listed anywhere from 6-7, 350 pounds, to 6-8, 354; regardless, it all adds up to an overpowering lineman ready to blow open holes for offensive line coach Sam Pittman. Pittman has built a reputation for building behemoth lines that dominate the opposition’s front seven allowing running backs to play behind NFL sized lines. Wilson fits the mold.

In addition to Wilson, Georgia currently has 6-4, 325 pound, Netori Johnson committed. The Cedar Grove High School talent committed in March laying the groundwork for what has transpired. Rivals rates Wilson as the No. 2 guard in the nation and the No. 49 overall player in the 2017 class. 247Sports rates him as the No. 5 guard overall and the 82nd best player in the country. Since Johnson shut his recruiting down early, his offer sheet is not as big as others but still impressive with Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, Louisville, Kentucky, Auburn, and Michigan among the many wanting him.

Another in-state recruit making this class special is Andrew Thomas. The Pace Academy standout is listed at 6-5, 310 pounds, capable of playing guard or tackle at the next level. Listed as a tackle by most services, Thomas is rated at the No. 12 tackle in the nation by 247Sports, No. 19 by Rivals. The four-star cut off his recruitment in July keeping solid with the Bulldogs over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, Miami, South Carolina, Clemson, Auburn, Florida, Memphis, and Notre Dame to name a few.

D’Antne Demery is another in-state recruit that has helped pump this class up. Demery got onboard on June 15 over reported offers from Tennessee, Temple, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, and Michigan. The four-star tackle, listed from 6-6, 304 to 6-5.5, 319, is rated as the No. 16 tackle in the country by 247Sports and No. 34 by Rivals.

The fourth in-state offensive lineman on the list is Justin Shaffer. Shaffer may not have the recruiting fanfare of his cohorts but has as much upside as any of his soon to be new teammates. Shaffer came to notoriety with Cedar Grove High School playing alongside Netori Johnson. Shaffer, a three-star, is ranked No. 20 in the nation at guard by 247Sports and No. 26 by Rivals. Shaffer’s other offers includes Florida, Louisville, Wake Forest, Charlotte, and Kentucky.

A lot will be expected of all the linemen over time but D’Marcus Hayes might be under the biggest spotlight early. Hayes, a JUCO transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast will be expected to contribute right away. The Bulldogs are losing at least two starting linemen to graduation from the 2016 class in center Brandon Kublanow and right tackle Greg Pyke. Hayes could compete for that right tackle spot during the spring. Listed at 6-6, 320, the former Madison High School star (MS) has the size, strength, and length to be an impact player. Hayes was a consensus four-star recruit, a rarity ranking by recruiting services to junior college players. Hayes committed on Dec. 12 over offers from Arkansas, TCU, South Florida, Mississippi State, Louisville, Florida, and Auburn, among others, signing on Dec. 14.

Other teams pushing Georgia for 2017 offensive line supremacy includes Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Auburn. Ohio State has a pair of five-stars in tackle Josh Myers (Miamisburg, OH) and guard Wyatt Davis (Los Angeles, CA) that makes this class special as is, but Davis and Myers are their only two offensive line commits at this point. The Buckeyes will surely add more lineman to the class, landing in-state four-star tackle Thayer Munford would help immensely.

On paper, Notre Dame already has the best tight end haul with four-stars Brock Wright and Cole Kmet to help out their line mates. Adding to the ability to push around the opposition in the future includes four-stars Joshua Lugg (Wexford, PA), Robert Hainsey (Bradenton, FL), and Aaron Banks (El Cerrito, CA). Central Catholic tackle Gillan Gibbons, a three-star, rounds out the foursome. The Fighting Irish have 18 total commits, room to add another lineman if desired.

Auburn has a rising haul that could compete for one of the best in the country. Clavin Ashley (Orlando, FL), Austin Troxell (Madison, AL), and Nick Brahms (Navarre, FL) are all studs. Ashley is ranked as a five-star tackle by 247Sports, No. 7 in the country. Troxell and Brahms are rated No. 25 and No. 27 respectively. With just 16 total recruits committed, the Tigers have room to add a couple more potentially boosting the class to the best in the country.

Alabama maybe the true challenger to Georgia thus far. Alex Leatherwood, Jedrick Wills, and Elliot Baker are each highly ranked talents that every other program in the nation would love to have. Kendall Randolph and Hunter Brannon are in-state talents that help round out the class. Leatherwood is considered the No. 2 overall lineman in the country and Wills is rated the No. 11 lineman by 247Sports.

There are a dozen or so uncommitted players that could help add on the field and chatroom value to any recruiting class. One of the top tackles left on the board is Foster Sarell. The Graham (WA) talent could help the Huskies class or help make USC’s group one of the best in the country. Some of the other most desired players left on the 2017 board includes Austin Jackson (Phoenix, AZ), Ceasar Ruiz (Bradenton, FL), Tedarrell Slaton (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Chuck Filiaga (Aledo, TX), Adrian Ealy (Gonzales, LA), Stephan Zabie (Austin, TX), and Tony Gray (Lawrenceville, GA).

The Bulldogs 2017 class is now ranked No. 3 in the nation by Rivals with one five-star recruit, 14 four-stars, and five three-star talents. 247Sports sees the class at No. 3 as well but with two five-star recruits, safety Richard LeCounte III and Isaiah Wilson.

Georgia 2017 Verbal Commitment List (20)

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

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

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

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

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: The Red and Black; Georgia fans supporting the Bulldogs.