Who Are The Top 10 Prospects in Georgia?
With the 2021 cycle in full swing, Dawg Post ranks the top 10 prospects in the state of Georgia before camp season gets underway. The rankings will fluctuate as we see more of them during the camp circuit, but this is how we see the list today.
1) Amarius Mims: The massive 6-foot-7 315-pounder has the look of a future 1st round tackle one day. He is long, athletic, and still moves like a big tight end prospect. He plays with toughness, balance, and he’s fundamentally sound. He can get back in his stance to handle speedy rushers from the outside, but has the size and strength to dominate in the run game. He has the frame to add on more muscle as well. The sky is the limit for this 5-star left tackle out of Bleckley County.
As far as his recruitment, sources continue to say the Bulldogs are sitting in a very comfortable spot for Mims at the moment. He’s been to Athens countless times and has a very good relationship with 5-star QB commit Brock Vandagriff. The Bulldogs will have to off hold the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, and LSU, but they could be tough to beat in the end for the middle Georgia star tackle.
2) Brock Vandagriff: The nation’s top-ranked pro-style quarterback comes in at No.2 in the Dawg Post state rankings. The Prince Avenue Christian (GA) star has good size, good arm strength, accuracy, and leadership qualities. He’s a proven winner who brings that “it” factor. He has great arm talent but also knows how to escape the pocket and make plays with his feet. He’s mobile enough to make plays outside of the pocket, but his ability to push the ball down the field and make the right decisions is what really stands about Vandagriff.
The 5-star is committed to Georgia and is currently recruiting hard for the Bulldogs in this 2021 class.
3) Smael Mondon: The Paulding County (GA) star is one of the more gifted athletes in the state. He’s a true football player who makes plays. Whether it’s on offense, defense, or special teams, Mondon always finds a way to make a big play. He plays with a relentless motor and has all the tools to grow into an elite linebacker at the next level. He has good size at 6-foot-3 215-pounds who can really run. If he can continue to add more weight without losing his speed and athleticism, Mondon has a chance to be a special linebacker down the road.
The Bulldogs are firmly in the mix in Mondon’s recruitment, but so are multiple other schools. He took a visit to Georgia the weekend of January 18th and told Dawg Post that he plans to be back again at some point this spring. Mondon also took recent visits to Auburn and Tennessee following his Georgia visit. LSU and Alabama and two other teams still involved in Mondon’s recruitment.
4) Barrett Carter: There’s a lot to like about North Gwinnett (GA) star linebacker Barrett Carter. He may not be the biggest guy, but he brings great linebacker instincts and a physical presence with his 6-foot-1 210-pound frame. He’s got that “linebacker speed”. He’s quick to the football and closes really well on the ball carrier. He can go sideline to sideline against the run and knows how to cover the middle of the field against the pass. He’s technically sound and rarely out of position. Every opposing coach that Dawg Post has spoken with about Carter has raved about him as a player. He’s a terrific young man off the field as well, but his natural instincts, quickness, and his ability to tackle have made him a top target for the Bulldogs in the 2021 class.
Like Mondon, the Bulldogs are very much in the mix for one of the state’s top linebackers. Carter released his “Top 11” earlier this month, but Dawg Post feels the Bulldogs might be at the top of that list behind the scenes. The Georgia staff has made him a priority and they appear to be in the best position to land him at this time.
5) Terrence Ferguson: He may not be flashiest prospect, but Ferguson is a guy who just does his job. He’s been on the recruiting scene for some time now and it’s easy to see why. The Peach County (GA) standout is one of the more fundamentally sound linemen in the state. He engages in his block properly and does a great job of driving his opponent backwards until the whistle. He plays with excellent leverage and pad level, putting his guy on the ground more often than not. He also brings some versatility to his game, having enough strength and toughness to play inside with enough athleticism to possible play tackle at the next level. He’s a guy who does everything well on the field and doesn’t appear to have a ton of bad weight on him.
The four-star doesn’t give a ton away about his recruitment, but the Bulldogs are considered to be towards the top for Ferguson, another Bulldog target from middle Georgia. The Bulldogs don’t miss on many targets from that area, but they’ll have to fight off Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida, among others. Sources say a lot of teams have Ferguson high on their board. IF the Bulldogs continue to push, Dawg Post thinks they’ll be tough to beat.
6) Nyland Green: Dawg Post saw Green compete live at the Lovejoy (GA) MVP Camp where he was named a top performer. The 6-foot-2 180-pounder has length, good speed, and plays with some swagger. He’s long and lean, but he’s very physical. He can get grabby here and there, but it was easy to see in March of 2019 that he was bound for a very strong season later that fall. He’s a ball-hawking defender with good ball skills as he also plays receiver for his Newton (GA) squad. He can cover 1-on-1, but he’s able to play some safety as well. He has good speed on the outside to cover bigger receivers, but he can also match up well against tight ends.
The Bulldogs got in the mix late but were able to host him on a visit on February 1st. They’re towards the top for multiple 5-star cornerbacks, so the staff will be able to pick and choose which ones they’ll want to push hard for moving forward. Alabama, Auburn, and multiple others have offered Green and are firmly in the mix.
7): Micah Morris: The Camden County (GA) offensive tackle has the potential to finish in the final 3 or 4 of these rankings when it’s all said and done. The young 6-foot-4 320-pounder is still raw, but he has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in the state. He’s a big body who is getting better and better each time Dawg Post has seen him. He plays hard, plays with balance, and has lots of muscle in his lower body. He can dominate at times but still needs to transform his body a little bit and work on being technically sound. The Camden staff says the light has gone off” for him now, and Dawg Post got an up-close look at Morris live last fall. The potential is certainly there for him to be an impact offensive guard at the next level. He moves well for someone his size but needs to keep improving his footwork if he wants to take on elite pass-rushers on the next level.
As for his recruitment, there are plenty of teams still in consideration. The Bulldogs are believed to be in that top group, but it appears a few other schools might be pushing harder for Morris at this time. After signing a large group of offensive lineman in 2020, numbers in the 2021 class will be tight. If the Bulldogs push for Morris they’ll be in the race the entire way and likely be one of the favorites when a decision is to be made.
8) Deion Colzie: The big-bodied receiver out of Athens Academy (GA) could be higher on this list, but his route running is a question mark for Dawg Post. At 6-foot-4 190+ pounds, Colzie does a great job of using his size and reliable hands to his advantage. He doesn’t play against the best competition, so Colzie can use his raw talent to dominate opposing defensive backs. Can he get open on a consistent basis against quality defensive backs? That’s what Dawg Post would like to see. He doesn’t need to run refined routes to dominate in his region, so that will have to be something he continues to improve on. He has decent speed for his size, but he likely won’t out-run a ton of defensive backs at the next level. He’s a great option on the outside and athletic enough to break tackles down the field.
Colzie committed to Notre Dame on October 12th and is believed to be a strong commitment at this time.
9) Jordan Hancock: He may not be the biggest guy at 6-foot-0 170-pounds, but the North Gwinnett (GA) cornerback is one of the top pure cover cornerbacks in the state. He lined up against some of the state’s top receivers and more than held his own last fall. He’s got speed, has quick feet, and knows how to turn around and make a play on the ball. He’s just a football guy. He competes hard and has great ball skills. He has skyrocketed up the boards of some major programs recently after his impressive junior season.
The Bulldogs hosted Hancock in January for a Jr. Day visit. He is very close to teammate Barrett Carter who admits they could possibly be a package deal down the road. The Bulldogs have offered, but they’ll have to fight off Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, and others.
10) David Daniel: The big Woodstock (GA) safety will bring a physical presence to Georgia’s secondary the second he gets on campus. He has good footwork, knows how to read a defense, and can step up and defend the run. His film may not blow you away, but he’s got good size at 6-foot-2 185-pounds who can really help against the run. He dissects plays well and will bring some leadership to Georgia’s defense down the road.
Daniel committed to Georgia on September 13th and has been working hard on the recruiting trail for the Bulldogs.