Georgia Football: Is the Bulldogs' Top Recruit Underrated?

Defensive tackle Trent Thompson, the Georgia Bulldogs' top recruit heading into national signing day on February 4, is underrated.

According to 247Sports, he's the best player in the state, the top player at his position and the nation's best overall prospect. But he's still underrated.

Thompson, who stands taller than 6'2" and weights more than 300 pounds, is an absolute force in the trenches. Barton Simmons, the Director of of Scouting for 247Sports, notes that Thompson has everything one could hope for in a defensive lineman:

"

On the line of scrimmage, attitude is probably even more important than talent. Trent Thompson is the No. 1 player in the country because he has the right amount of both. The Georgia commit is fiercely competitive, he's got a nasty streak, he plays hard and he's extremely physically gifted.

"

And yet Thompson is underrated.

Thompson isn't stealing headlines as national signing day approaches. In fact, he's not getting all that much attention at all. Instead, he's quietly staying loyal to the commitment he made to Georgia back in August.

Perhaps the calm, waning days of his recruitment are a reflection of selflessness. Or perhaps his self-assurance and confidence in his decision-making process have left him with little to say. In any event, the nation's top overall prospect and Georgia's top recruit is staying largely out of the limelight.

Credit: 247Sports

Though Thompson's commitment will be appreciated by Bulldog loyalists on national signing day and on the field as soon as next season, the lack of drama means Thompson's signing may be overshadowed by others this week.

There's a bit of injustice in that respect given the degree to which Thompson has already "Committed to the G."

This past weekend, Thompson took an official visit to Georgia. According to Rusty Mansell of 247Sports, the trip wasn't about being recruited so much as it was about recruiting future teammates. Thompson told Mansell he was there to "work on others," including former Alabama commit and defensive back Rico McGraw.

Thompson's efforts to lure in McGraw and keep other Bulldogs in the fold are invaluable and Thompson is optimistic about the Bulldogs' crop on national signing day.

"I hope we get him on signing day, he would be a big part of this class," he told Mansell of McGraw. "We have to keep the rest of our commits too."

That team-first mentality sets Thompson apart in an era of recruiting defined by wacky press conferences, premature commitments and dramatic changes of heart.

Thompson uses the word "our" with a degree of ownership that surpasses a passive or fickle affinity for the Bulldogs. Georgia is his team, his school and his program. He's already playing a role in shaping its future, and that's what makes the nation's best player paradoxically underrated.

Credit: 247Sports

The measurables jump off the page. He's incredibly quick for a man his size. His agility seems at odds with his brutalizing strength. He dominates the line of scrimmage—even against the nation's best competition.

Trey Scott of 247Sports went so far as to credit the 2015 Army All-American Bowl as the reason analysts tabbed Thompson as the 10th-best recruit since 2010.

But none of those qualities speak to the immeasurable value Thompson has already brought to this recruiting class. There's no way to rate that impact.

If he continues making such contributions, it's going to be awfully hard to measure his success at Georgia over the coming years. And that should terrify future opponents.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.