Sony Michel Commits to Georgia: What 5-Star RB Brings to Bulldogs

Sony Michel, a 5-star running back, has committed to Georgia, which makes Mark Richt and his Bulldogs one of the hottest programs on the 2014 recruiting trail.

Michel is a superstar recruit who is going to fit right in at Georgia, a program known for producing great running backs.

ESPNDawgNation reported the commitment via Twitter:

As it stands, Michel represents the marquee recruiting pickup for Georgia. He's ranked as the No. 2 running back in the 2014 class, and he's the No. 1 player from the state of Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite.

For as much talk as there's been about the importance of in-state recruiting for Georgia, that Richt and his staff were able to go into Florida and pull out the best player from that extremely talented state is huge.

Georgia out-recruited a hot Miami program and the always formidable Notre Dame, so there's a lot to be proud of if you're a fan of the Bulldogs.

There's no doubting that Georgia is on quite the recruiting hot streak. Radi Nabulsi of ESPN reports via Twitter that the Bulldogs now have two ESPN 150 recruits:

Michel has a great combination of speed and size. He's 5'11'', 205 pounds and runs a 4.50 40-yard dash, according to 247Sports. He'll be effective between the tackles, on stretch runs to the edges and even as a receiver leaking out of the backfield. 

He has great straight-line speed, but where he stands out is with his footwork and elusiveness. Michel displays quick feet and a cut move that allows him to juke defenders and change the angle of his run. He has a good stutter step, makes sharp cuts and has the explosion to plant and change direction. Speaking of explosion, he hits the hole hard out of the backfield and gets to the second level quickly.

For this reason, Michel will be effective on stretch plays in which he has to beat defenders to the edge. And  once he finds open space, he's near impossible to catch. He should be one of the faster players on the field, even at the college level. He also runs with long strides, so he covers a ton of ground quickly.

He's fast and elusive, but Michel also has an element of power to his game. He has a tremendous stiff arm and runs with a forward lean, so at the very least he's always picking up yards. He'll also be able to surprise  defenders and run through tackles, especially if they're of the arm-tackle variety. So look out for that as an underrated part of his game.

If he stays committed, Michel will be able to compete with 2013 4-star A.J. Turman for the No. 3 spot behind Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall—and that's a competition he should win. In time, look for Michel to take the starting role once Gurley or Marshall move on.

He definitely projects to be a future starter, and he could become one of the best running backs in the nation before his career at Georgia is done. 

Note: All scouting and analysis done via tape study from this video via speedzonerecruits.org on YouTube.