College Football's Most Important Offers of the Week
New Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart is in a unique position with having to juggle his responsibilities recruiting for his future home while still having unfinished business as the Alabama Crimson Tide’s current defensive coordinator.
Last week, Smart helped Bulldogs fans breath a sigh of relief by helping convince 5-star quarterback pledge Jacob Eason to stick with his commitment in favor of flipping to the rival Florida Gators.
But Smart isn’t just content with one victory over the Gators on the recruiting trail.
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Smart and his staff also offered 3-star safety and current Gators commit Jeawon Taylor last week.
"Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Georgia #Dawgs ⚫️
— J-Sav ✈️ (@__kok___) December 15, 2015"
While Taylor has been a firm pledge to the Gators for more than four months, the offer from Smart is appealing because of Taylor’s relationship with him while he’s been at Alabama, as detailed by Chris Kirschner of DawgNation.
“[Georgia] may be [an option] because he was there (for me) before I blew up and became what I am today,” Taylor told Kirschner. “Kirby Smart is just a great coach. That’s the bottom line.”
Taylor, who also received an offer from Maryland last week, is the nation’s No. 22 safety and the No. 9 prospect from the state of Alabama.
Time will tell if Smart is able to make a dent with Taylor and get him to at least take a visit to Athens in the weeks leading up to signing day.
Oklahoma Offers 2016 JUCO WR, UGA Commit
While the Bulldogs were trying to shore up their class and poach a commit from a conference rival, one of its own pledges was hearing from a powerhouse out of the Big 12.
Oklahoma offered 4-star JUCO receiver and current Bulldogs pledge Javon Wims, according to Demetric Warren of Varsity Preps.
The 6’4”, 215-pound Wims hauled in 47 receptions for 775 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
It remains to be seen whether the Sooners can become a serious threat to flip Wims now that they have officially offered him.
Clemson Offers Homegrown 2016 CB
December has been a great month for Clemson, as the Tigers dominated the recruiting headlines by landing 2016 5-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and a pair of standout 2017 quarterbacks in 5-star Hunter Johnson and 4-star Chase Brice.
Last week, the Tigers offered in-state 3-star corner Troy Pride Jr.
The 6’0”, 175-pounder was committed to Virginia Tech before reopening his recruitment last month.
NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame and South Carolina are among the other primary suitors for Pride.
However, with the Tigers jumping into the mix, they could make a strong run at one of the top defenders from the Palmetto State.
Notre Dame After 2017 DT
Notre Dame landed current stud freshman tight end Aliz’e Jones out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas in its 2015 class.
Irish head coach Brian Kelly and his staff are hitting one of the nation’s top prep programs again after offering 4-star defensive tackle Haskell Garrett last week.
The 6’2”, 280-pound Garrett is the nation’s No. 4 defensive tackle and the No. 80 prospect overall in the 2017 class.
The Irish join Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M and UCLA as programs that have already extended offers to Garrett.
Best of the Rest
- Boston College, Ohio State, Rutgers and Penn State all offered 3-star athlete Jahsen Wint.
- Florida State offered 4-star JUCO defensive end and current Tennessee commit Jonathan Kongbo.
- The Seminoles joined Michigan in offering 3-star tight end Chase Allen.
- Maryland offered 5-star linebacker Lyndell Wilson. The Terrapins also offered 3-star linebacker and current Florida pledge Vosean Joseph.
- Michigan State offered 3-star quarterback Tony Poljan.
- Wisconsin offered 3-star corner Caesar Williams.
- Texas offered 4-star defensive tackle Chris Daniels.
- California offered 3-star corner Terrell Burgess.
- UCLA offered 3-star quarterback Nick Starkel.
- Ryan Bartow of 247Sports reports that USC offered 4-star athlete and current Florida State commit Jamel Cook. Adam Gorney of Rivals reports that the Trojans also offered 4-star defensive tackle Boss Tagaloa.
- The Trojans joined Maryland in offering 4-star corner Jayvaughn Myers.
- Utah offered 3-star athlete Victor Viramontes.
- Alabama offered 3-star defensive end and current TCU pledge Sci Martin. The Crimson Tide also offered 3-star receiver and current LSU commit Da’Monte Coxie.
- Florida offered 3-star defensive tackle D’Andre Christmas-Giles. The Gators also offered 3-star linebacker Elysee Mbem-Bosse.
- The Gators joined South Carolina in offering 3-star safety Chris Brown.
- The Gamecocks also offered 4-star linebacker Dontavious Jackson and 3-star defensive end Joshua Uche.
- GoVols247 reports that Tennessee offered 3-star defensive tackle JaQuan Bailey.
- Josh Newberg of Noles247 reports that Florida State offered 5-star corner and current Ohio State pledge Shaun Wade.
- Miami offered 4-star linebacker Will Ignont. According to Barton Simmons of 247Sports, the Hurricanes also offered 4-star athlete JaCoby Stevens.
- Virginia Tech offered 4-star running back Kyshaun Bryan.
- Michigan offered 4-star quarterback Bailey Hockman. The Wolverines also offered 4-star athlete Malcolm Askew and 3-star safety and current UCLA pledge Jaquan Henderson.
- Northwestern offered 4-star quarterback Jack Coan.
- Arizona State offered 3-star tight end Logan Rudolph.
- Oregon offered offensive lineman Popo Aumavae.
- Alabama offered 3-star defensive end Michael Allen.
- Florida offered 5-star linebacker and current Baylor commit Baron Browning.
- Kipp Adams of Dawgs247 reports that Georgia offered 4-star quarterback and current Alabama pledge Jake Fromm.
- ESPN’s Gerry Hamilton reports that LSU offered defensive tackle Emmanuel McNeil.
- Ole Miss offered 4-star defensive end Malik Herring.
- Tennessee offered 3-star defensive tackle Rutger Reitmaier.
- Texas A&M offered 3-star athlete Antjuan Simmons.
- Vanderbilt offered quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
- Florida State offered athlete Dominick Blaylock.
- Vanderbilt offered linebacker Owen Pappoe.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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