4-Star OT Owen Condon Commits to Georgia over Michigan, Oklahoma, Others

The Georgia Bulldogs picked up an intriguing commitment for their 2018 recruiting class Saturday in the form of behemoth offensive lineman Owen Condon.

Condon announced his decision on Twitter:

Condon is a 4-star prospect who rates as the No. 23 offensive tackle and second-best player at the position joining the college ranks out of Oklahoma, according to the Scout.com player rankings.

The biggest question concerning the Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School star's future is whether he can improve his first-step explosiveness.

All the other raw tools are there. He's got the size (6'7", 300 lbs), power and ability to get leverage by getting a good bend out of that massive frame to create a push in the run game. He's also showcased the occasional mean streak coaching staffs usually like from their players in the trenches.

Alas, he can be a little slow at the snap. While it wasn't a major issue against smaller players in high school, the more athletic defensive ends at the collegiate level would take full advantage of that.

Eddie Radosevich of SoonerScoop.com provided a look at Condon in action:

He could still become a valuable member of the line if that initial burst doesn't develop, but he'd likely need to shift inside to guard to make it happen. It's something he discussed with Kevin Sinclair of Slap the Sign during the recruiting process.

"I play left tackle and my high school runs a spread but we run a power run game, so we kind of mix it up so I can fit in any scheme," Condon said. "I think I fit into playing tackle in college but if they need to move me to guard I feel like I could transition wherever I need to."

Ultimately, few positions in football are more crucial to success than left tackle, so Georgia will give Condon every opportunity to prove he can hold his own at the key spot. That said, guard still feels more like his long-term landing spot.

The potential position change will also impact when he cracks the Bulldogs lineup. If he handles the jump well and stays at tackle, he could become a contender to start by his sophomore year. Making the transition to guard may take an additional season.