Recruiting: Georgia adds a pair of commitments over the weekend
Recruiting: Georgia adds a pair of commitments over the weekend
Georgia added a pair of commitments from two class of 2023 prospects - five-star safety Joenel Aguero and four-star interior offensive lineman Kelton Smith - over the weekend.
With those additions, the Bulldogs moved up to the No. 3 overall spot in the nation’s team recruiting rankings on 247Sports.com. They currently have 16 commitments as of Monday.
Joenel Aguero
The 6-foot, 195-pound defensive back chose Georgia over Miami, Ohio State, and Florida, among others. He had scholarship offers from over two dozen more programs.
Aguero is rated the nation’s No. 34 overall prospect, No. 4 safety and No. 34 prospect out of Massachusetts, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings.
He will play his senior season at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Ma., after spending his junior year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fl. Aguero played his first two seasons at St. John’s before transferring.
The Massachusetts native is familiar with Georgia’s program. He and Lewis Cine, a former safety and 2022 NFL first-round selection, are from the same town in the Old Colony State.
"I always wanted to play in the SEC," Aguero said, per ESPN. "I feel like it was [a goal], definitely. The SEC is big-time football. That's where you're really going to play some dawgs. It's going to help me get acclimated when I get into the [NFL]. It's going to be good for me."
Scouting Report:
Owns the requisite size of a stout, tone-setting safety who could also drop down to the linebacker level and give you quality snaps. Between 5-11 and 6-0 with plus length and a well-developed build at 200 pounds entering senior year. Build and play style of a hammer of a safety, but possesses the athleticism of a true corner. Outstanding combine testing data over multiple exposures. Flashes terrific linear closing speed and broad pursuit range. Excels playing forward, whether starting over the top and coming down or running the alleys. Triggers especially fast in those situations. Owns valuable offensive snaps earlier in high school career with resulting above average ball skills. Generally smooth and twitchy at the same time, but shows an occasional redirecting hitch in man against higher-end athletes at receiver. Still possesses athleticism to provide make-up speed. Intense field demeanor. Sometimes sacrifices tackling technique hunting for knockout blows. Personnel chameleon who should give a defense countless snaps thanks to ability to stay on the field in myriad scenarios. Athletic and skilled enough to match up, especially with backs and tight ends, and strong and physical enough to stick his nose in the muck and set the tone. Projects as a potential impact high-major back-seven defender with high-floor immediate competency, but also verified athleticism that should only continue to increase. Could eventually become an early-round NFL Draft target thanks to physical specs and versatility. - Gabe Brooks, 247Sports
Highlights:
Kelton Smith
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound interior lineman became the Bulldogs’ 16th commitment when he gave his pledge to them on Friday. He joins four-star Bo Hughley and three-star Joshua Harris as the only two other offensive linemen in Georgia’s 2023 recruiting haul.
Smith chose in-state Georgia over Texas A&M, Florida State, LSU and Florida, among others. He is rated the nation’s No. 223 overall prospect, No. 10 interior offensive lineman and the No. 20 player in the state of Georgia, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.
Smith felt ‘at home’ with the Bulldogs’ coaching staff, especially with run-game coordinator coach Dell McGee, who is also from Columbus, Ga. McGee coached at Carver-Columbus High School for nearly a decade, which is where Smith is currently enrolled at.
“Georgia just really feels like home to me and every time I go it just makes me more and more at home,” Smith told 247Sports. “Me and the coaches have good relationships, like all the o-line coaches there and Dell McGee. Also, it’s just a place where I know I’m going against the best every day and that’s going to make me better.”
Smith has played at both the guard and tackle positions for Carver. He also throws shot put and discus for the Tigers’ track and field program. Smith placed fourth overall in the shot put at the 2021 GHSA High School Track and Field State Championships for Class AAAA.
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