UGA football recruiting update for the week of March 29, 2016, as Kirby Smart continues to sell prospects on Georgia.

It is March, so it’s more than natural for teams to have slow weeks on the recruiting trail. Kirby Smart probably isn’t too worried how the past seven days have gone considering his Bulldogs are sitting at No. 9 in the 2017 class rankings. 

UGA did extend offers to three new recruits in that time, though. Wide receiver Joseph Lewis, tight end Jake Marwede, quarterback Emory Jones and tight end Mustapha Muhammad all now have scholarships from the Bulldogs on the table. Both Lewis and Marwede are in the 2017 class while Jones and Muhammad  are 2018 prospects.

Smart has his eyes on the West Coast with the offer to Lewis, who’s from Los Angeles. He’s  6-foot-3, 200 lbs and uses his size to his advantage in the red zone. Lewis’ superb body control allows him to hover and get a food down on the sideline or near the back of the end zone. He has trouble beating press coverages at times, so the technique needs work, but he also has the ability to pick up yards after the catch. There’s a reason why he’s a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 wide receiver in the nation. 

As far as Marwede goes, he’s definitely a pass-catching tight end. He’s not the best blocker, but does possess the frame to be decent if he can improve his technique and get stronger (6-foot-5, 235 lbs). While his route running isn’t great, Marwede is so athletic he presents a matchup problem for defensive coordinators. He’s too quick for linebackers and too big for defensive backs. He can line up outside the numbers and win jump balls in the end zone.

Jones still has a lot of time before he needs to make a decision, but the 2018 quarterback is a natural athlete at 6-foot-4, 177 lbs. While he can use his legs to make plays outside the pocket, Jones has solid arm strength and a natural ability to throw on the run. His throwing mechanics aren’t as wild as we’ve seen from other athletic quarterbacks over the years. The release is fairly quick, without a hitch in his motion. Jones flashes solid arm strength with a natural touch on deep balls.  

While Muhammad (6-foot-5, 225 lbs) can line up outside the numbers like Marwede and take advantage of jump balls, he’s better suited for bunch formations and releasing out of a three-point stance. He’s a better blocker than Marwede but still tends to lose leverage because he stays too high when run blocking. Muhammad serves as a check-down option over the middle and a safety blanket for quarterbacks with his ability to secure possession when receiving. It’s pretty clear Smart is looking for downfield playmakers at the tight end position. 

Below is how UGA’s 2017 class looks right now.

UGA Football Recruiting Update

Complete Class

Top Targets

Bulldogs Buzz

Tweet Of The Week

Scouting The Enemy

Recent UGA Offers

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