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The Georgia Bulldogs added their first defensive tackle to the class of 2017 on Monday when Devonte Wyatt flipped his commitment from South Carolina to UGA.
3-star Decatur (Ga.) Towers DT Devonte Wyatt tells me he's flipped from South Carolina to Georgia pic.twitter.com/DJs7I0nW1K
— Woody Wommack (@RivalsWoody) August 8, 2016
Wyatt, a 6’4”, 300-pound multi-sport star for Towers High School in Decatur, Ga., originally pledged to the Gamecocks in June. However, he attended a camp in Athens in July, impressing coaches, planting the seeds for his change of heart.
Wyatt is a under-the-radar prospect. He already possesses the type of size to make an immediate impact at the next level. But what stands out most about Wyatt is his tremendous athleticism.
At his high school, Wyatt competes on the track team, participating in the discus, shot put and 100 meters.
That experience helps Wyatt on the football field. He has explosive short-area quickness and strong hands. His 247Sports profile says he runs a 4.6 40-yard dash. While that time is unverified, watching Wyatt on film it seems believable.
His offer list wasn’t expansive, likely due to him not attending a ton of camps until this summer. Now that Wyatt has pledged to Georgia, expect other schools to take notice. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him soar up the rankings with a strong senior season. His best football is clearly ahead of him.
Committing to Georgia was an easy decision for Wyatt, as he details to Chad Simmons of scout.com.
It feels good to be a Bulldog. My parents love Georgia. When we went up there last, Georgia showed my parents that I would be taken care of. They showed them the education plan, how I would have the help I needed, and they just made sure my parents knew that I would be in a good place there.
With Wyatt’s commitment, Georgia is at No. 4 in 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings. A closer look at UGa’s recruits and you’ll notice of the 15 commits, 11 are from the Peach State. That’s a message head coach Kirby Smart used in convincing Wyatt to choose the Bulldogs.
Coach Smart has delivered a good message to me and my parents—he just told me to stay home, represent where you are from, play for the school close to home, and allow your mother to see you whenever she wants to.
It’s a message that’s clearly resonating with talent from Georgia. Even more good news could be on the horizon as four of the state’s top 10 prospects remain uncommitted.