UGA bolsters top recruiting class with No. 1 OLB

5-star exterior linebacker Justin Williams dedicated to Georgia on Monday night time.

Williams, the top-ranked exterior linebacker within the ESPN 300 and the No. 14 total prospect within the 2024 cycle, provides to the Bulldogs’ top-ranked class by turning into the third five-star recruit to conform to play for Kirby Sensible’s program, becoming a member of cornerback Ellis Robinson IV (No. 1 total) and quarterback Dylan Raiola (No. 2).

Williams, out of Oak Ridge Excessive in Conroe, Texas, selected Georgia over Oregon. He made official visits to the 2 campuses on successive weekends in June.

“It was simply studying about approach, simply learn how to enhance your recreation, with linebackers coach [Glenn] Schumann and all the things,” Williams instructed ESPN of his official go to June 23-25. “[Player development assistant] Coach [LeJacque] Martin, we have been speaking about simply the place I slot in with this system and stuff like that. Coming in as an early enrollee, simply speaking about my religion in God and stuff like that and all of the coaches have given me a variety of fundamentals that I can use simply to enhance my recreation.”

With Williams now within the fold, Georgia now has 10 top-100 prospects as a part of a category that options 18 ESPN 300 pledges total and the highest two exterior linebackers — Williams and Demarcus Riddick.

Georgia is not resting on its laurels after claiming back-to-back nationwide championships and seeing its protection finish the final two seasons within the high two nationally in scoring protection — first in 2021 (9.5 factors per recreation) and second in 2022 (12.8).

Williams ultimately might plug into a gaggle that ended final season ninth within the nation in whole protection (292.1 YPG) and second in 2021 (253.9). The Bulldogs’ high two tacklers, juniors linebackers Smael Mondon Jr. (76 tackles; 49 solo) and Jamon Dumas-Johnson (70 tackles; 45 solo), return this 12 months.

“I believe I will slot in good,” Williams mentioned. “I believe I am a bodily man. I believe I play into all the things that they do. I like how they are a blitz crew, they are a Christian crew and I believe I can match into that lots.”

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Williams earned 2022 Texas District 13-6A Defensive Participant of the Yr honors after recording 105 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8½ sacks for Oak Ridge.

“I am speedy slightly bit,” he mentioned. “I might say I get to the ball fairly quick. I believe I can show simply getting off of blocks, simply studying the road slightly bit extra. So getting my eyes slightly bit higher. I believe my protection is all proper. However relating to possibilities to cowl, I can show that slightly bit.”

Earlier this month, Williams’ highschool teammate, defensive finish Joseph Jonah-Ajonye (No. 21 total), dedicated to Georgia, which he referred to as his “dream college.”

Williams is elated to have the ability to be a part of his shut good friend in Athens and proceed to forge a bond that has been tight since their first days at Oak Ridge.

“Me and Joseph, we’re like brothers,” he mentioned. “We go about [our work] on the sphere collectively, we go and put our work in off the sphere. We simply discuss all this recruiting stuff. On the finish of the day, that is my homie, that is my trip or die.”