From the Big Apple to Bulldog: Five-star o-lineman commits to Georgia
Last December, the Georgia Bulldogs made the top ten list for Brooklyn, New York-based five-star offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson.
"UGA has been a childhood favorite for me," Wilson told UGASports.com at that time. "They have promising classes coming up, and I think their program can do special things in a few years."
Today, more than a year later, the nation's no. 6 overall player has announced he will take his sizable frame and talents down south, pledging his commitment to Kirby Smart and company.
“I think I will fit in well there,” Wilson told Rivals.com's Adam Friedman ahead of his trip to Athens last weekend. “One thing Coach [Sam] Pitman has stressed is their need for tackles. Georgia’s class has a ton of great guards and a pair of great tackles committed, and their skill positions are unbelievable. Anybody that watches college football can tell you they have the players at the skill positions to do whatever they want to do. I think I’d fit in very well and I’m compatible with that offense. They run the ball a lot and I come from running the ball here. When I camped there my pass protection skills became like ten times better thanks to Coach Pittman."
That relationship with offensive line Coach Sam Pittman paired with the lure of Athens formed a situation that was more than Wilson could turn down.
“There’s just something special about that town, and the coaches seem like really great guys,” Wilson said following his visit over the summer. “I spoke to [Kirby Smart]. When I was with [Sam Pittman], I liked the way he coached me, and we went through a film session.”
Looking ahead, the 6-foot-8, 354 pound tackle will plan to sign with the Bulldogs on National Signing Day, and, while the idea may have seem far-fetched when the offer came, Wilson seemed to always know that it was not a great stretch.
“When you think about it, New York isn’t really the best place to find football," Wilson said over the summer. "All of my top options are about ten or more hours away, so there’s not much to sell me. I’ll willing to go anywhere to go to the best team I can play for.”
More to come.