This is the news Georgia fans have long waited for, with many comparing it to the recruitment of Mecole Hardman.

Yes, finally, Rivals100 defensive end Malik Herring has pledged his commitment to the Bulldogs, a move long expected for the four-star defensive end.

The commitment of the Mary Persons (Forsyth, Ga.) star, who measures in at 6-foot-3, 259 pounds, certainly comes as no shock, as he’s long been considered a Georgia lean.

“It’s a brotherhood," Herring said of Georgia’s commits over the summer. "We’re all close, and I feel like they’re my brothers, because we laugh, joke, and talk about each other. We say some hurtful things, but it’s all love with each other. They’re like my brothers for real.”

One player in particular has aided the cause in a major way - Westlake’s Jaden Hunter.

"(Hunter) is my brother," Herring said. "Me and Jaden are really just brothers. Blood couldn't make us any closer.

Of course, the program and the coaching staff also played quite a role.

“Really, I like what they’ve got going on down there," Herring said of Georgia recently. "The depth chart looks like I can play early. When I talk to Coach [Mel] Tucker, we always have a great talk, and it’s a business talk. Coach [Tracy] Rocker, Coach [Glenn] Schumann, Coach [Kirby] Smart and all the coaches come out to greet me at the door and tell me it’s great to have me back."

The availability of playing time certainly influenced the decision, also.

Herring said as much after Georgia’s struggle against Nicholls State.

"When I see something like that, I see a guy who I’d be up against doing bad, that means I’ve got a better chance to start," Herring said at the time. "If their pass rush isn’t there or they’re not getting it and I come in and go hard on each chance, I could be up on the depth chart fast. That’s how I feel. You can’t take games off. When guys play like that, though, it makes coaches recruit players for those positions harder.”

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