Counter Intel is the smart Ohio State fan's look at recruiting action taking place within the Big Ten and top national programs.
Georgia Adds Three Commits
It was a big week for the Bulldogs and Kirby Smart. After landing five-star Malaki Starks last week, Smart and company followed that up by landing a trio of prospects this week.
First off, purported Clemson lean Jalon Walker began trending to Georgia just last week, and it didn't take long for him to make it official, committing to the Bulldogs on March 28.
BREAKING Top247 LB Jalon Walker commits to #Georgia "It's a great opportunity to be great." More here as #UGA adds to @247Sports No. 2 recruiting class: https://t.co/GU0axWiubn
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) March 28, 2021
Walker, a North Carolina native, is ranked as the No. 50 overall player in the 2022 class, the No. 4 outside linebacker, and the No. 2 player in North Carolina. As mentioned, he was pegged as a Clemson lean for a very long time, but the Bulldogs swooped quickly. Walker was also being targeted by Ohio State and Alabama, among others.
In an almost polar opposite commit, the Bulldogs then landed Aussie punter Brett Thorson.
I am extremely honoured and excited to announce that I have committed to study and play football at the University of Georgia on full scholarship for 2022#GoDawgs #BO22MOVES #CommitToTheG pic.twitter.com/CCOywXusHE
— Brett Thorson (@brett_thorson) March 31, 2021
Thorson is a product of ProKick Australia, the training center that has produced so many Aussie specialists in recent years, including former Buckeye Cameron Johnston and 2021 Buckeye signee Jesse Mirco.
Finally, Georgia was able to secure a pledge from four-star running back Jordan James.
BREAKING: 4 RB Jordan James has just Committed to Georgia!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 29, 2021
The 510 205 RB from Murfreesboro, TN chose the Bulldogs over Alabama, Florida, & others
With the addition of James, Georgia is now only 5.32 away from passing Ohio State for the #1 Class in 2022 pic.twitter.com/beGuN4O8F4
James, a Tennessee native, is rated as the No. 179 overall player in the 2022 class, and the No. 17 running back. He had other reported offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, and Oklahoma, among others.
As mentioned in the tweet, the Bulldogs have inched extremely close to toppling the Buckeyes for the No. 1 class in 2022. Currently, Ohio State's 11-member class has a 240.87 (96.04 avg.) ranking, while Georgia's 12-member class has a 235.55 (95.46 avg.) ranking.
Rutgers Keeps the Train Rolling
Greg Schiano has done an excellent job so far of getting the Rutgers program back on track, and now finds himself in the top ten of the 2022 recruiting rankings after adding a commitment from four-star running back Samuel Brown.
Committed... pic.twitter.com/vStyO3nboC
— Samuel Joseph Brown V (@SjbV5) March 31, 2021
Brown, a Pennsylvania native, is ranked as the No. 339 overall player and the No. 30 running back in the 2022 class. He had other offers from Baylor, Michigan State, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others.
It has been said so many times, but Schiano needs to keep some of the best players in the northeast home if he wants to have any shot at turning around Rutgers. So far, he has done that successfully. All nine of Rutgers' commits are ranked within the top 1000 (for comparison, in 2019, they had just four in their entire class). Keep Choppin', baby.
Taylor Groves De-Commits from Michigan
After committing to Michigan on Feb. 5, 2021, four-star Taylor Groves put himself back on the market just about two months later by de-committing from the Wolverines.
First I would like to thank @UMichFootball and @CoachMo15 for the opportunity, with that being said, I will be 100% opening my recruitment back up!!
— taylor groves (@iamtaylorgroves) March 30, 2021
The Tennessee native is rated as the No. 233 overall player and the No. 13 safety in the 2022 class. He had committed to Maurice Linguist, one of the many new coaches on the Wolverines staff this year, but apparently thought he made a pledge too soon. Michigan's 2022 class is now ranked 19th, 10 spots behind Rutgers.
