UGA 2020 Recruiting Class: Sam Pittman Continues to Win BIG
Sam Pittman's career in coaching started at Princeton High School in Missouri where he coached just a season (a common theme in the coming story). From there he spent the next 30 years climbing the collegiate ladder stop by stop, from Hutchinson Community college in Kansas, all the way up to the University of Georgia in 2016.
So, what makes Coach Pittman such a great recruiter? As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. Since 2013 Pittman has sent 7 players to the NFL Draft and is definitely adding on to that total with the players he has under him now at UGA, most notably Andrew Thomas.
These highly touted offensive linemen want to see proof of a coach converting potential into results, and Pittman is certainly doing so. So, exactly how good is the offensive line group currently committed in 2020? Well, let's take a look.
Broderick Jones, 5-Star OT
The nation's 2nd ranked offensive tackle out of Lithonia, Georgia is an athletic specimen with ample room to pack on even more size. He displayed the ability to pass pro against the nation's top talent at UnderArmour's Future 50 camp, and though his technique is raw, he displays NFL caliber strength and agility.
The recruiting process was simple for Broderick, he's been all Dawgs all day.
Tate Ratledge, 4-Star OT
Though Tate Ratledge is technically from Rome, Georgia where he attended Darlington high school, take it from someone who attended college in Rome, it's not really Georgia. It's a melting pot of a town that consists of Bulldog, Volunteer, and even Crimson Tide fans.
Ratledge's family fell into that gaudy orange category until last month when the nation's 5th ranked tackle committed to UGA. In fact, his dad removed the Tennessee Volunteer sticker from his truck in turn for a Bulldog one. Ratledge referenced his comfort with Coach Pittman as a big reason why he chose UGA over Tennesee.
Akinola Ogunbiyi, 4-Star OG
Our very own, Brent Wilson had the chance to talk to Aki, the #11 ranked offensive guard in the country, about his commitment to UGA this spring. He stated, "I love Coach Pittman and UGA, and I believe we will win a natty in the future."
Again, the first statement, Coach Pittman. Obviously followed closely by the opportunity to one day win a national championship. Ogunbiyi is a nasty run blocker at the offensive guard position and will fit right in at UGA.
Joshua Braun, 4-Star OT
Receiving a commitment from a 6'6" 335-pound tackle ranked #25 in the country is always sweet, but the only thing that can possibly make it sweeter is if that 4-Star stud is ripped out from underneath those wretched Gators. Well, as is the case for Braun.
The young man from Suwannee High school didn't even need the visit to Athens to commit to playing for Coach Pittman and The Bulldogs. No, he committed three days prior to his official visit.
I think Braun has a great opportunity to move into guard and dominate in the SEC with his relentless motor in the run game and seemingly need to finish blocks through the whistle.
Just for a bit of reference, UGA has (3) commits inside the top-25 tackles, Wisconsin is the only other school with more than one. Add on top of that the potential to sign either Zachary Evans or Kendall Milton, or potentially both, and the run game at UGA somehow looks even more frightening for opponents in the future.
Just because we all love to do it, let's compare UGA's 2020 O-line commits to Florida's shall we?
- UGA: (1) 5-Star / (3) 4-Star
- Florida: (2) 3-Star
