re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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1. GEORGIA

The Georgia Bulldogs signed the No. 1 recruiting class in 2018 and the Bulldogs are on their way to another strong class in 2019. Kirby Smart prides himself in keeping the top talent home, so with the camp in Atlanta this weekend, there were plenty of Bulldog targets competing.

Jalen Perry is a four-star defensive back and he is committed to Smart and the Bulldogs. He left with an invite to the Rivals 100 five-star challenge. Staying in the 2019 class, Derrick McLendon was named the Defensive Line MVP and he has the Bulldogs in his top five. A decision for him could come before his senior year. This camp was loaded with top underclassmen, and many are considering UGA. Zykeivous Walker, BJ Ojulari, Myles Murphy, Sergio Allen and Arik Gilbert are five on that list. Perry was the only one committed Sunday, but Georgia will get more from this camp before all is said and done.

If you want to talk about one Georgia may be in with a little more than people think, look at Amari Kight from Alabama. He was back at Georgia for a second time this weekend on Saturday. Those like Kight are very hard to get out of Alabama, but he spoke very highly of the Dawgs on Sunday.

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4. ALABAMA

Since Nick Saban took over at Alabama, he has made Georgia a priority in recruiting. He has definitely had his share of success in the Peach State. Kirby Smart has made it a little more difficult for him in Georgia since he took over at his alma mater, but Saban recently picked up a commitment from Rashad Cheney. He is a defensive lineman who worked inside and outside Sunday.

Others in Georgia that Alabama will likely pursue are Myles Murphy, Arik Gilbert, Harrison Bailey and Joquavious Marks. All four are 2020 prospects with offers from the Crimson Tide.

Where is starts for Alabama though is at home and two of the best Sunday were Clay Webb and Amari Kight. Both are top targets for Saban and his staff and Alabama does as good of a job as anyone at keeping top talent home in most years.

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5. TENNESSEE

Jeremy Pruitt is working to change the culture at Tennessee and to get the Vols back to where their fans think they should be — competing for SEC titles. With the talent base in Tennessee not too deep, the Vols have to go outside their border to fill the majority of their recruiting class each year. They must have at least some success in the state of Georgia.

At Marietta (Ga.), the Vols have offered a list of prospects and at least three that competed Sunday have become major targets. The one closest to a decision is wide receiver Ramel Keyton. It could come down to Auburn and Tennessee, but he still lists other possibilities. Harrison Bailey and Arik Gilbert are two others at Marietta that have the Vols on their radar. Gilbert actually named Tennessee as his top school Sunday in an interview before the camp started.

Linebacker Kalen Deloach is another one that Tennessee is recruiting. Clemson, South Carolina and Michigan are at least three of the schools the Vols are up against in this race.

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Nick Saban picked up a big commitment earlier this month for Alabama’s 2019 recruiting class from four-star defensive lineman Rashad Cheney. Gridiron Now caught up with Cheney to discuss his commitment, his dream to play in the NFL, how he feels disrespected in the recruiting process and much more.

“I wasn’t planning on committing this early, but on my visit to Alabama everything went great and even better than I expected,” Cheney told GN. “I just fell in love with it.

“When I went down there the coaching staff just treated me like I was a special recruit to them. I have a really good relationship with the staff there.”

Cheney, (6-feet-2, 270 pounds) from Ellenwood, (GA.) Cedar Grove, is among the top-20 defensive tackles in the country and a top-275 overall talent nationally in the 2019 class.

Despite being rated in the top-275 overall, Cheney feels he is being slighted by his ranking.

“To me, I still feel like the ranking I have now is disrespecting,” Cheney said. “I’m here to play football. I only look at the rankings every now and then just to see how many more times they can disrespect me. I feel that I should be higher on the ranking boards, but I’m here to play football and not worry about rankings.

“When you commit to Coach Saban, it’s not like everyone has an offer from there. So if he lets you commit there, you can pretty much ball and are pretty good. I’m just here to play football and chase my dreams of playing in the NFL.”

Cheney, isn’t the biggest defensive tackle prospect in the country, but he says in this case, size doesn’t matter.

“I’m not the biggest defensive tackle, but as you see today in the NFL, the best defensive tackles are in the 6’1 or 6’2 range,” he said. “Aaron Donald of the Rams is 6’1, 285 pounds and even a guy like Jonathan Allen who played for Alabama and was a first-round pick, he was only around 6’2, 280 pounds.

“I relate my game to them because I have real good get-off when the ball is snapped. I have real good speed and I’m real quick and agile.”

When asked if his recruitment was over now that he is committed, Cheney left no doubt with his response.

“I’m going to Alabama,” he said.

Cheney had this message for the Alabama fan base.

“Keep your eyes on me the next few years because you will be hearing about me, ‘Roll Tide.’”

Alabama now has six commitments for their 2019 recruiting class. All six prospects are ranked in the top-275 overall recruits nationally.

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