Georgia secured a significant recruit to its 2025 class with the in-state pledge at cornerback.
Closing the deal with 4-star cornerback Jontae Gilbert was a team effort, but Georgia succeeded.
On Saturday, the Douglass-Atlanta (Ga.) standout revealed his college decision. His final visit signaled his decision. Gilbert chose Georgia over other programs like NC State and Georgia Tech.
Gilbert discussed the choice with Dawgs247, and a conversation with Kirby Smart at the end of July was essential in finalizing the agreement.
Yes, I worked out. “But it was the conversation with Kirby that really opened my eyes,” Gilbert told Dawgs247. “He was straightforward with me. He stated he wanted me. He stated that he wanted and required my presence. He mentioned a number of guys leaving the cornerback room next year, so he’ll need me, [cornerback commit] Shamari Earls, and others.”
Gilbert and Georgia’s lives changed dramatically on May 31.
Gilbert has been recruited by Georgia for numerous years. He had already contacted Georgia coaches Will Muschamp, Glenn Schumann, and Fran Brown. But the Bulldogs’ biggest push came after his camp session with Smart, Donte Williams, and Travaris Robinson.
Gilbert knew from that point forward that he was a priority target.
“Really, I went to camp. I did well at the camp. Coach Smart was quite impressed with me. That was great. We talked for an hour after the camp, discussing what he liked about me and where I needed to improve, which I appreciated because he was honest with me. That was all very good.”
Gilbert ran a 4.51 at camp, removing any doubt about his ability to play cornerback at Georgia.
“There was some supposition that I could run but not cover, and so on. I came there to prove that I could do what others said I couldn’t. “It felt good,” he explained. “Coach Smart appreciates how I compete at a high level. He told me he wants to surround himself with people who enjoy competing.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound cornerback will play both boundary corner and nickel at Georgia. His primary recruiter has been Donte Williams, who recruited him while he was at USC.
“To him, when he was at USC, I was the No. 1 guy he wanted,” says Gilbert. “That relationship with Coach Donte played a big part.”
With Gilbert’s commitment, Georgia’s Class of 2025 now has 23 promises, including defensive backs Gilbert, Earls, Todd Robinson, Jaylan Morgan, and Rashad Johnson. Georgia now has an over team score of 291.77 in the 247Sports Team Rankings, leapfrogging LSU back into third place behind Ohio State and Alabama.
