Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia was the host to one of the top undecided recruits left in the nation this weekend, and Laremy Tunsil, the nation’s No. 5 recruit and top offensive tackle, came away with a favorable impression of the Bulldogs.
Tunsil bonded with teammates over paintball, watched film with offensive line coach Will Friend, had dinner at Sanford Stadium and went to church with head coach Mark Richt during his time in Athens. Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall were two of the players that Tunsil spent time with over the weekend, and the two rising sophomore running backs would love to have Tunsil blocking for them over the next few years.
Perhaps one of the biggest impressions was not left on the 6-6 296-pound left tackle, but rather on his mom who said she loved it at Georgia.
The Bulldogs will be ranked in the top three or five teams at the start of next season, and with a loaded offense returning a ton of talent and with the likelihood that Tunsil is penciled in at left tackle right away. Ultimately, I think that playing early is the main selling point, and will be enough to convince Tunsil that Athens is the place to call home for the next three to four years.
Next up for Tunsil is a trip to Ole Miss, where Hugh Freeze is continuing to assemble a dynamite recruiting class and where Tunsil could start as a true freshman and Florida State. He has already visited Alabama, so the two-time defending SEC east champions are in direct competition with the two-time SEC west champions.
Georgia is my prediction for where the Lake City, Fl native eventually lands and he said he won’t announce his decision until signing day, so there will be some suspense until Feb. 6 when Tunsil makes his decision.
Ultimately, I believe that Tunsil will be in Athens next season and the three happiest to hear that news will be Gurley and Marshall and quarterback Aaron Murray who will have a new bodyguard.
Follow me on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt
Patrick is the host of “The Wake-up Call,” on Sportstownchicago.com airing Wednesday mornings from 8-10. View his show’s website here.
