Georgia’s signing day headliner was a familiar face: KJ Bolden.
The 5-star safety is one of Georgia’s most experienced recruits in the 2024 cycle. Kirby Smart recruited the Buford (Ga.) athlete throughout his high school career. Bolden made one of the most stunning decisions of the day on Wednesday.
On the first day of the early signing period, Bolden switched his pledge from Florida State to Georgia. Bolden will shortly become the Bulldogs’ 28th early signing period signee.
As a result, Georgia has 316.03 points in this year’s signing class, the third-highest total in program history.
“Coach Kirby, he’s just different. He’s really different, plain and simple,” Bolden told Dawgs247. “He’s different from all the other coaches. He likes to build relationships. He can be your friend, your buddy, your brother, and your coach at the same time. He’s really a mentor.”
This recruitment came full circle for Georgia at the final hour.
The Bulldogs had been the odds-on favorite for the majority of his recruitment. But he shocked much of the college football world by committing to his one-time dream school Florida State on Aug. 5.
Georgia never stopped recruiting the Seminoles 5-star commit. Bolden visited Georgia for the South Carolina game early in the season. Smart, Will Muschamp and director of recruiting David Cooper went to go see Bolden on an in-home visit last week. That’s when this recruitment started to take a final turn.
Florida State had to fight off Georgia and Auburn late. Ultimately, the Bulldogs won that recruiting battle.
“Coach Kirby has been recruiting me longer than anyone since the ninth grade,” Bolden said.
Bolden’s commitment to Georgia’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class brings the Bulldogs to 28 members of the 2024 class. He joins Demello Jones, Ellis Robinson IV, and Ondre Evans in this defensive backs class.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound safety ranks as the nation’s No. 1 safety, No. 15 overall recruit and the No. 3 prospect in Georgia.
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