Tate Ratledge, it must be noted, is quickly becoming the very long arms of the recruiting effort for the 2020 class at Georgia.
He has his fun on social media and has his eye on a few priority targets.
DawgNation.com readers and viewers will recall his commitment day on May 13.
When a recruit commits in any setting, the staple recruiting question is what guys he wants to see join him in their class. The first name that came to Ratledge’s mind on his big day was Josh Bruan.
This specific topic here brings to mind a couple of things in relation to Ratledge. The first is that he was just at Georgia this past weekend.
But the guy who could pull off a Schwarzenegger Terminator on Halloween basically offered up this about his weekend plans: I’ll be back.
Ratledge will back in Athens this weekend. He feels he has two pretty good reasons to do so.
The first of those is that Joshua Bruan is still going to take his official visit. He’ll be in town to hang out with a likely future bookend and staple for the Georgia line in the years to come.
The second of those would be 5-star RB Kendall Milton. He will also be in town for his official visit.
“Kendall is a must have,” Ratledge said.
Ratledge made it clear he’s there to do whatever he can to help pave the way for Milton to choose Georgia. That is akin to the same thing he would be ready to do on the field in the SEC, too.
Here’s a refresh of that Kendall Milton film for those who might’ve just spent the last 400 days or so in Italy. That is about how Milton has felt like he was a priority to the Georgia staff. At least.
Joshua Bruan and Tate Ratledge will be a good fit in Athens
Everyone used to point to playing right away on Saturdays. That used to be a tell that an OL prospect would be the real deal.
That might still work that way at other schools but no longer at Georgia. The Bulldogs easily have two players in the program right now in Jamaree Salyer and Cade Mays that could start for a lot of schools in the SEC. That number stretches to Owen Condon, Warren Ericson, Warren McClendon and Justin Shaffer when thinking of guys who could get a lot of good reps at some places the SEC, too.
What do all of those guys have in common? They all currently project to be outside the starting lineup this fall at Georgia. Those guys will all be major team cogs should Roger Goodell’s league call the names of three or even four Bulldogs in the 2020 Draft.
The key thing to think about here with the 2020 signees is what they can be in 2022 when their NFL dreams start becoming more front and center.
It is hard not to picture chains moving when projecting what Braun and Ratledge will look like in the fall of 2021 after the third seasons with Pittman and in the Georgia strength and conditioning program.
They both relish the culture of competition at Georgia. Check out Braun’s answer when asked yesterday what was the single biggest reason why he chose Georgia.
“Competition against the best of the best every day in practice,” Braun said.
It was different. This one wasn’t a clear endorsement for Sam Pittman. That was what Ratledge said when asked that same question. Braun saw it as more about what Pittman is still building in Athens.
Bruan and Rutledge have also already established a good vibe.
“I think [his commitment] is a great add to what we have going,” Ratledge said.
Ratledge is also aware of Braun’s worth aside from his academics, swing dance moves and tennis game.
“I know Coach [Pittman] wanted someone who he thinks can play interior and tackle and he thinks he is a perfect fit and from the time I have been around him he seems like a good dude.”
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