Want to attack every day with the latest UGA football recruiting info? That’s what the Intel brings. This entry will convey the thoughts of the 2021 recruiting class in Athens and their thoughts on Amarius Mims committing to the G on his 18th birthday yesterday from Bleckley County High School. 

There’s a reporting world where the thing is to react to everything. How did the Bulldogs play against Auburn? Rinse wash and repeat those same headlines for Tennessee.

How ’bout something new? How ’bout a recruiting decision big enough to check-in and see how the rest of the class feels about it?

The one yesterday Amarius was that big. DawgNation checked in with several members of the 2021 recruiting class. The group right there is coming up as sure and strong as that new weight room and team headquarters expansion.

How big was Mims? Seismic.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart has had unprecedented success on the recruiting trail during his time in Athens. Yet the Mims news was big. If this decision holds (and it should) then Mims will become the first No. 1 prospect from the state of Georgia that will have signed with UGA during Smart’s tenure.

That’s something. Because we all knew that was what kept holding all of the Georgia recruiting classes back up to this point. 

Amarius Mims: The 5-star QB’s hot hand in all of this 

Brock Vandagriff has known Mims for years now. He’s hosted him on trips to Athens and met him at the UGA complex. It was back recruits were allowed to do this thing called “visit” with the coaches which have been tirelessly recruiting them in person at the team facility.

Vandagriff has completed a lot of passes as a prep QB. He will complete hundreds more for Georgia, but he’ll get a big hand here in completing Mims and his commitment to Georgia.

Those two talk pretty much every day. When they decide to go fishing, the 6-foot-3 Vandagriff will act like the father trying to make sure Mims knows where the line is supposed to go. Then he’ll wind up fixing that line and trying to get it back in the water, too.

Vandagriff never really sold Georgia to Mims. They were just continuing to act as friends. Even when he was committed to Oklahoma and Mims was trending to UGA last fall.

But when this Mims decision came to the fourth quarter, he let his boy know he wanted to play with him. The Prince Avenue Christian QB sent a text or two late that may or may not have said he’d kill him if he didn’t pick Georgia. Mims shared that little nugget on his commitment day.

The 5-star QB had hoped to be at the commitment ceremony for Mims on his birthday. Just to support him in whatever he chose to do.

He couldn’t make it. Vandagriff’s Prince Avenue Christian team had football practice at 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Not even the Kirby Copter could have made it from Athens to Middle Georgia that fast for a 3:30 p.m. commitment date.

Amarius Mims made his commitment live on CBSSports from a Zoom connection via a laptop. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

So Vandagriff sent Mims a text on the morning of his decision. Then he probably felt his future back and rib cage both thank him for how good they will feel in 2024 thanks to having Mims protecting them in the pocket in Athens.

What was his reaction to the news?

The avid outdoorsman thought of that #GreatWallofGeorgia and how he can’t wait to squad up in Athens next year.

“It just put my mind at rest,” Vandagriff told DawgNation. “He’s been telling me forever that ‘he’s in.’ My safety in the pocket increased a lot. We have some O-linemen committed now that are some ballers and great guys. Looking forward to it.”

When Mims finally made it public, he sent his buddy another text.

“I texted him and told him ‘Let’s go to work’ and he FaceTimed me around 5:15 that evening and I declined,” Vandagriff said.

He sent back a fun reply.

“What do you want skinny?” Vandagriff typed back. “I’m in the woods.”

Vandagriff was hunting. He was not looking for a 5-star DE from California or a 5-star DT from the Bayou. At least not yet. But he did have his hopes up for a Mims-sized deer.

So is every other hunter in Georgia. He said he saw nine, but nobody that reminded him of his “skinny” future teammate.

“A Mims deer in my mind has a rack so big he has trouble holding his head up,” Vandagriff said.

RELATED: The board drill story that shows the ‘Dawg in Amarius Mims

That relationship between Brock Vandagriff and Amarius Mims goes back for several years. (Amarius Mims/Instagram)/Dawgnation)

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The ’21 commits break down the Mims commitment

There’s just something about Georgia offensive linemen over the last 4-5 years. They are all talented and highly-rated, but also very personable.

Recommitment OG Jared Wilson out of North Carolina is also going to fit in nicely. How did he and the other 2021 commits feel about Mims finally becoming a ‘Dawg?

3-star OG Jared Wilson

“I screamed. The happiest I’ve been in a minute! Truly made my day.” 

4-star TE Brock Bowers

“It’s a huge pickup. Hopefully, it gives us momentum with some other guys, too.” 

3-star DB Javon Bullard

“It was big. Mims is a great player and he’s also one of the closer recruits to me since our counties are close to one another.” 

“[That text thread] is putting the ‘478’ on the map. We have to leave a legacy for those coming up behind us.” 

4-star RB Lovasea’ Carroll

“Man, that’s the best news I done heard all day. I can’t wait to get to Georgia and run behind him. Go Dawgs!” 

4-star ATH David Daniel

“Big W. I can’t say I was surprised because [Brock Vandagriff] told me they were close and he got him on lock. Curious to see this ’21 class in the future.” 

4-star DL Jonathan Jefferson

“I’m excited for him to come. Can’t wait for the battles at practice to make each other better.” 

4-star ILB Jamon Dumas-Johnson

“I just think we just added another great piece to the offensive line. But most importantly the team. I don’t think we are done adding people to the team yet.”

4-star OG Dylan Fairchild

“I think we’re the best O-line class in the country. He’s the final piece in The Great Wall! We have something special going on.” 

3-star WR Jackson Meeks

“That was a really big add for us. We have more to come, though.”

4-star OT Micah Morris

“It is huge, like I [said] before, Mims is a guy we needed and wanted to join the class and more importantly to the Great Wall. This is big time. Go Dawgs!” 

The “Commitment Chain” will be an unforgettable part of the commitment day ceremony for 5-star OT Amarius Mims and the Bulldogs. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

SENTELL’S INTEL

(the recent reads on DawgNation.com)