KENNESAW, Ga. — The newest Georgia commit didn’t mince words when he met with the media after his college decision went public on Friday.
Justin Fields said many interesting things. There wasn’t a rhyme or reason for him choosing Oct. 6 to commit to his home-state school, but it’s a date Georgia fans will remember.
His opening remarks also should wind up in an annual performance review for running backs coach Dell McGee.
Fields even went as far to say that he considered McGee to be pretty much family.
“He’s the best recruiter in the country,” Fields said. “Even before I had the offer. Even before I was really even popular. I wasn’t really on the map in the country but he kept texting me back. So we had a longtime relationship, and I think I have a good relationship with all the coaches. I love it up there.”
This decision was not close. At all, in fact. The Bulldogs lapped the field in this recruiting race, and Fields said he couldn’t really come up with his No. 2 school.
“I don’t even know, to be honest with you,” Fields said. “Georgia just kind of separated themselves with what they have been doing this season, how well they improved from last year and just by what they have been doing on offense and defense and also special teams. That’s kind of what separated them.”
He said the Bulldogs had established themselves as the team to beat a month or two ago.
Consider those the appetizers of that press briefing.
Here’s the big stuff that Justin Fields said on Friday
Fields wore a No. 1 jersey on Friday. Georgia running back Sony Michel is set to graduate and relinquish his four-year hold on that number on the offensive side of the ball. Fields said he hopes he can wear that No. 1 at UGA.
No decision has been made yet on enrolling early. Fields said he will have to think long and hard and pray about that upcoming decision. He is also not sure if he will sign his scholarship papers on the first day of the new early signing period on Dec. 20.
He is already recruiting others. Fields did not name names, but he said the following about his role as a recruiter for Georgia. “I know I just committed and everything but I am hitting guys up and telling them to come and join me,” he said. “Because I want the best players to play with me. Each and every day at practice, I want the best defensive players there. I want to get them better and also make myself better.”
No promises were made. Fields made it clear that Smart has not promised him a thing. “Coach Smart hasn’t promised me any playing time,” Fields said. “The only thing he has promised me is that he is going to play the best player. That’s really the only promise I want. My plan is to go in there, work hard, study the playbook and create those relationships with the players and do my best.”
Is his recruiting closed? Fields didn’t answer that question authoritatively at first, but then he followed up with a stronger thought. “I doubt I will take any visits, but we will see,” Fields said. “I will probably just be in Athens the rest of the way.”
He teased a bright future. “All I can say is watch out,” he said. “It is going to be something crazy. You guys just don’t know what is going to happen. It is going to be crazy.”
His final thought was a message to other recruits who also might choose UGA. “Come on and jump on the train and you can go win some national championships.”
Fields seemed fairly poised in his remarks. He even had the wherewithal to pause his answer to a question to wait for the three melodic tones of a new-age school bell to run its course. When it did, he resumed his thoughts about how Georgia’s 5-0 start this year played a factor into his decision.