Which elite prospect is the hardest to read heading into National Signing Day?
That answer is easy. It’s 5-star recruit Demetris Robertson from Savannah Christian in Coastal Georgia. Do not expect him to make his decision by National Signing Day.
When it comes to Robertson, there are but a few absolutes:
- He’s thinking academics first. That’s why Cal, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and Stanford are in a finalist pool with UGA and Alabama.
- The senior prefers a straight shooter in his recruiting. Come at him straight. No angles are advised.
- He’s a terrific player. Robertson had not lined up as a receiver in a game in two-plus years, but then shined at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl practices. He’s been recently named as the nation’s top-rated prospect at receiver.
- Robertson is very loyal. He’s taking an official visit to Georgia Tech this weekend because that program boasts a powerhouse degree and was also the first school to offer him a scholarship. He always maintainedthe Yellow Jackets would get an official visit and it appears he will follow through on that pledge.
Everything else is up in the air. What about Alabama? Why is he not visiting the school he was committed to for almost a year before opening things back up? Why Georgia Tech? What about this Notre Dame stuff? Is Stanford still his leader? Why Stanford? Why not use an official to UGA? Will he take an unofficial to UGA?
The nation’s No. 1 receiver is also not expected to make his decision on National Signing Day. A person close to his recruiting decision said to expect Robertson to wait at least a week after the Feb. 3 date on the calendar, which every college football fan has circled.
Expect Robertson to be meticulous. Those close to his decision feel he “does not want to rush” his college choice.
The reason why hinges on great academics. Not poor ones. Robertson, who’s at least a B-student in a demanding curriculum, told Dawgnation.com this month he needed to raise his SAT score by about 100 points to qualify for admission into Stanford. He took the SAT again within the last week.
Stanford has a flat scale for admission. It goes like this: Make the score. Take the official. The official visit is not offered to a prospect without that score.
If Robertson does not increase his score, then expect his decision to come down to Georgia, Alabama, Cal, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. If he does, look for his timeline to extend another week. He would still have to take the visit out to Palo Alto, Calif., and check out Stanford’s campus.
“He has three official visits left in his back pocket right now,” a person close to his recruiting decision said. “Stanford and Tech will get two of the three visits he has left. That last one is pretty much up in the air.”
UGA head coach Kirby Smart is expected to be in Savannah Tuesday night for his lone in-home visit with Roberston. He will be at his basketball game. Expect to see coaches from Cal and Georgia Tech there as well.
His mother, a key advisor for his decision, is currently expected to make the trip to Georgia Tech with her son this weekend.
His twin sister is another key factor in his decision. Those two would like to pair up and attend college together, but she has already graduated from another private school in North Georgia. She has also not made her decision at this time.
Robertson should not be expected to take an official visit to UGA with one of those remaining visits. That person with knowledge of his recruiting decision said his level of familiarity with the school, the program and both Smart and lead recruiter Glenn Schumann is enough that he does not need to take an official visit to UGA at this time.
Those relationships with Schumann and Smart date back to their days when they were recruiting him for Alabama. He also came away very impressed by UGA receivers coach James Coley after their first meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, player rankings and ratings are from the 247Sports Composite.
Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.