ELLENWOOD, Ga. — Jadon Haselwood has a one-year-old Bulldog named “Rookie.”
His family welcomed the pet to their home without the slightest idea that he’d be committing to Georgia before his 16th birthday.
“That was the crazy part about it,” he said. “When I got it, I guess I might have thought it would be cool if I did play with the Bulldogs one day. I just had it as a pet. That was just a dog. That wasn’t me thinking about college when we got her.”
That’s just how the way things all worked out.
Haselwood, the nation’s No. 10 overall prospect for 2019, chose Georgia over Ohio State on Thursday afternoon.
The Cedar Grove High School standout shared that decision in an exclusive commitment video from SEC Country Studios. He becomes the fourth member of the Class of 2019 to commit to Georgia.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect rates as the nation’s No. 2 receiver for 2019. That also checks off an important stigma for Georgia’s recruiting efforts under Kirby Smart.
The Bulldogs have been able to sign prolific 5-star quarterbacks in Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm but had yet to land the commitment from one of the nation’s truly elite receivers.
Haselwood’s choice changes that. Georgia receivers coach James Coley had made him a priority for the Class of 2019.
“I’m pretty tight with that guy,” Haselwood said. “Everything I hear about him is great. I never hear anybody say that he doesn’t know what he is doing or that he might be out and leaving up from Georgia anytime soon. .. He’s a real cool person and I can genuinely tell he is ready to do some great things there.”
His relationship with Coley was a major factor, among other things.
“I wanted to hurry up and get this process over with,” Haselwood said. “I’m just stuck on Georgia. That’s where I want to be. I know that’s the place for me.”
He took a visit to Georgia in late January that changed his recruiting game.
“When I put that jersey on that felt pretty good,” Haselwood said. “It was like that just fit me.”
He also stressed the vibe he has with coach Kirby Smart.
“The relationship I have with Coach Smart shows me why I need to be at Georgia ever time I see him,” Haselwood said. “We never talk about the same stuff. When I go on other visits, it seems like all the other coaches always talk about the same stuff with me. Not with Coach Smart. We catch up on life. Every time I go to Athens and see Coach Smart it is a good convo. It just seems like talking to family.”
Haselwood plans to enroll early in January of 2019 at Georgia. That will be after he plays in the 2019 U.S. Army All-American Game. He’s already been selected to that game.
He’s just 15 years old, but the premise of the video was how a sophomore All-American already knows where he wants to play college football.
“A lot of people may think that, but they don’t know my situation,” he said. “I’ve thought about it and this is what I want. I already know where I am going and I am a pretty stubborn person.”