Sedrick Van Pran-Granger: All-American OL still feels ‘comfortable’ as a Georgia commit

ORLANDO, Fla. — When one speaks to Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, they come away impressed.

Maybe even more so than from watching his senior year highlight reel from Warren Easton High in New Orleans. But it is close, though.

Eyeball his senior highlight reel first.

Now consider the way that Van Pran-Granger bobbed and weaved through every question posed to him at the Under Armour All-American Bowl “Media Day” session on Saturday.

There was a point of intrigue there to collect his thoughts. Most had some form of the following questions:

The nation’s No. 3 center and No. 111 overall prospect (247Sports Composite rankings) proved simply to be more than calm, cool and collected through all of those topics.

He sounded like the anchor piece of any future championship offensive line should sound like the man in the middle of it all.

Why he didn’t sign during the early period: “Because of my teammates. It is a tradition at my high school that guys sign together. February signing day. I didn’t want to be the guy to break that. I love those guys too much to do it to them.”

On if his school didn’t have that tradition, what would have done: “I probably would have. Probably.”

When asked to name the other schools he was deeply considering aside from UGA: “I don’t necessarily think I am deeply considering anyone. But if I had to choose, it would be probably Oklahoma and maybe Texas A&M. … And Florida. Those would probably be the strongest contenders.”

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger said that he feels there are basically three schools vying for his two remaining official visit slots. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

On the strongest reason why he is still committed to Georgia right now: “Probably my relationship to coach [Kirby] Smart and [assistant] coach [Cortez] Hankton. Those guys have been on it with me since day one. They have believed in me since day one. I also think outside of football that Georgia is a great school.”

On what stands out the most about Georgia right now: “The economy. I think there are a lot of great opportunities in Georgia. Also education. They are actually right behind Florida. That stands out for Florida as well. But I just think the opportunities that you have in Atlanta and around that area is really great.”

On his only visit plan at this time: “As of right now I have a date locked in for Georgia on the 24th that weekend, as far as the other two official visits I don’t know where I am going yet.”

On the main schools that are trying to get officials right now: “Mainly Alabama, Florida, Arizona State. I think those are the three biggest schools that is trying to get one right now.”

On Smart’s reaction to him not signing during the early period: “He was fine. He was fine with it. Coach Smart and I have built a great relationship so we trust each other. He was just saying that he hopes I understand that other schools will come but he trusts me to hold it down.”

When asked to describe his recruitment at this time, he had a word for it.

“Comfortable,” he said.

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger did not sign during the early period out of his loyalty to the tradition of the Warren Easton High School football program. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger: Poised on media day

But the questions pressed on. A few Florida State questions were mixed in. That staff views him as a “necessity” and a “key factor” and a piece who can “come in and change the program around” but he still was not sure if he would grant that team an official visit.

He’s already taken two to Oklahoma and Texas A&M. That leaves three weekends left in January. Florida has been a consistent presence in his recruiting to come and see what they have to offer. The Gators want a chance. Just to give them a chance for an official.

The Gators are the school pushing the hardest right now outside of Georgia. Then Oklahoma. Then Alabama. He hopes to take all three of his official visits in January.

He said that Alabama, Florida and Arizona State are the most likely candidates for those two remaining officials outside of his only planned trip to UGA.

Want to know when Van Pran-Granger was at this best during the press session? The first option would be how he handled a question about Arkansas. Sam Pittman is now the head coach there. That was his guy at Georgia.

When he heard that question, he repeated it at first. Then took it on.

“Honestly, I don’t think that is an easy question to answer,” he said.  “That’s because you know I love ‘coach Pitt’ he’s a great guy but like I said I’m comfortable with where I am at.”

As far as smooth answers go for a tough topic, he spread that out like the butter on those digital pancakes he was serving on his 2019 highlight reel.

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger rates as the nation’s No. 3 center for 2020 on the 247Sports Composite rankings. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

Sedrick Van Pran: A “comfortable” UGA connection

Van Pran-Granger was happy when he heard the Bulldogs hired Matt Luke.

“I was happy there was a guy to fill in for ‘coach Pitt’ and I was happy for him,” he said. “Because I knew him at Ole Miss. He was a really good guy. His players love him.”

That made it clear his tie to Georgia was not just a link to former line coach Sam Pittman. Even though it was a strong bond.

“Coach Smart asked me just to trust him,” Van Pran-Granger said. “I trusted him and he got in coach [Matt] Luke. I had a great conversation with coach Luke on an in-home visit so I’m comfortable with him. He’s a really good guy. He’s good at developing offensive linemen.”

The 4-star recruit aims to be a graphic designer one day. He could be the one drawing up logos the way his Warren Easton offensive coordinator did plays for RB Ashaad Johnson in 2019.

He still considers himself a part of the class. Still used the word “our” in his thoughts about the potential of the 2020 Georgia class.

Trent Smallwood of Rivals.com then came with a question about 10 minutes into it all. It summed up what most were thinking.

“At this point, what is it going to take,” he said. “I mean, you seem pretty firm to Georgia. What is it going to take for somebody to flip you?”

Van Pran-Granger absorbed that question. Then came first with a quick inhale and exhale.

“A better opportunity,” he finally said. “A better opportunity.”

Smallwood: “And that hasn’t come?”

Van Pran-Granger: “I don’t think it will come. I think Georgia is a great place. You just can’t go wrong with it.”

Football isn’t holding him to Georgia. If that was the case, he said he’d probably be committed to LSU if it was just for football.

“I think if it was solely [his decision] football it would probably be Alabama or LSU, but I think past football,” he said. “It is not all about football.”

He continued to bring up the Atlanta area for his future professional career for his business life going forward.

“I just think you can’t compete with that,” he said. “Alabama is a great place but I don’t think it is a great place economically as far as Atlanta. Also, I love New Orleans. That’s where I am from. But I think Atlanta is a better place for opportunities, to live and to make a living.”

There’s one more link that is a tie here for Van Pran-Granger and the Georgia football program. That would be 2020 DB signee and early enrollee Jalen Kimber.

That’s the name he brought up when asked who does it seem like to him loves Georgia the most out of all the signees and commits in the 2020 class.

“Jalen and I have a great relationship,” Van Pran-Granger said. “But I remember when the whole thing happened with coach Pittman he texted me, he was like ‘Are we good?’ and I told him ‘we were good’ and you know Jalen and I have been in cahoots for a while now so that’s my guy.”

DawgNation at the Under Armour All-American Game