Owen Condon. Azeez Ojulari. Zamir White. Kearis Jackson. Justin Fields. Rian Davis. Now add the name Ryland Goede to that list.
At first glance, that looks like a pretty sporty list of elite prospects who chose to commit and eventually sign with the University of Georgia.
That’s true, but it is also a list of the future Bulldogs of late that also suffered a season-ending injury during their senior years of high school football.
Goede was befallen, like many of the future Bulldogs on that list, by a knee injury. The nation’s No. 6 tight end off the 247Sports Composite rankings for 2019 is already out of surgery today to repair a torn ACL and a slight tear in his meniscus. He also sprained his medial collateral ligament.
Look for him to be ready to go by the start of fall camp in 2019.
He plans a fall return. And he will work for a full return by then, too.
“The plan is to be back fully by fall camp,” said Goede, who is the all-time leader in catches, yards and touchdowns for the Kennesaw Mountain program.
The 6-foot-6.5, 245-pound senior from Kennesaw Mountain suffered the injury two Fridays ago against North Cobb Christian. The three-sport standout (baseball, golf) went up for a jump ball and came down the wrong way.
His knee was not in good shape. He knew that immediately.
“It was the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” Goede said.
The injury has sidelined Goede’s plans to play spring sports at Kennesaw Mountain. He now plans to make the move early to UGA. Look for him to enroll early in January of 2019.
Goede will now be able to rehab the knee under the care of the UGA sports medicine staff. There’s a growing legion of those Bulldogs who will be able to say “Rebuilt by Ron” as far as their return to the field. That’s a nod to the well-respected care provided by UGA Director of Sports Medicine Ron Courson and his staff.
Courson would have the Nick Chubb and Todd Gurley knees as the latest examples atop an impressive patient history.
The future tight end was in good spirits after his procedure on Thursday. He was well enough to tweet.
Check out Ryland Goede’s senior film so far in 2019
Goede is a viable athlete. He was tremendous pop on the diamond at first base and does plan to play baseball for UGA. He’s also very long off the tee box and is known to go below 80 on the golf course.
He was named to the Perfect Game 16-and-under All-American team (second team) earlier in his high school career.
Physicality won’t be a problem for Goede in Athens. He’s been a willing an effective two-way player at defensive end in his prep career for the Mustangs. He was even able to harass and sack Fields during their matchup in the Harrison-Kennesaw Mountain spring game back in 2017.
The senior was selected to the Nike “Opening” national finals showcase earlier this year in Texas. He joined 165 of this nation’s top high school prospects at that elite invitation-only event.
The Goede family was taken aback by the concern and care shown after he suffered the injury. The procedure was performed by the UGA team orthopedist. That is the well-known Dr. Robert Hancock.
“Since the night it happened (Georgia coach) Kirby (Smart) and his entire staff have taken care of ‘Ry’ and our family in ways that have exceeded any expectations we had,” said his father Chris Goede.
Hancock was also a part of the team that worked on Chubb.
Check out the senior film for Goede below.