Malcolm Askew went to his third UGA game of the season this past Saturday. The Missouri game, by his estimation, was his 10th trip to Athens, Ga.. The 4-star cornerback prospect continues to say UGA is the leader among 38 reported offers.
Askew almost committed to UGA last summer.
So it is substantial when the junior from Alabama’s McAdory High School says his most recent trip to UGA was his best. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder was one of a few recruits invited to meet coach Mark Richt at midfield about 30 minutes before kickoff.
“He said they were so excited to see me out there and love every time I come,” Askew said. “He said ‘You know how bad we want you’ and asked how my high school team was looking going into the playoffs.”
Askew was shocked at first. He only noticed about five recruits meeting with Richt in that setting.
“Obviously he was thinking about the game but at some part he was thinking about me also,” he said. “That means a lot to go out there and talk to him like 25 or 30 minutes before kickoff. I was nervous a little bit at first walking out there by myself.”
Askew called it “the coolest thing” he’s experienced at UGA.
“Stuff like that keeps UGA in that number one spot,” Askew said. “The more and more I see out of Georgia, the more they seem to impress and excite me with different things.
The 50-yard chat made an impact.
“I thought the gap between Georgia and the rest of the schools on my list was probably closing but after that talk with Coach Richt and how it went down the gap it seems like it is growing and increasing every time I go to Georgia.”
He’s very comfortable around Richt. Askew said Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss is the only other relationship he has with a head coach that can compare to that.
Askew is also very much at ease around UGA defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.
“He always jokes around and says ‘When are you going to go ahead and commit’ just about every time,” Askew said.
The nation’s No. 12 athlete for 2017 usually laughs when he says that.
“I have told him that me and my parents want to wait it out,” Askew said. “He knows I will make my commitment with the support of my family and knows my dad will let me know when it is time to commit.””
Askew has Clemson in his No. 2 spot and also plans to enroll early.
He is thinking about a commitment prior to the start of his senior season and he will take all his officials after that. He’s also very close with UGA freshman defensive back Rico McGraw.
“Other schools say we will have seniors in front of you and you’re going to have to hold off,” Askew said. “I know Pruitt will let you come in and whatever you do is what he will base it off of. You can come to Georgia and get a shot. It doesn’t matter if there are seniors in front of you. Rico gives me a lot of information with that and helps out a lot.”
Jeff Sentell covers 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.