Former Georgia wide receiver Jermaine Burton entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on January 19, 2022. Four days later, he announced that he would be joining the Alabama Crimson Tide to conclude his collegiate career.
A decision that suits the believers in Georgia in two ways. Either it was business or it was personal.
There seemed to be a section of the general public that sees what Alabama has done on the wide receiver position, even with transfers, and can understand that a wide receiver of Jermaine Burton’s caliber would want to try to become next in line from the first round wide receiver from Alabama.
After all, Georgia has produced one first-round wide receiver since 2011, when AJ Greene was tied for 4th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.
In that same time frame, Alabama has produced seven first-round picks at the position. Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith, all first-rounders, with Jameson Williams and Jon Metchie in this year’s draft class.
There really is no comparison in terms of NFL Draft success at the wide receiver position. Alabama’s success is unparalleled. So as far as a business decision goes, it makes sense.
On the personal side of things… Welcome to college football in 2022. Georgia fans get a taste of what Tennessee fans got a year ago when All-SEC linebacker Henry To’o To’o left the Vols to become a member of the Crimson Tide. Or Clemson fans got when Derion Kendrick moved to Georgia. Tykee Smith from West Virginia to Georgia. Elias Ricks from LSU to Alabama. Jahmyr Gibbs from Georgia Tech to Alabama.
The big dogs in College Football are about to feast on others’ starting lists. That is the nature of the business now.
So, how has Georgia reacted to something like this? Take a look at their recruitment strategies that are changing. In 2020, of the 25 high school students they drew, Jermaine Burton’s class was 16 from outside the state of Georgia. States like California, Nevada, Arizona, New Jersey. They were global in 2020.
In 2022, their most recent lesson, they pulled 25 out of 28 commits from the Southeast. Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi and North Carolina. They have centralized their prospect pool, it seems. With the NIL and the players’ movement increasingly becoming a factor in college football, Georgia is prioritizing proximity and character.
TRANSFER PORTAL UPDATE
- January 19, 2022 – JT Daniels has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal
- January 19, 2022 – Jermaine Burton has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal
- January 14, 2022 – Lovasea Carroll has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal
- January 13, 2022 – Latavious Brini has announced that he will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal
- January 12, 2022 – Sources confirm Georgia DB Jalen Kimber is in NCAA transfer portal
- January 12, 2022 – Georgia WR Justin Robinson has requested to enter the portal, according to sources.
- January 11, 2022 – Georgia WR Jaylen Johnson has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to sources
- January 11, 2022 – Sources confirm DB, Ameer Speed has entered the NCAA Transfer portal
ROSTER MOVEMENTS
- Warren McClendon, OL, RS Sophomore
- George Pickens, WR, Junior *Declared NFL Draft
- Nolan Smith, LB, Junior *Returns to Georgia for 2022
- JT Daniels, QB, Junior *Entered transfer portal
- Kenny McIntosh, RB, Juniors
- Lewis Cine, S, Junior *Declared NFL Draft
- Nakobe Dean, LB, Junior *Declared NFL Draft
- Tykee Smith, DB, Junior *Back to Athens
- Travon Walker, DL, Junior *Declared NFL Draft
- Warren Ericcson, OL, Junior
- John Fitzpatrick, TE, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- James Cook, RB, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Zamir White, RB, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Quay Walker, LB, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Kearis Jackson, WR, Senior
- Ameer Speed, DB, Senior *Entered transfer portal
- Jaylen Johnson, WR, Senior *Entered Transfer Portal
- Derion Kendrick, DB, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Stetson Bennett, QB, Senior *Returning to Georgia before 2022
- Christopher Smith, DB, Senior *Returns to Georgia for 2022
- William Poole, DB, Senior *Returning to Georgia before 2022
- Robert Beal Jr, LB, Senior *Returning to Georgia before 2022
- Latavious Brini, DB, Senior *Entered transfer portal
- Channing Tindall, LB, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Justin Shaffer, OL, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Jamaree Salyer, OL, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Jake Carmada, P, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Julian Rochester, DL, Seniors
- Devonte Wyatt, DL, Senior *Declared NFL Draft
- Jordan Davis, DL, Seniors *Declared for NFL Draft
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