iStockphoto
A prospect playing in the Under Armour All-America Game told a hilarious story about UGA recruiting spending this week. He says the Bulldogs were the top spender when it came to official visits.
In fact, he claimed Georgia gave him so many free meals that he’d jump at any opportunity to visit Athens.
“I went there sometimes just for the free chicken,” the unnamed recruit said in a story written by Grace Raynor and Manny Navarro of The Athletic.
That seems to align with the most recent college football financial report, which says UGA “reached $4.5M” on recruiting spending – one-third more than any other school.
Those expenses reportedly “cover transportation, lodging and meals for recruits and school personnel,” and the Bulldogs leading the way is nothing new.
In each of the last four non-COVID-impacted recruiting cycles, Georgia has spent the most money on football recruiting among public schools.
The player, who doesn’t reveal if UGA’s spending helped secure his commitment, was one of a number of prospects from the postseason matchup that were asked the question.
Others that made the list of top recruiting spenders, at least in terms of official visits?
Penn State, Michigan, UCF, UCLA, Texas, Cincinnati, Miami, and USC.
The Athletic story also asks if players signed with the team that offered the most NIL money.
Responses varied, though most said NIL wasn’t the top priority. Instead, they either signed with a dream school or the place that they believed could best prepare them for the next level.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t schools dropping cash at players’ feet in hopes of swaying their signing day decision.
A number of coaches blasted last-second offers from rivals, some of which worked and others that didn’t. Top overall recruit Jeremiah Smith dealt with it firsthand, saying hometown schools like Florida and Miami were “throwing all types of money” at him near the end of his recruitment.
In the end, he stuck with his pledge to Ohio State, much to the relief of head coach Ryan Day.
It’s a new age in the world of college football recruiting. If you’re not spending, you’re not trying.