Broderick Jones was the first 5-star recruit to commit to the 2020 class for Georgia, as the Lithonia High star did so in April 2018.
Per the 247Sports Composite ranking, he now rates as the nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle prospect for the 2020 class. That slots him as the nation’s No. 20 overall recruit.
That rating stands out because Jones doesn’t do any showcase camps any longer. He will not be among 16 of the nation’s top offensive prospects out in Texas for three days this week at the Opening finals.
“I’m really not into those camps and all that,” Jones said. “I’m not into it like that … I’m just not all into the hype. The social media type of guy. I’m just here for the work and to get it done. To get things done. To track down my goals. I’ve got business to take care of and I’ve got a lot to work to do to get there.”
The 5-star is just coming off a Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp performance this week where his coaches said he logged more than 500 snaps in shorts, shoulder pads and helmet. The Lithonia coaching staff relays that he got beat on maybe “one or two” of those snaps.
The rest of those were dominating reps, according to the coaches. He took one defender all the way past the sidelines and out to the running track which encircles the field at James R. Hallford Stadium in Clarkston.
The 6-foot-6, 298-pound rising senior also isn’t much for college visits these days. He wasn’t in Athens for G-Day in April. Or the popular UGA scavenger hunt event in May.
Auburn reaches out to Jones more than any other school. That includes the Bulldogs. But that should not be seen as a reason for Georgia fans to worry.
Jones just doesn’t visit anywhere these days. He’s focused on his Lithonia Bulldogs. The last time he visited Georgia, he told Lithonia offensive line coach Robert “Ham” Hamler something that continues to stick out.
“I’m good,” he said to Hamler. “That’s it for me. I don’t want to come back here until I can play.”
He also shared his future plans about Georgia while discussing while he was working to graduate early from Lithonia in December. That will allow him to enroll early at the school of his choice in January 2020.
“To get a head start,” Jones said. “Because I know the left tackle (Andrew) Thomas is on schedule to leave early and get drafted and move on to the NFL. I’m ready to be enrolled in college and get that first semester over and get that first semester of credits.
“That way if the same thing might come my way and I could leave early for the NFL, then I will be able to have that degree of my own in hand if I wanted to go early, too.”
Four-star Oklahoma guard updates timeline
Andrew Raym took two visits to Georgia this month. The 4-star offensive guard target came in for an unofficial visit and then followed that one with an official visit roughly two weeks later.
Raym was set at one time on making his announcement at the Under Armour All-American game, but has moved that up considerably. He told DawgNation that the “middle of July” now sets up to be the expected time window for him to decide between Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma.
He enjoyed his time in Athens on those trips.
“Honestly, I just have a great feeling when I am at UGA,” Raym said. “It is just an extraordinary place with amazing facilities. Coach (Sam) Pittman, I think, is awesome. I love it.”
It is not just Pittman.
“It is everything really,” he said. “The players there. They are exactly like me. I don’t know. It just feels like home there.”
The 6-foot-5, 293-pound Raym even had an eye-opening moment on his official visit.
“I think the ‘whoa moment’ for me was when coach Pittman showed me a picture of the O-line and D-line guys drafted out of each conference. It was like 25 from the SEC. Then maybe like 10 Big 12 and 15 Big 10. That surprised me.”
The Broken Arrow (Okla.) High student grew up a big fan of the Oklahoma Sooners and he was at one time committed to that school.
The nation's No. 3 offensive guard also rates (on the 247Sports Composite) as the top player in Oklahoma for 2020 and as the nation's No. 90 overall recruit.
About the Author
