Georgia Tech’s efforts to recruit the top players in the state were rewarded significantly Friday.
Cedar Grove High wide receiver Janiran Bonner’s announcement that he committed to Tech made it two four-star prospects from metro Atlanta who have accepted scholarship offers from coach Geoff Collins for the 2022 class.
“I think he’s always had a liking for Georgia Tech,” Cedar Grove coach John Adams said. “They’ve been high on his list, and I just think that something came over him where he felt comfortable with Georgia Tech and it felt like home.”
Bonner is rated the No. 22 prospect in Georgia (247Sports Composite). He joins running back Antonio Martin from Langston Hughes High (No. 28) to give Tech two commitments in the top 30, both rated four-star prospects.
Bonner has been recruited since his freshman year, Adams said, when Michigan made a scholarship offer. Bonner chose Tech over Georgia, Oklahoma and Oregon, although the full list of those pursuing him included “everybody and their mama,” Adams said. Wide receivers coach Kerry Dixon has been instrumental in the recruitment, and Bonner has developed relationships with defensive line coach Larry Knight and running backs coach Tashard Choice, Adams said.
Adams said Bonner informed him of his decision early this week, telling him “just that he thought it was a great university. It was somewhere where he can excel in academics and on the football field.”
Bonner is listed at 6-foot-1, 193 pounds. Among other traits, Adams said that Bonner is hardworking, tough and coachable. He plays with a physical and aggressive style, Adams said, “but at the same time, he runs really good routes and he’s one of those guys that can catch a curl or catch a hitch and get upfield, break a tackle and take it for seven.”
What separates him from other receivers, though, is his aggressiveness, according to Adams.
“He’s just a real strong kid,” Adams said. “He’s always just been a stronger guy who will fight for the ball, do anything for the ball and come down with it.”
Notably, Tech has not had a high-school signee from a DeKalb County School District school since 2009.
“I just think the coaching staff that’s there right now is changing the mindset of DeKalb County players,” Adams said. “Just players all over Georgia. It’s a different style of offense, too. So I think that Janiran thinks that he can excel in that offense. I think he likes the coaching staff there, as well, the direction that they’re going.”
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