Breaking news: Thomas Blackshear, a wide receiver, chooses Georgia over Tennessee.
Breaking news: Thomas Blackshear, a wide receiver, chooses Georgia over Tennessee.
The arrival of James Coley’s recruiting skills in Georgia’s 2025 recruiting class seemed inevitable.
Thomas Blackshear was the earliest wide receiver to arrive.
On Sunday, the wide receiver from Calvary Day (Ga.) chose Georgia over Tennessee and Florida State, he informed Dawgs247. It was a fight between Georgia and Tennessee that ultimately determined Blackshear’s choice. Last week, he informed the Georgia coaches that he was prepared to make a choice.
According to Blackshear, “I texted Coach Coley and told him I’m ready to be a Dawg,” Dawgs247 reported. “He gave me a call. He was energised. He expressed his eagerness for me to arrive there.”
This spring, the 6-foot-1, 197-pound receiver made a few trips to Georgia. His first contacts in the recruitment process at Georgia were with Bryan McClendon, the former wide receivers coach. Earlier this year, Blackshear told Dawgs247 that in order to forge a connection with Coley akin to his with McClendon, he would have to mend his relationship with the latter.
That obviously occurred quickly.
On Sunday, Blackshear gave praise to the Georgia coaches for his choice.
“Watching the coaches practice and getting to know them better during my visit helped me.” I made my decision after speaking with Coach Kirby and Coach Coley,” Blackshear remarked. “It was definitely the coaching staff.”
Blackshear averaged over 20 yards per reception in eight games during the previous season, totaling 551 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground, he also gained 10 yards per run on average.
Due of Blackshear’s aptitude for aggressiveness, some have compared him to another wide receiver that Coley signed.
“He’s really been telling me that I’ll be a great wide receiver at Georgia,” Blackshear said. “I remind him of George Pickens a little bit.”
Blackshear plays both sides of the ball at Calvary Day, though he likely projects as a Z receiver in Georgia’s offense. Other programs, including Tennessee, discussed playing defensive back with Blackshear too.
But Coley had a funny message for Blackshear on that topic.
Blackshear laughed and remarked, “Coach Coley was saying he saw my defensive film, and didn’t want to let the DB coach know about that.”
In the 247Sports rankings, Blackshear is rated as a 3-star recruit; however, the 247Sports composite rates him as a 4-star. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, he is the 323rd best player in the country overall.
The first wide receiver in Georgia’s 2025 recruiting class is Blackshear. Thanks to his pledge, Georgia moves up to the No. 11 recruiting class in the cycle, surpassing Wake Forest, Texas A&M, and Arizona State.
