THE SITUATION
G-Day did not disappoint. The always-eventful spring game in Athens yielded a commitment from Rivals250 offensive lineman Akinola Ogunbiyi.
The Texas four-star pledged to the Bulldogs over Oklahoma just weeks after backing off his commitment to Texas A&M. Ogunbiyi is the fifth nationally ranked prospect in Georgia’s 2020 recruiting class and the second player out of the Lone Star State to commit to the Dawgs within the week.
WHY IT'S BIG FOR THE DAWGS
Ogunbiyi is the highest-ranked offensive guard in Texas and a perfect fit for the Bulldogs’ potent rushing attack. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound four-star is the ideal interior lineman for running backs to follow on sweeps and runs to the edge because he’s athletic enough to get out in space and pulverize oncoming defenders.
The Rivals250 lineman is used on pulling plays often for Kemper (Texas) High School. He’s typically a pancake machine and does is best work in one-on-one situations. He moves well for his size and has notable power. He clears the path and is a reliable run blocker that’ll thrive in the SEC.
Ogunbiyi makes sure to make noticeable contact on every play, and usually, it results in a defensive tackle or linebacker in the dirt. At his best, he gets to the second level of the defense and can make contact or bring down multiple defenders on a single play.
Georgia has landed not one, but two Texans in the past week. That includes Jalen Kimber, a highly ranked three-star cornerback that’s due for a huge leap in the upcoming Rivals rankings. Ogunbiyi is already embedded in the Rivals250 as one of the best offensive guards in the country.
WHY IT HURTS OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma has been “Offensive Line U” for several years and can certainly live up to that reputation yet again in the 2020 recruiting cycle. The Sooners were trending as the team to beat for Ogunbiyi after he backed off his Texas A&M verbal commitment after multiple visits to Norman, including last week’s trip for the spring game.
However, while many suspected that the Rivals250 lineman could commit to Oklahoma last weekend, he elected to make some noise and quietly do so to Georgia this weekend. It’s another colossal get for Coach Kirby Smart and offensive line coach Sam Pittman out of the Lone Star State, that leaves the Sooners in search of some interior line help for its class.
Sedrick Van Pran, another Rivals250 guard, is now at the top of the Sooners’ board for 2020. He officially visited last weekend and Oklahoma is in a tight race with Alabama, Georgia and LSU for the four-star’s commitment. Missing on Ogunbiyi puts a huge onus on Oklahoma to try and make a play for Van Pran moving forward into the spring.