Does Andrew Thomas starting help UGA with 5-star OL Jamaree Salyer?
Georgia opens up against Appalachian State Saturday evening and the top prospect expected in attendance will be five-star offensive guard Jamaree Salyer.
The Dawgs made Salyer a top target years ago and he is plenty familiar with Athens (Ga.). There is a little extra excitement 24 hours before this visit due to his close friend and former teammate, Andrew Thomas starting in his first collegiate game.
"Me and Andrew have been great friends since seventh grade, so it will be a unique experience for me Saturday getting to see him play at Georgia," said Salyer. "Seeing someone I am so close to play college football is really exciting. I feel good about Trey Blount (former teammate) too, but me and Andrew just have known each other and played beside each other for a long time.
"Me knowing I am a senior and how this process will go very fast for me makes Andrew doing what he has done very big for me. It is something exciting and something I am paying attention to."
The way Thomas moved up the depth chart at Georgia is no surprise to this five star out of Atlanta (Ga.) Pace Academy.
"I'm not surprised at all that Andrew is starting. He has always had that it factor in him. He has always been able to move, he has great feet and he has come along very well as an offensive lineman.
"I knew he was very good, so this is no surprise for me."
Sam Pittman has a great track record of developing offensive linemen at every stop he has made as a coach. Salyer sees Pittman backing up his word.
"It is pretty cool to see how Andrew has developed because coach Pittman has always talked about being able to develop guys and have them starting day one," said Salyer. "It is good to see that coach Pittman is taking what he says in recruiting and putting to action. I knew he was a good coach, but to see this is great."
The Georgia offensive line coach is a very big part of Salyer's interest in the Bulldogs. There is more, of course, but what Pittman has done since being hired by Kirby Smart in December 2015 has put Georgia in a good spot for one of the best in the country.
"I didn't have a great relationship with the offensive line coach at Georgia before coach Pittman came in, so he is a big part of my interest in Georgia.
"My connection with him is great and he has been interested in me since he was at Arkansas. He always felt he had no shot with me when he was at Arkansas, so ever since he got to Georgia, he has come at me hard.
"I have built a great relationship with him, and I know about his coaching, so he is a guy I like a lot."
"I will be watching Andrew, but I will be watching the game in general too. I want to see what is different about Andrew now compared to when he was playing at Pace Academy last year.
"I also want to see how the team plays and how they compete. I will focus on Andrew some, but I will take in as much as I can."
The emergence of Thomas only helps Georgia with Salyer. He knows he has to work regardless of where he goes, but seeing what his friend did does not hurt Georgia at all.
"It kind of does help Georgia seeing what Andrew has done," said Salyer. "Everyone has his own path, so mine may not be as clean and crisp where I start day one, but that is what I will work for.
"To see him be given the chance to start and to see how he developed to be one of their best means something to me though."
Salyer still lists Notre Dame, Ohio State and Stanford, but Clemson and Georgia have the edge the first day of September. He will take his first official visit to Notre Dame next weekend.
A decision will be made December 20th, the first day of the early signing period. Salyer and his family have made that decision.
"We talked about it and I just want to get it done," said Salyer. "I will be signing that first day. I believe it is December 20th. I will make my decision then."