Published Jul 25, 2017
Georgia's first to offer monster 2020 OL
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Chad Simmons  •  Rivals.com
Recruiting Analyst
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@ChadSimmons_

There is some talent on the Milton (Ga.) roster this season, so college coaches will be stopping by there often this fall. One of the biggest players on the team is offensive tackle Paul Tchio. The 6-foot-5, 321 pound soon-to-be sophomore recently camped at Georgia and he left with his first scholarship offer.

It means a little something extra to him with it coming from an in-state school.

"I am a big fan of Georgia sports," said Tchio. "I like teams in Georgia because that is where I am from and the Georgia Bulldogs have been my dream school for a long time.

"To get my first offer from Georgia makes it a little extra special. I grew up watching them play, it is an offer I wanted and it now feels great to have it."

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Tchio was in Athens (Ga.) last week to workout for the Georgia coaches. He entered the camp knowing what he had to do to leave with an offer.

He did just that.

"Coach [Sam] Pittman (offensive line) talked to me when I got there about what he wanted to see out of me. He told me if I wanted to earn an offer that I needed to show him explosiveness, that I can use my hips, that I can finish blocks and that I can move my feet.

"After I worked out for him, he took me up to his office and we talked with coach [Kirby] Smart, then we watched my tape. Coach Pittman then took me back down to the field and that is when he told me that I have an offer from Georgia.

"I showed him what he wanted to see, he likes me and I earned the offer."

Tchio couldn't have been happier. He knew he was on the Georgia radar. He has heard from Dell McGee, Georgia's running backs coach who recruits his area. The 2020 offensive lineman did not think he was this close to an offer though.

"I really thought my offers might start after my sophomore season if I had a good year," said Tchio. "I have been in contact with coach McGee for a while, so I knew Georgia had interest in me, but not this much.

"I thought maybe next year it would happen for me, so I was surprised when I got the offer. It was a great feeling."

He has visited Georgia twice and he will be back to take in a game between the hedges in the fall. Tchio already feels comfortable in Athens.

"I visited Georgia in April, then I was there again Friday and I like it a lot. I have sadly not been there for a game yet, but I will get there for one this season.

"When I have been there, I honestly felt like I was at home. I love seeing how the players and the coaches have such a close bond with each other. At Georgia, everyone looks out for each other and it really made me comfortable there."