Breaking down Quay Walker to Georgia

Kirby Smart might rest easy tonight. On the final weekend before signing day, he and his staff did not rest at all despite only hosting one official visitor. It was Rivals 100 linebacker Quay Walker and the Dawgs did all they could to convince to stay home — it worked. Smart was very much involved in Walker's recruitment and this Alabama commit could have signed with the Crimson Tide or flipped to Auburn or Tennessee, but instead, he inked with the Georgia Bulldogs.

THE SITUATION

How much time do we have? A lot of stories can be told here about this recruiting war. This wasn't a battle, this was a war. Walker committed to Alabama somewhat out of of the blue in June, but late in the summer to early in the fall, his recruitment began to look like it was far from over. Despite never removing his name from Alabama's commitment list, it was hard to truly count him as one the last few months. Georgia started making their push during the season, but it was Tennessee who became the favorite the final month before Signing Day. Once Jeremy Pruitt took over as head coach and got Walker on campus, the Vols were trending in a big way. Georgia did what many schools like to do — they secured the final visit. In this type of battle, that turned out to be huge.

HOW IT HELPS GEORGIA

The name of the game today, especially on defense, is play fast. With all the fast-paced offenses out there and the spread offenses very common, you have to have a fast defense and you don't have a lot of time to get to the quarterback anymore. That is where Walker will come into play. He is a long, rangy and explosive athlete who can rush the passer off the edge. That is a big need for Georgia in this class and that is why the Bulldogs went after Walker so hard until the final minute. Georgia lost late in the game in 2017 with Walker's former teammate, Markaviest Bryant, who signed with Auburn, so pulling this out has to feel good.

HOW IT HURTS OTHERS

Although Walker was committed to Alabama entering the day, Tennessee is the one this hurts the most. Pruitt and the staff had Walker at one time and he was really the key to the Vols having a successful first Signing Day under the new head coach. Alabama wanted him, Auburn did as well and Florida had hoped to get Walker on campus, but this one really came down to Smart vs. Pruitt, so the Vols will have a hard time swallowing this pill knowing just how close they were to having the linebacker in Knoxville.