Georgia secured a key recruit for the 2025 class with the commitment of an in-state cornerback.
It took a team effort to secure 4-star cornerback Jontae Gilbert, but Georgia ultimately succeeded.
On Saturday, the Douglass-Atlanta (Ga.) standout announced his college decision, with his final visit being the deciding factor. Gilbert chose Georgia over other schools like NC State and Georgia Tech.
In an interview with Dawgs247, Gilbert mentioned that a conversation with Kirby Smart in late July was crucial in his decision.
“Yes, I worked out. But it was the talk with Kirby that really opened my eyes,” Gilbert told Dawgs247. “He was straightforward with me. He said he wanted me, that he needed me there. He mentioned a few guys leaving the cornerback room next year, so he’ll need me, [cornerback commit] Shamari [Earls], and others.”
The turning point for Gilbert and Georgia came on May 31. Gilbert had been on Georgia’s radar for several years, with previous interactions with coaches like Will Muschamp, Glenn Schumann, and Fran Brown. However, the Bulldogs made a significant push after his camp workout with Smart, Donte Williams, and Travaris Robinson.
“Really, I went to the camp. I did great there. Coach Smart was really impressed with me. We talked for an hour afterward, where he told me what he liked about me and what I needed to work on. I appreciated his honesty,” Gilbert said.
During that camp, Gilbert ran a 4.51, erasing any doubts about his ability to play cornerback at Georgia.
“There was speculation about whether I could run or cover. I went there to prove I could do what people doubted. It felt good,” he said. “Coach Smart likes that I compete at a high level. He told me he wants to surround himself with people who like to compete.”
Standing at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Gilbert will play both as a boundary corner and a nickel at Georgia. His primary recruiter, Donte Williams, had been targeting him since his time at USC.
“Back when he was at USC, I was the No. 1 guy Coach Donte wanted,” Gilbert said. “That relationship played a big part in my decision.”
With Gilbert’s commitment, Georgia’s Class of 2025 now has 23 commitments, including defensive backs like Gilbert, Earls, Todd Robinson, Jaylan Morgan, and Rashad Johnson. This puts Georgia’s overall team score at 291.77 in the 247Sports Team Rankings, moving them back to the No. 3 spot behind Ohio State and Alabama.
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