Georgia lands commitment from 5-star recruit Smael Mondon

Georgia received a major boost to its 2021 recruiting class Wednesday, as five-star prospect Smael Mondon announced his commitment to the Bulldogs.

Mondon is listed as the top-ranked athlete and No. 11 overall recruit on the ESPN 300. He will be playing linebacker at the collegiate level.

"Georgia is the right school for me because of trust," Mondon said, according to Rivals' Chad Simmons. "I trust the coaches at Georgia, and I really trust (co-defensive coordinator) coach (Glenn) Schumann (to) develop me at linebacker and put me in position to pursue a career in the NFL.

"I also love the home-feel at Georgia. They stayed very consistent with me throughout the entire process, they never fell off, they have been true with me all the way through, and that made a difference."

The Dallas, Georgia, native opted to stay in his home state despite receiving offers from other SEC schools, including LSU, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama.

Mondon is Kirby Smart's first five-star recruit and the fourth top-100 prospect to commit to the Bulldogs in his cycle, joining four-star pocket passer Brock Vandagriff, safety David Daniel, and offensive tackle Micah Morris.