Jamal Couch will be at Dawg Night and back for an official visit in the fall. (Rob Saye / Special to the AJC)
FSU commitment and major UGA target Jamal Couch wants to flip. That's not exactly what one might think it means.
The 6-foot-5, 217-pounder will be at UGA’s “Dawg Night” prospect camp on Friday and Saturday. Get this: He’ll work out at LB, TE and WR. That’s all part of his unique college try.
“I just want to be able to flip (from one position to another) if something doesn’t work out,” Couch told the AJC.
This is a busy week for recruits. Alabama, Clemson and Florida State scheduled big camps, but the 4-star athlete said he will only be at UGA. That’s part of his “flip” mentality.
“UGA has a great fit for outside linebackers,” he said. “It is a linebacker school in my eyes.”
Couch also told the AJC he will “most definitely” take an official visit to UGA this fall.
His recruitment has the potential for a lot of intrigue. He hopes Auburn will offer, but the school closest to his Central-Phenix City (Ala.) High School campus has yet to offer. Auburn is also recruiting him the hardest right now, he said.
FSU offered him as an athlete. Couch said the Seminoles view him as a safety or receiver and tight end. He is rated by the 247sports composite as the nation’s No. 19 athlete for 2016.
UGA’s pitch is mostly at linebacker, but there’s the flexibility to play both sides of the ball. He likes the sound of that.
“From a linebacker recruiting standpoint, UGA is my number one,” he said. “UGA is also trying to help me be able to play outside linebacker and tight end and receiver in college.”
UGA linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer is recruiting him. Couch wants to be the Swiss Army Knife of recruits.
“UGA is trying to help me become more versatile with the way they are recruiting me,” he said. “In college it really doesn’t matter. I just want to do what helps me get on the field and help the team the quickest.“
If Auburn offers, that complicates his choice.
“I will deeply consider the offer because I will fit into their program because our offense runs the same formations and plays,” he said.
He said the school that invests the most time in his recruiting and offers him the best chance to succeed will win out. Couch sounds like he really wants to play linebacker, and that should give UGA staying power in his recruiting process.
Jeff Sentell covers UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.
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