Will Robert Beal be a defensive end in college? Or an outside linebacker?
That remains to be seen. What is no longer cause for debate is the jersey he will wear on Saturday next fall.
The nation’s No. 2 defensive end committed to Georgia on Tuesday morning with a crafty Bleacher Report video that ended with him as the highest-rated commitment for 2017 in Athens. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder is now the 13th commitment for UGA in what is expected to be a fruitful month for Georgia on the recruiting front.
Beal played the first three seasons of his high school career at Norcross but is no longer the top-rated prospect in Georgia. He has announced he will transfer to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year. Prior to that, he had been the top-rated player in Georgia for 2017.
The Bulldogs beat out Alabama, Florida State and Notre Dame for Beal. UGA defensive coordinatorMel Tucker had made him a priority over the spring. Beal was at one time committed to Notre Dame but backed off that pledge.
What will Georgia be getting? Current UGA linebacker Lorenzo Carter is the best player parallel for Beal. Carter also prepped at Norcross and that player parallel was made freely by longtime Blue Devils coach Keith Maloof during Beal’s time with the program.
Beal missed spring practices at Norcross this fall and four games during his junior season while recovering from injury. He had 35 total tackles, 11 stops for losses and five sacks in seven games in 2015. He finished with 19 total tackles, 12 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore in 2014.
