Top prospects expected at UGA's Junior Day

Dante Sawyer, a defensive end from North Gwinnett High School, will be one of the top visitors for UGA's Junior Day this weekend.

Around 100 high school juniors are expected to attend the Saturday event with the Bulldogs. Some of the others are Collins Hill OL Christian Harris, Carrollton TE Cole Cook, Albany LB Juwon Young, Chapel Hill DE Josiah Coatney, ELCA DE Andrew Williams, Peachtree Ridge safety Nick Glass, Marist OL Kendal Baker, Cedar Grove DE Bryson Allen-Williams, Callaway LB KeShun Freeman, Heard County OL Jake Edwards, Carrollton OL Jake Sanders and Lamar County twin DBs Lamar and Lawrence Austin.

The prospects and their parents will meet with UGA’s coaches at 10 a.m., discuss football strategy and academics, and listen to the sales pitches from the Bulldogs.

And some will leave UGA on Saturday with football scholarship offers.

The 6-foot-3, 247-pound Sawyer could get an offer. He had a conversation on Thursday night with UGA assistant Bryan McClendon (who recruits Gwinnett County) that led him to believe that it’s a strong possibility.

“Coach McClendon did not come out and say that I had an offer coming,” Sawyer told the AJC on Friday. “He just said ‘Coach Richt wants to talk with you, and you’ll be hearing some good news.’”

As one of the state's top prospects for 2014, Sawyer has been hearing a lot of good news lately. He and his father went to Alabama's Junior Day last month and spent 45 minutes with Nick Saban.

“Coach Saban expressed how important schoolwork was, and told me how he could see me fitting in there,” Sawyer said. “It was a great experience. I felt like I was on top of the world, sitting there with the coach who just won the national championship.”

Was Sawyer tempted to commit on the spot? “No, sir. I don’t think I’m going to commit anywhere soon. I want to spend more time visiting with coaches and colleges before I make a decision.”

This weekend will be UGA’s best chance. Sawyer already has around a dozen offers, including Alabama, USC, Tennessee and Ohio State.

“If Georgia offered, it would be in my top five, for sure,” Sawyer said. “I like that it’s close to home, I like the atmosphere, and I like Athens altogether.”

Sawyer said he will likely make his college decision by the end of the summer.

Georgia Tech's next Junior Day is March 9.