Travon Walker, nation's 7th-ranked HS football prospect, commits to UGA

THOMASTON, Ga. - The nation's 7th-ranked high school football prospect, Travon Walker of Upson-Lee High School is headed to UGA. He made the decision live on FOX 5 at 6.

App users: View full article here

The 6-5, the 272-pound defensive lineman was believed to be leaning towards the in-state Dawgs before his announcement Tuesday, but South Carolina appeared to have an outside shot at landing the player 247Sports ranks tops in the state for the class of 2019.

Walker told FOX 5 and 247Sports' recruiting expert Rusty Mansell that he had already committed to Kirby Smart's Bulldogs in his mind long ago.

"Georgia has always been there for me," Walker said. "They were the first school to offer me a scholarship and to ever have faith in me."

Walker said he connected with Kirby Smart via FaceTime near the end of the school year and told UGA's head man that he had already made up his mind to join the Dawgs in Athens in 2019. Tuesday's decision clearly lifted a weight off Walker's shoulders, allowing him to concentrate on Upson-Lee's upcoming football and basketball seasons.

"It was a long process and I had gotten tired of it." Walker told Mansell. "Coach Smart was just happy I got in contact with the whole coaching staff in one day- and they were all excited for me to announce it publicly."

According to 247Sports, Georgia's 2019 committed class jumped from 9th in the nation to 4th overall after Walker's decision.