RECRUITING

UGA football lands pledge from DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, the top 2021 recruit in South Carolina

Jeremy Johnson
Hairy Dawg at the Dawg Walk ahead of an NCAA football spring G-Day game in Athens, Ga., Saturday, April 20, 2019.

Kirby Smart’s charge to further UGA football’s defensive line talent continued on Friday.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins of Gaffney High, the top 2021 recruit in South Carolina according to 247Sports, announced his pledge to sign with the Bulldogs over reported offers from North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina and others.

At 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, Ingram Dawkins is rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals.com and ESPN.

It’s possible Ingram-Dawkins could slot in at both defensive tackle and end in UGA’s 3-4 defensive scheme.

Ingram-Dawkins didn’t take an official visit to UGA before his decision, but he did manage to visit South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Florida, Clemson and Appalachain State.

247Sports considers Ingram-Dawkins the No. 178 overall player in the ’21 class and the 14th best defensive tackle.

The Bulldogs have 18 verbal commitments in the 2021 class, including three defensive line prospects: Ingram-Dawkins, four-star DE Jonathan Jefferson (Douglasville, Ga.), three-star DT Marlin Dean (Elberton, Ga.).

UGA was Ingram-Dawkins’ second SEC offer. The UGA coaching staff developed a relationship with Ingram-Dawkins as well as his mother.

The relationship ended up being the deciding factor in Ingram-Dawkins’ decision.

“Coach Tray Scott, Coach Dan Lanning, the whole staff kept their word,” Ingram-Dawkins said during his announcement on Instagram live. “They talked to me every day. They talked to my mom and they have a great relationship with my mom and my whole family. I think that’s what stood out the most is the relationship.”

Ingram-Dawkins feels he brings more to UGA than a good football player. He hopes to add a blue collar work ethic and personality to the locker room as well.

“The program that I’m going to be going to is going to be getting a hardworking player, a guy that’s dedicated on the field and off the field and a great guy an even better person than a football player ,” Ingram-Dawkins said.