Bulldog Commit Pearce Spurlin Liked What He Saw In Charlotte

2023 Georgia commit Pearce Spurlin was among the dozens of high profile recruits in Charlotte for last weekend’s top five matchup between Georgia and Clemson. It sounds like the ‘Dawgs didn’t disappoint the Sunshine State tight end.

“It was awesome”, Spurlin told Dawg Sports without no hesitation, “probably my favorite Georgia game I’ve ever been to. A lot of people were saying it was kind of boring but when you’re at a defensive game like that I think it’s really fun.”

Spurlin noted the opener was actually his first in person UGA game since he committed last September. The Bulldog legacy has spent his fair share of time in Sanford Stadium, but noted that it’s different when “you can recruit other guys as a commit and hang out with the other commits.”

One of those commits Spurlin got to hang with was 2022 UGA tight end target Oscar Delp out of West Forsyth High.

Spurlin noted that while he and Delp haven’t known each other for too long, they do talk pretty frequently over social media. “It was cool to actually meet that first time and just sort of click.”

He also thoroughly enjoyed what he saw from the tight end in Georgia’s 2021 recruiting class, true freshman Brock Bowers. “They’ve been telling me they were going to be getting the ball to the tight ends more but I didn’t expect anything like that. I don’t think anyone did” said Spurlin. “But Brock’s amazing. He’s just a freak athlete and a really good player. It was awesome to see him get those opportunities.”

Spurlin notes that since returning from injury he’s worked hard off the field to get physically ready to play. While most recruiting services list him at a pretty trim 6’6, 220 pounds, he declares with a chuckle that “I’m up to 229 . . . 230 on a good day. I’ve actually now gained 25 pounds just this year.” But he notes that the thing Kirby Smart’s staff has stressed with him as key to his development is lower body power, “they don’t really care about my weight, but Coach Hartley tells you a lot to just ‘keep attacking the weight room.’”

Before Spurlin gets to Athens he still has two seasons of high school football to play for the South Walton Seahawks, who are off to a 2-0 start following a 28-14 win over rival Walton High. In addition to helping his biggest 2021 goal, which is helping his team get further in the playoffs following a second round exit, Spurlin has some individual goals as well. “I want to improve my route-running from the slot” he noted, “I’m doing a lot more slot work this year and I want to break 1,000 yards receiving. I had 800 last year but I got injured. Otherwise I think I definitely would have had it.”

As one of the centerpieces of a solid South Walton offense Spurlin could see his stock soar even higher before he signs with the Bulldogs. Currently the #4 tight end for 2023 and the #73 player nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings, he’s got the versatility to play outside, in the slot, on the line at tight end, or at H-back, something we’ve seen Todd Monken emphasize in recruiting.

I would expect Spurlin to remain a key member of the Red and Black’s 2023 class, and to take a role in bringing other players into the fold. Until later . . .

Go ‘Dawgs!!!