Former Alabama safety Jake Pope commits to Georgia
The former Buford Wolves standout is poised to join the Bulldogs.
The coaching change at Alabama opened the door for Crimson Tide players to enter the portal and look at other alternatives. The Georgia Bulldogs benefitted in this trade on Friday night by landing a former Crimson Tide defensive back.
Former Alabama safety Jake Pope has committed to Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound defensive back has three years of eligibility remaining.
Pope announced his decision on social media, writing, “Comin’ home!!! Committed” with an image of Pope sporting a Georgia jersey.
Pope played in 11 games for Alabama in 2023. He usually played on special teams but played on defense against Kentucky as well as Chattanooga. He did not record any statistics.
Pope did not play as a true freshman in 2022.
Pope was a superstar at Buford High School and was a four-star prospect in the 2022 class. He was deemed the No. 30 recruit in the state of Georgia according 247Sports and was also considered the No. 28 safety by the site.
Pope helped the Wolves capture multiplate state championships as a varsity football player and was also a highly-regarded baseball prospect. He chose Alabama over Georgia, Notre Dame, and North Carolina.
247Sports national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna wrote the following appraisal of Pope in August 2021:
“A three-phase athlete, Pope showed the ability to project to the receiver and possibly safety position at the next level. Possesses development potential to add further weight to his frame. Displays good athleticism in all three stages. Exhibits good short area burst and explosiveness on both sides of the ball while possessing outstanding play speed. Plays with very little wasted motion, smooth in and out of breaks. Demonstrates good instincts in all three phases. Flashes natural ball skills on both sides of the ball. Shows some talent as a playmaker in the return game and after the catch. Will have an instant impact on special teams. Versatile athlete that wins with instincts. Plays bigger than he is.”
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