Ben Davis was one of several recruits taken back by the mutual departing between Mark Richt and UGA on Sunday.
“I was kind of shocked,” Davis told DawgNation. “I know Coach Richt real well. He’s one of the first head coaches whose houses I’ve been to. I went on my official. I met up with his family.”
Davis, the top inside linebacker in the country, was expecting an in-home visit from UGA linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer on Sunday, but the trip was canceled after the Richt news. He has not yet heard back from the program about rescheduling.
If it’s any incentive for the Bulldogs, Davis maintained that Richt’s departure and the upcoming hiring process will not affect his recruitment.
But the 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior from Gordo, Ala., is interested to see who is brought in as the new coach. He addressed the rumors that Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is a front-runner.
“He’s a great coach,” Davis said. “If he goes there, that will be good for him and for Georgia. Like I said, whoever goes there, it’s not going to hurt how I look at Georgia. They’re still going to be one of my top schools. Right now, they’re definitely in my top three or four. Whatever happens, I’m going to still consider them.
“But if Coach Smart goes there, it’ll be pretty interesting. He’s a defensive coach and Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt is a defensive coach. It’s going to be interesting to see how it all plays out.”
Davis is rated as the No. 17 player in the country in 2016.
