In-state WR Thomas Blackshear commits to Georgia over Tennessee
It was only a matter of time before James Coley‘s recruiting prowess showed up in Georgia’s 2025 recruiting class.
The first wide receiver on board: Thomas Blackshear.
The Calvary Day (Ga.) wide receiver committed to Georgia over Tennessee and Florida State on Sunday, he told Dawgs247. Blackshear’s final decision came down to a battle between Georgia and Tennessee. He reached out to Georgia coaches last week to let them know he was ready to make a decision.
“I texted Coach Coley and told him I’m ready to be a Dawg,” Blackshear told Dawgs247. “He called me. He was fired up. He said he can’t wait until I get down there.”
The 6-foot-1, 197-pound receiver visited Georgia a couple times this spring. His initial Georgia recruiting interactions were with former wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon. Blackshear told Dawgs247 earlier this year he’d need to rebuild the relationship with Coley to establish a similar bond he had with McClendon.
That clearly happened in short order.
Blackshear credited Georgia coaches for his decision on Sunday.
“The coaches, going down there, getting to know the coaches more when I visited and watching them practice. Talking to Coach Coley and Coach Kirby, that’s when I made the decision,” Blackshear said. “It was definitely the coaching staff.”
In eight games last season, Blackshear accounted for 551 yards receiving and five touchdowns, averaging more than 20 yards per reception. He also averaged 10 yards per carry on the ground.
Blackshear’s knack for physicality has drawn some comparisons to another wide receiver recruited by Coley.
“He’s really been telling me that I’ll be a great wide receiver at Georgia,” Blackshear said. “I remind him of George Pickens a little bit.”
Blackshear plays both sides of the ball at Calvary Day, though he likely projects as a Z receiver in Georgia’s offense. Other programs, including Tennessee, discussed playing defensive back with Blackshear too.
But Coley had a funny message for Blackshear on that topic.
“Coach Coley was saying he saw my defensive film, and didn’t want to let the DB coach know about that,” Blackshear said, laughing.
Blackshear ranks as a 3-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings, but he’s a 4-star in the 247Sports composite. He slots in as the nation’s No. 323 overall player in the 247Sports composite rankings.
Blackshear is the first wide receiver in Georgia’s 2025 recruiting class. His commitment jumps Georgia up to the No. 11 recruiting class in the cycle, leapfrogging Texas A&M, Arizona State, and Wake Forest.
