Linton had been dedicated to Rutgers since early June, but a recent offer from UGA was weighing on his mind. He shared with DawgNation that he now had to consider not only UGA but also some “confidential” schools from the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC that had contacted him. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior decided to clarify his recruiting situation this afternoon by announcing on social media that he was reopening his recruitment and officially decommitting from Rutgers.
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Linton had valid reasons for his feelings. The young EDGE, who enjoys classic tunes from New Edition before games, also holds a traditional view of “commitment.” The term carries significant meaning for him.
“It’s tough to think about other schools if commitment means no visits or communication,” he told DawgNation on Saturday. He believed it wasn’t right to explore other options while still committed.
“It’s been weighing on me,” he admitted.
Linton mentioned he has a game visit planned for later this month: “I’m going to the UGA-Clemson game,” he said.
The past three weeks have been hectic for him. After visiting Rutgers officially in early June, he felt settled in his commitment. That was his only official visit. However, before that, he had a workout in Athens with UGA, where he clocked in the 4.6 range, catching Georgia’s attention.
When he returned to UGA last month, he participated in more drills, including shuttle and linebacker drills. That’s when Georgia EDGE coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe extended an offer to him.
“It was exciting at first, but after a few days, I started hearing from other schools,” Linton reflected. “Then I thought, ‘Wow, I’m back in the mix.’”
Georgia is now actively pursuing him.
“They see him as a ‘Jack’ backer, a player who can rush the quarterback, thanks to his athleticism and ability to bend around the corner,” said North Atlanta coach Jamie Aull. “They want him; that’s the message I’ve received.”
Linton told DawgNation last Friday he plans to visit UGA again, not just to work out but to get a better sense of the school and its environment.
“The idea is to check out Georgia to help me figure things out,” he said. “Right now, I’m a bit lost and discussing everything with my family. I hope to make a decision soon.”
He expressed a desire to finalize his college choice soon. “I’d say within a month,” he replied when asked about a timeline.
What stands out to him about the Dawgs?
“Mainly the distance from home,” he said. “Their program is impressive too, especially with back-to-back championships. The way their coaches present themselves really caught my attention.”
Linton described his highlight reel as solid, emphasizing that he wants viewers to see him as “relentless” when they watch him play.
“From first down to fourth down, I won’t stop until I win,” he stated. “Relentless.”
The impressive plays seem to peak in the middle of his reel, but his standout moment so far is from his sophomore highlight tape. He made a crucial strip sack against Lovejoy in the playoffs to seal the game. A teammate recovered the ball in the end zone, stopping a drive after Lovejoy had a long touchdown called back that could have tied the game.
Last fall, Linton recorded seven sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Check out his recent conversation with DawgNation below:
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