Georgia has recruited a 6-foot-10 basketball player to play offensive line

Tyler Brooke

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Georgia has recruited a 6-foot-10 basketball player to play offensive line image

Former NBA veteran Austin Rivers has some more ammo for his offseason debates. 

The debate about whether basketball or football players could more easily transition to the other sport happens almost every offseason. Now, it looks like the Georgia Bulldogs are at least entertaining Rivers' side of the argument by recruiting a former basketball player to play football.

On3's Hayes Fawcett reported that former OTE basketball champion Jahzare Jackson has chosen to play for the Bulldogs in college, trying his hand on the offensive line.

Jackson is a 3-star recruit, but it's his frame and upside that had schools like Georgia interested in him. He's currently listed at 6-foot-10 and 340 pounds, and had also received another Power Five offer from the Florida State Seminoles.

Here's what Andrew Ivins with 247Sports had to say about Jackson.

"Has limited experience playing actual football, which means that his technique is entry-level at best," Ivins wrote. "However, has displayed impressive fluidity and agility for someone of his stature and has the posture to eventually hold his own in pass sets with his naturally wide base."

It's a long-term project that Georgia is willing to work with Jackson to become a legitimate tackle. However, he's not the first basketball player to try and make the switch to football. There are multiple former college basketball players that ended up in the NFL, including the likes of Jimmy Graham, Donovan McNabb, and Julius Peppers.

If there's any program that can turn Jackson into a starting-caliber tackle, it's the Bulldogs. Georgia consistently produces top-tier offensive linemen who go to the NFL. It will be a long road for Jackson, but one that fans of the program will keep a close eye on over the next few years. 

Tyler Brooke

Tyler Brooke Photo

Tyler Brooke has been covering football for more than 12 years. His experience includes writing for multiple outlets including Bleacher Report, FanDuel, and SB Nation. He currently serves as an assistant football coach for Carmel High School, and is the co-author of The Science of Football.