**** Fletcher Westphal
- By Cris_Ard
- The West Zone
- 37 Replies
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There aren't a lot of human beings walking around the entire planet that possess the size that Fletcher Westphal does. The 2024 offensive tackle prospect measured just under 6-foot-9 inches and weighed in at 334 pounds on his official visit with the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend. He has 35-inch arms and over a 7-foot wingspan.
Head coach Kirby Smart and offensive line coach Stacy Searels are eyeing Westphal as one of the finishing pieces to the Class of 2024 offensive line haul for the Bulldogs.
The official visit caught the four-star tackle's attention in a significant way.
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"The OV went really well," Westphal said. "It definitely put a better perspective on UGA in my mind. The amount of information that we got on the visit, information that we previously hadn't gotten before. It was just amazing. How Georgia offers internships. Everything in the classroom, with academics. We had gotten to glance by it on unofficials, but this time it was really magnified and it put it in good light."
One experience that Westphal thoroughly enjoyed was the ax-throwing competition.
"We went to an ax-throwing type of deal," Westphal said. "I was the best offensive lineman there in that group in that. I dominated. The other offensive linemen know it on that. I was boasting about it for two days straight. That was fun. But Coach Searels whooped all of us though. My score was 39 and the other offensive lineman had around 15 points. Coach Searels, his score was 75. We didn't let him play anymore after that."
As Searels and Westphal have known each other for a lengthy period of time, the Georgia offensive line coach probably didn't feel the need to take it easy on the big tackle.
"We've known each other so long that we really don't talk recruiting much anymore," Westphal said. "It's more just that we talk back and forth, sometimes we talk ball. Coach Searels played at the Division I level and he played in the league. He tells us some good recruiting stories."
Westphal also detailed the sitdown he and his family had with Smart at the end of the official visit.
"A big part of that meeting, he gave me five things and asked me to rank them," Westphal said. "Relationships with players, relationships with coaches, winning a national championship, starting as a freshman, and NIL. We get into it, I ranked relationships with players one, relationship with coaches two, winning a national championship three, starting as a freshman four, and NIL five.
"The reason he asked that was because, he said, any kid who says starting as a freshman or NIL is number one or number two, that's a red flag in recruiting. First of all, you're in the SEC. It's the hardest conference and you're playing against freaks of nature at defensive end. Physically and mentally you're not going to be prepared. You just don't have enough time at the offensive line positions to start as a freshman, and I completely agree."
Westphal and his family have been very organized and analytical throughout the recruiting process, keeping records of all the positives and negatives on each visit. Now though, with four finalists of Clemson, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas, a different tactic for making a decision is emerging.
"It's really going to be a gut feel for me," Westphal said. "I was very analytical. I had a spreadsheet for everything for the commitment. It's really just going to be a gut feel and kind of after I take all of my official visits and then go on vacation afterward, I'm going to enjoy my vacation first of all, then I'm going to make my decision."
Georgia moved the needle on this visit with Westphal.
"Georgia definitely upped themselves in my book," Westphal said. "I don't know that I would have said going into this that Georgia was my No. 1 school, and I don't have a No. 1 school, but Georgia has definitely upped themselves in my book."
Westphal shared Georgia's message and why it believes that Athens should be his home at the next level.
"Because I'm a big human and they can develop me," Westphal said. "I'm really big and they believe they can develop me spiritually, mentally, and physically. I can get internships with all of these Fortune 500 companies. I can learn and become better at football and become better as a man.
"They hit on every part of it. They're not pressuring me to commit right now or anything. That's my own decision. What they did tell me though is that they are taking five offensive linemen. They have three committed, two public, and one silent. Coach Smart told me they want two more and in his words, 'We want them to big two big ass human beings.'"
Westphal has now completed his official visits to Clemson and Georgia and will be visiting Florida and Arkansas next. A decision is expected in July.
SHOP NOW: Every ON SALE Clemson apparel/gear item at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
Fletcher Westphal has a "better perspective on UGA"
By: Blayne Gilmer - UGASports.comThere aren't a lot of human beings walking around the entire planet that possess the size that Fletcher Westphal does. The 2024 offensive tackle prospect measured just under 6-foot-9 inches and weighed in at 334 pounds on his official visit with the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend. He has 35-inch arms and over a 7-foot wingspan.
Head coach Kirby Smart and offensive line coach Stacy Searels are eyeing Westphal as one of the finishing pieces to the Class of 2024 offensive line haul for the Bulldogs.
The official visit caught the four-star tackle's attention in a significant way.
Login to view embedded media
"The OV went really well," Westphal said. "It definitely put a better perspective on UGA in my mind. The amount of information that we got on the visit, information that we previously hadn't gotten before. It was just amazing. How Georgia offers internships. Everything in the classroom, with academics. We had gotten to glance by it on unofficials, but this time it was really magnified and it put it in good light."
One experience that Westphal thoroughly enjoyed was the ax-throwing competition.
"We went to an ax-throwing type of deal," Westphal said. "I was the best offensive lineman there in that group in that. I dominated. The other offensive linemen know it on that. I was boasting about it for two days straight. That was fun. But Coach Searels whooped all of us though. My score was 39 and the other offensive lineman had around 15 points. Coach Searels, his score was 75. We didn't let him play anymore after that."
As Searels and Westphal have known each other for a lengthy period of time, the Georgia offensive line coach probably didn't feel the need to take it easy on the big tackle.
"We've known each other so long that we really don't talk recruiting much anymore," Westphal said. "It's more just that we talk back and forth, sometimes we talk ball. Coach Searels played at the Division I level and he played in the league. He tells us some good recruiting stories."
Westphal also detailed the sitdown he and his family had with Smart at the end of the official visit.
"A big part of that meeting, he gave me five things and asked me to rank them," Westphal said. "Relationships with players, relationships with coaches, winning a national championship, starting as a freshman, and NIL. We get into it, I ranked relationships with players one, relationship with coaches two, winning a national championship three, starting as a freshman four, and NIL five.
"The reason he asked that was because, he said, any kid who says starting as a freshman or NIL is number one or number two, that's a red flag in recruiting. First of all, you're in the SEC. It's the hardest conference and you're playing against freaks of nature at defensive end. Physically and mentally you're not going to be prepared. You just don't have enough time at the offensive line positions to start as a freshman, and I completely agree."
Westphal and his family have been very organized and analytical throughout the recruiting process, keeping records of all the positives and negatives on each visit. Now though, with four finalists of Clemson, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas, a different tactic for making a decision is emerging.
"It's really going to be a gut feel for me," Westphal said. "I was very analytical. I had a spreadsheet for everything for the commitment. It's really just going to be a gut feel and kind of after I take all of my official visits and then go on vacation afterward, I'm going to enjoy my vacation first of all, then I'm going to make my decision."
Georgia moved the needle on this visit with Westphal.
"Georgia definitely upped themselves in my book," Westphal said. "I don't know that I would have said going into this that Georgia was my No. 1 school, and I don't have a No. 1 school, but Georgia has definitely upped themselves in my book."
Westphal shared Georgia's message and why it believes that Athens should be his home at the next level.
"Because I'm a big human and they can develop me," Westphal said. "I'm really big and they believe they can develop me spiritually, mentally, and physically. I can get internships with all of these Fortune 500 companies. I can learn and become better at football and become better as a man.
"They hit on every part of it. They're not pressuring me to commit right now or anything. That's my own decision. What they did tell me though is that they are taking five offensive linemen. They have three committed, two public, and one silent. Coach Smart told me they want two more and in his words, 'We want them to big two big ass human beings.'"
Westphal has now completed his official visits to Clemson and Georgia and will be visiting Florida and Arkansas next. A decision is expected in July.
SHOP NOW: Every ON SALE Clemson apparel/gear item at The Tiger Fan Shop HERE!
