Plant safety Bostick commits to Georgia

Posted Aug 13, 2012 by Bill Ward and Scott Purks

Updated Aug 13, 2012 at 02:10 PM

Plant safety Paris Bostick became the third Plant Panther under head coach Robert Weiner to decide the University of Georgia is the place to be when the 6-foot-1, 208-pound senior made a verbal commitment to the Bulldogs on Monday.

Bostick, considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, joins former Panthers stars Aaron Murray and Orson Charles as UGA commitments. Murray will be the Bulldogs starting quarterback this fall and Charles, a tight end, is playing his rookie season in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bostick’s decision came down to two schools: Georgia and Arkansas. He also had offers from 15 other Division I schools, including the University of South Florida, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Mississippi State and Weiner’s alma mater, Boston College. Ultimately, Bostick said his decision was based on academics and the relationships he has built with the Bulldogs’ coaching staff during the last year. He said he felt a particularly strong bond with head coach Mark Richt.

Bostick said he also talked with Murray and Charles before visiting the school and their endorsement of UGA helped seal the decision.

“Some people seem to think Arkansas has the better football team, but I’m not so sure about that,” Bostick said. “But I do know Georgia has better academics and that had a lot to do with me choosing Georgia.

“Coach Richt made me feel real comfortable. I feel like coach Richt and I feel the same way about a lot of things.”

Despite a season plagued by ankle sprains last season, Bostick made 63 tackles and three interceptions. He also saw action in the Plant backfield, rushing the ball 21 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns. UGA has recruited him as a strong safety.