Athens, Georgia - Georgia Bulldogs football commit Marcus Washington Jr. will end his high school career early and will join the collegiate team a year earlier than expected.

Commonly, when a student-athlete reclassifies their graduation year, it's to gain more preparation before hitting the big collegiate stage.

However, one talented player plans to do the unexpected and will start their college career earlier than anticipated.

Marcus Washington Jr. is one of the top recruited players in the country. Ranked the No. 84 overall prospect and No. 10 cornerback in the 2023 ESPN 300, Washington will enroll at the University of Georgia in a few weeks, a decision he announced in a Twitter video on Monday night.

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"After consulting with my family, deep consideration, and thoughtful prayer, I have decided to forgo my senior year of high school football and reclassify to the class of 2022, and begin my playing career as a Georgia Bulldog," he said.

"Although this is the end of my high school journey, I am excited about the new chapter in my life that I am gonna start in Athens, and it leads me on a continued journey to greatness. Go Dawgs!"

The incoming Georgia freshman is the son of former Bulldogs linebacker Marcus Washington, who played for former coach Mark Richt from 2005 to 2009.

After losing starting safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Derion Kendrick to the NFL draft and four defensive backs to the transfer portal, Georgia's Head Coach Kirby Smart said building depth in the secondary was one of his major concerns.

"We've got to get better in the secondary to go where we're going to go, and we've got some guys coming, but we've got to get the guys that are here to go to here, and that's our job as coaches," Smart said.

As the reigning national football champions, the Bulldogs signed five of the country's top defensive backs in the last recruiting cycle: cornerbacks Daylen Everette, Julian Humphre, and Jaheim Singletary and safeties Malaki Starks and JaCorey Thomas.

Washington's early addition to the team will bring Georgia’s recruiting class up to 29 signees this year, including 18 who enrolled early.

The 2022 class will become the largest group of early enrollees in the program's history, breaking the previous record of 16, which was set by the class of 2021.