Former Cal WR, five-star recruit Demetris Robertson transfers to Georgia

Demetris Robertson, a top-10 recruit in 2016, is transferring from Cal to Georgia, the speedy wide receiver announced on YouTube.

Robertson originally chose Cal over Alabama, Georgia and others

Robertson was the consensus top-rated wide receiver in 2016 (though some outlets classified him as an “athlete”) coming out Savannah Christian Prep in Savannah, Georgia, Robertson spurned offers from pretty much every SEC power and several other top programs to head out to Berkeley. It was viewed as a surprising decision by most recruiting experts.

Robertson found major success with the Bears as a freshman, when he posted 50 receptions for 767 yards and seven touchdowns. His receptions and yards both broke program freshman records, previously held by current NFL players Keenan Allen and DeSean Jackson, respectively.

Coming off his impressive debut campaign, Robertson was looking for even greater success in 2017, but his season was just two games old before he underwent season-ending surgery for a “lower body injury.” He was granted a medical redshirt year, and in late June he announced he was transferring for “personal matters.”

It’s unclear whether Robertson will be eligible this year

Per NCAA rules, undergraduate transfers must sit out a year after switching schools. Athletes can, however, get a waiver to play immediately if they meet the following four criteria:

• Transfer is due to documented mitigating circumstances outside student-athlete’s control and directly impacts health, safety and well-being of student-athlete;

• At time of transfer, the student-athlete would have been athletically and academically eligible and in good standing on the team had he or she remained at the previous school;

• Student-athlete meets percentage-of-degree requirements at the new school; and

• The previous school’s athletics administration does not oppose transfer.

If Robertson’s “personal matters” do meet the NCAA’s waiver requirements, he and the University of Georgia may request immediate eligibility. As of right now, though, nothing has indicated he will pursue that option.

Regardless of whether he hits the field for the Bulldogs this year or next, this is a huge pickup for Kirby Smart. Robertson adds terrific speed — he also ran track at Cal — and is a versatile weapon who can line up in a variety of spots in a formation. Georgia is in line to lose at least three of its receivers following the 2018 season, so even if Robertson sits a year, he will be in line for plenty of playing time in 2019.

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