Offensive tackle Mark Beard, a three-star JUCO, has committed to the Georgia Bulldogs for their 2012 class, Dawgs 247 reports. He's already graduated from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, and will be eligible to play for the Dawgs next year.
The rest of his finalists: the Arkansas Razorbacks and Mississippi St. Bulldogs, both of whom he'd visited in December. Via Dawgs 247, Beard attributed much of his choice to Georgia offensive line coach Will Friend, with whom he had a previous connection:
Originally from the Birmingham, Ala., area, Beard was previously recruited by Georgia offensive line coach Will Friend, who was on the staff at UAB at the time.
"Coach Friend played a good role in my deciding on Georgia," Beard said.
Beard is the fourth OL commit of Georgia's 2012 class, joining five-star John Theus, four-star Greg Pyke and three-star Chester Brown. The Dawgs have said they'd like to take six offensive linemen total.
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