Georgia picked up a pair of football commitments Sunday night for its defense from Jenkins County duo Jonathan Taylor and James Deloach.

They gave coach Mark Richt their non-binding verbal pledges after spending time in Athens with him on Saturday.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Taylor is rated as the nation’s No. 44 recruit for 2012 in the ESPNU150 and projects as a nose guard in Georgia’s scheme.

Deloach is 6-4 and 275 pounds and was recruited to play end or outside linebacker for the Bulldogs. He broke his left arm in the fourth game last season.

They grew up playing together in elementary school, middle school and now in high school in Millen, Ga.

“They both have about the same offers from the same schools since they both said they wanted to play together,” said Chuck Sanders, defensive line coach at Jenkins County, who accompanied the two to Athens this weekend for a visit.

Among schools who had offered both, according to Sanders, were Michigan, Illinois, Louisville, Florida, Florida State, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Clemson, Auburn. Alabama, LSU and Georgia Tech.

“Coach Richt took them in the office yesterday and sat them down,” Sanders said. “They had a good, shoot, about an hour talk between the (summer camp) practices. They got a good feeling. … After they went home, I told them to talk to your parents. They just felt it was right time. They said they wanted to hold out but I think it was wearing on them, too.”

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