VALDOSTA — Michael Gilliard is going to be a Bulldog.

Gilliard, Valdosta High’s standout linebacker, committed to the University of Georgia during a visit to the campus in Athens on Saturday.

“I’m going to be a Georgia Bulldog,” Gilliard said via cell phone on Saturday. “I’m real excited. I’m looking forward to playing for them (in 2009).”

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Gilliard is coming off a big season for Valdosta last year. He made 112 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and had eight sacks for the Wildcats. He also picked off two passes and recovered two fumbles.

Georgia had to beat out a lot of teams to land Gilliard. The rising senior had more than 20 offers, from most of the top schools in the South, when he decided to commit to the Bulldogs. Among the other teams who had offered him a full scholarship were Florida State, Florida, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Michigan and Michigan State.

But Gilliard’s heart was pretty much set on being a Bulldog from the start.

“Georgia’s been my favorite for the longest time,” he said. “I wanted to talk to the other schools, and see which one I liked the best. But Georgia was always my favorite. I’ve been watching them play since I was young.”

“I think he’s wanted to go to Georgia for a real long time,” Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin said. “There were a lot of teams really after him. Michigan’s defensive coordinator was here this week, and he really laid it on Mike real hard.”

Georgia was the first school to offer Gilliard a scholarship (a copy of that offer hangs on the wall in Valdosta’s weight room, to motivate other Wildcat players). The day after the Bulldogs offered their scholarship, Georgia Tech offered one. Soon after, the offers started pouring in.

Rivals.com has classified Gilliard as a four-star linebacker. Scout.com ranks him 20th among weakside linebackers in the Class of 2009.

Gilliard will be joining one of the nation’s top football programs. The Bulldogs went 11-2 last year, won the Southeastern Conference for the third time in the last six years, and finished second in the nation in the final Associated Press poll.

“Georgia’s got everything going for them as long as Mark Richt is there,” Tomberlin said. “They’re going to contend for the SEC championship and the national championship. Coach Richt is one of the best two or three coaches in the nation, if not the best. I’m real happy Mike has decided to go there.”

On Saturday, shortly after giving Richt his verbal commitment, Gilliard got a phone call from fellow Georgia recruit Aaron Murray, a five-star quarterback from Plant High in Tampa. Murray congratulated his future teammate on choosing the Bulldogs.

Last year, Gilliard helped Valdosta go 9-3, finish second in the always-tough Region 1-AAAAA and finish the season ranked 10th in the state.

Gilliard’s commitment is the 11th for the Bulldogs from the Class of 2009.