After 4 consecutive in-state commits, here’s how Georgia is doing in recruiting

Howard is the only one of the four who isn’t viewed as a blue-chip recruit, as Lamar and Brooks are 4-star prospects.

The latest recruiting run gives the Bulldogs 22 commitments in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Thirteen of them are from Georgia.

How much Georgia leans on in-state recruiting varies year to year. Much of it is based on how strong the in-state talent is, even with Georgia consistently being one of the best talent-producing states in the country.

At this point in the cycle, there are 48 players who classify as blue-chip recruits in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Georgia has a commitment from eight of them, by far the most of any single school.

Rankings will change, and Georgia still has a number of top targets undecided. It’s fair to say both of those numbers will grow as we inch closer to the December signing day.

The last recruiting cycle saw Georgia land 19 of the 64 blue-chip players from the state. In 2024, those numbers were at eight and 56 and the year before was only four and 48.

As the sport continues to evolve, it’s hard not to notice how Georgia leans more and more on its own state to fill up its recruiting class. Consider that the 2023 recruiting class had just five total in-state players out of the 26-man haul. While that class did finish ranked No. 2 overall, 13 of the 26 signees are not with the team as it enters the 2025 season.

The 2024 signing class had 10 players from the state of Georgia, a class that finished the cycle ranked No. 1 overall. The Bulldogs had two players transfer out after just one season, but neither Nitro Tuggle or Marques Easley were Georgia natives.

The hope clearly seems to be that more in-state recruits lead to better retention. That was a major talking point for Georgia coach Kirby Smart this spring.

“We pride ourselves on retention, stability,” Smart said. “The foundation of this program is built through high school programs and bringing good kids into the program that can become good football players.”

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

That Georgia has picked up 13 Peach State players this cycle further shows Georgia wants to lean on in-state products. Only Texas and Florida have more blue-chip rated prospects at this point in time, giving Georgia plenty of talented players to pick from.

As for the top of the class, the best players are up for grabs still. Three of the four 5-star prospects from Georgia remain uncommitted.

Tyler Atkinson is the top player in the state and someone Georgia is very much after. Clemson, Oregon and Texas also received official visits from the No. 1 player in the state and the No. 9 player nationally.

Georgia also seems to be in a good position with Kaiden Prothro of Bowdon. Prothro is the No. 3 tight end in the class and the No. 25 overall player in the cycle. Prothro is set to announce his commitment July 12, while Atkinson does not have a set commitment date.

Georgia is not one of the finalists for linebacker Xavier Griffin, who will announce his commitment Sunday. The Gainesville linebacker will decide between Texas, Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State.

To this point in the cycle, Georgia has 22 commitments and the No. 3-ranked class for the cycle. But most of the top prospects in Georgia’s class are from players outside of Georgia. The lone 5-star commitment is quarterback Jared Curtis of Nashville, Tennessee.

Of the five top 100 commitments in Georgia’s current 2026 recruiting class, only safety Jordan Smith is from Georgia. He is from Warner Robins.

A season ago, Georgia landed four of the top five players from the state, with Justus Terry being the lone 5-star recruit to leave Georgia. He picked Texas over the Bulldogs at the eleventh hour, citing the need to make a “business decision.”

If Georgia lands Atkinson and Prothro, that would give Georgia potentially three of the top 10 in-state commitments for this cycle. Their potential additions also should help give Georgia one of the top classes nationally. Lamar is the No. 12 recruit in the state and Brooks is No. 13. They easily could climb into the top 10 of the state and the top 100 rankings nationally by the time they finish their senior seasons.

Other blue-chip recruits Georgia is after include defensive lineman Earnest Rankins and safety Tyriq Green. Rankins is from Decatur and Green is from Buford.

Georgia has signed a top-4 recruiting class for each of the past nine cycles under Smart. The Bulldogs are well on their way to doing so again in this cycle, with the large crop of in-state recruits playing a large part in that success.

List of Georgia in-state commits for the 2026 recruiting cycle

*All rankings are via the 247Sports Composite rankings