Devin Cochran was set on being a UGA Bulldog but when things changed he realized he needed to look elsewhere. He signed with Vanderbilt, giving the Commodores a true SEC talent at offensive tackle.

Three things to know about Cochran, of Greater Atlanta Christian:

1. Big man: Cochran, a 6-7, 305-pound offensive tackle, committed to Vanderbilt in June, after an official visit. He considered Tennessee, Miami, Florida and South Carolina and gave a second look at Georgia during the summer. But, on signing day, Cochran kept his word and signed with Vanderbilt.

2. A love of Athens: "I love UGA," Cochran told the AJC in July. "I like UGA a lot. But what happened with Georgia was they filled up with E.J. Price. When he committed and Ben Cleveland committed and more guys started committing, they just filled up positions."

3. SEC potential: A former basketball player, Cochran told the Gwinnett Daily Post that he didn't realize he had the potential to play football at an SEC level. But he gained the confidence by playing alongside future SEC players like Auburn's Darius Slayton and Tennessee' Micah Abernathy.

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Former Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Norman Arey died Oct. 11, 2025 at the age of 84. In addition to sports writing, Arey also co-wrote the popular "Peach Buzz" society column. (Courtesy of the Arey family)

Credit: Courtesy of the Arey family

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