“🔥 RECRUITING SHOCKWAVE: How Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs Overturned the Tide—Leaping Ahead Of Notre Dame to Capture No. 2 Spot in 2026 Rankings with 19 Bold Commitments Since May, Cementing a Powerful SEC-Ready Class Anchored by Elite Quarterback Jared Curtis, Disruptive Defensive Talent, and Specialist Game-Changers”
ATHENS, GA – June 30, 2025 — In what collectors of college football recruiting refer to as a recruiting shockwave, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and his staff have rattled the landscape—vaulting from No. 6 to No. 2 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings for the class of 2026, leapfrogging perennial power Notre Dame, and signaling a major recalibration in recruiting momentum.
—
🚀 The Meteoric Rise: 19 Commitments Since May 1
According to an A to Z Sports overview cited in Yardbarker, Georgia captured 19 verbal pledges since May 1, vaulting over Notre Dame into the No. 2 ranking . That surge, concentrated largely within June, included several four-star signal-callers like James Johnson and Chace Calicut, along with a deep pipeline of offensive and defensive talent.
On3 confirms Georgia now has 24 total commitments, up from just 6 in late April, marking one of the strongest mid-cycle surges in recent memory .
—
🎯 Core Drivers of the Surge
1. Elite Signal-Caller: Five-Star Jared Curtis
The addition of Jared Curtis—a five-star “Plus+” quarterback from Nashville Christian and highest-rated UGA QB since Matthew Stafford—laid the foundation in May . Curtis’ presence provided a high-profile anchor to the class and ignited momentum.
2. Defensive and Offensive Talent
Recent additions include:
James Johnson, four-star DL from Fort Myers, Fla.
Chace Calicut, four-star DB from Houston, Texas .
Ekene Ogboko, a North Carolina four-star OT with family ties to UGA .
Other skill contributors like Craig Dandridge (WR), Jae Lamar (RB), and defensive standouts Shadarius Toodle, Caden Harris, and Jordan Smith .
Special teams also bolstered their class with top punters and kickers—an often-overlooked yet essential component .
—
🛡️ SEC-Worthy Class: Balance & Depth
Georgia’s 2026 group shows enviable balance: 10 offensive, 12 defensive, and 2 specialist commitments . Four-star defensive talents from across the map and peach-state swaps reflect Smart’s defensive emphasis—Bolstering a defense-first identity that powered their 2024 SEC championship win .
—
🏗️ Kirby Smart’s Recruiting Blueprint vs. Tradition
Since 2016, Georgia has never finished outside the Top 3 in On3 rankings . With national titles in 2021 and 2022, SEC dominance, and NFL-caliber player development, Smart’s “repeatable factory” model (weathered with elite coaching and national brand) attracts top-tier recruits and challenges players like Curtis, Calicut, and Johnson to accelerate their development.
—
🔊 What the Analysts Are Saying
On3 Recruits tweeted: “Georgia has jumped over Notre Dame to take the No. 2 spot…” .
Rivals/On3 insider Sam Spiegelman described it as a “statement recruit,” highlighting Georgia’s newfound defensive class strength .
—
🔭 Moving Forward: What Georgia’s Surge Means
Early Enrolments
Top recruits like Johnson and Ogboko are expected to graduate early, enrolling in January to maximize spring practice and immediate roster impact .
SEC Implications
Jumping Notre Dame—and now trailing only USC nationally—sets the Dawgs up for a SEC recruiting war. The class depth gives Smart latitude as he prepares for 2026 Southeast dominance under Conference Realignment heat .
On the Recruiting Trail
This class momentum gives Georgia an edge in closing more blue-chip talent—rising priority names like Immanuel Iheanacho (five-star OT) have Georgia trending early .
—
🏁 Bottom Line
Georgia’s leap from No. 6 to No. 2 is more than a numbers game—it’s a declaration. Kirby Smart’s program is explicitly declaring itself a SEC and national recruiting titan, standing tall behind dynasty level recruiting execution, elite player development, and strategic focus on defense, offense, and the often-missed special teams. If Georgia maintains this momentum, the class of 2026 could be one of the defining pillars in the state’s transformation.
As rankings continue to shift, the Bulldogs are making it clear: this is Georgia’s recruiting era.
Leave a Reply