Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs are so close to claiming the No. 1 overall recruiting class for 2026 originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
Just a few weeks ago, Kirby Smart’s 2026 Georgia Bulldogs recruiting class sat at No. 6 in the national rankings.
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Since then, Georgia has made a major leap, climbing to No. 2, and now they are sitting on the doorstep of overtaking the USC Trojans for the top spot.
Their latest commitments of five-star tight end Kaiden Prothro and four-star safety Tyriq Green were big-time additions, though not quite enough to push the Bulldogs past the Trojans.
However, if Georgia can secure five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson, it could be the move that pushes them into the No. 1 spot. The good news is that they’re on Atkinson’s list of final four schools, and they have five-star quarterback commit Jared Curtis working behind the scenes to help recruit him to Athens, too.
Georgia is also in the final mix for five-star running back Derrek Cooper, another huge target who could be the next big-time weapon in Athens. Landing him would be a major win for Smart and could be exactly what the Dawgs need alongside Atkinson to lock in the No. 1 spot.
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Since Smart took over in 2015, Georgia has been a recruiting machine. The Bulldogs have finished with the No. 1 class three times and came close two other years. Whether it’s landing five-stars or keeping the best in-state talent home, Smart has built Georgia into one of the most consistent recruiting powerhouses in the country.
There’s no question that Smart and his staff have what it takes to out-recruit USC.
Georgia Bulldogs 2026 Commits
Georgia currently boasts the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class and has 29 players committed to their recruiting class of 2026:
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4-star EDGE Khamari Brooks
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4-star Tight End Brayden Fogle
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4-star Defensive Lineman Preston Cary
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4-star Defensive Lineman PJ Dean
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4-star Cornerback Chace Calicut
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4-star Defensive Lineman James Johnson
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4-star Wide Receiver Craig Dandridge
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4-star Running Back Jae Lamar
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4-star Linebacker Shadarius Toodle
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4-star Offensive Tackle Ekene Ogbok
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4-star Cornerback Caden Harris
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5-star Kicker Harran Zureikat
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5-Star Punt Returner Wade Register
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4-star Offensive Lineman Zykie Helton
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5-star Tight End Kaiden Prothro
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4-star Cornerback Justin Fitzpatrick
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4-star Safety Tyriq Green
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4-star Defensive Lineman Carter Luckie
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4-star Wide Receiver Ryan Mosely
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4-star Safety Jordan Smith
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5-star Quarterback Jared Curtis
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3-star Offensive Tackle Graham Houston
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3-star Offensive Lineman Zachary Lewis
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4-star Tight End Lincoln Keys
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3-star Safety Kealan Jones
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3-star Defensive Lineman Seven Cloud
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3-star Wide Receiver Brady Marchese
Related: Georgia Bulldogs beat out SEC rival to land 4-star Buford safety
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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
