As a national powerhouse, Georgia recruits on a national scale, but when it comes down to it, success in the talent hotbed of SEC country comes down to defending your borders. Kirby Smart has done that as well as anyone with 12 in-state players including all three five-stars out of his 20 commits in the 2025 recruiting class.
In-state talent is the foundation of the program in Athens, but Smart is more than happy to invade enemy territory when he needs to. After a slow start to July with the other top program landing commitments, the Bulldogs added a 6-foot-10 California offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson, and perhaps more importantly, though with significantly less fanfare, plucked four-star safety Jaylan Morgan out of Tennessee.
Morgan took his final official visit of the summer to Athens on June 21 after trips to Oxford, Starkville, and a few unofficial visits to Tennessee. Morgan is the No. 6 player in Tennessee and while many 247Sports experts expected a pledge to Smart and his staff, there was also a prediction placed for him to stay home and play for the Vols.
Georgia’s 2025 class is taking shape with these recent commitments and while building through the trenches always appears to be Smart’s top priority, he’s added a few nice pieces in the secondary with Morgan, four-star cornerback Shamari Earls, and four-star safety Todd Robinson. Those recruiting wins come on the heels of the 2024 class that was headlined by five-star corner Ellis Robinson IV, who could play a featured role as a true freshman in 2024, and five-star safety KJ Bolden.
The Bulldogs lost a lot of talent in the defensive backfield this offseason with Javon Bullard, Kamari Lassiter, and Tykee Smith all leaving for the NFL draft. The 2024 defense will be led by the talented defensive front with Mykel Williams, who could be the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft, but the future of the secondary in Athens is bright.