That run saw Kirby Smart rise from 13th to the third-best class in the country, according to 247 Sports.
Since Smart’s first full year recruiting for Georgia in 2017, his program has not finished ranked lower than third in the national recruiting rankings.
The recent push bucked the current trend of recruiters landing their top targets in June and commitments coming in July.
In last year’s recruiting cycle, the Bulldogs signed 28 high school prospects, six of them committed in July, including back-to-back high-profile announcements. Georgia also picked up six members of the class who committed in June.
What’s next for Georgia football recruiting?
If the Bulldogs were to add 5-star defensive linemen Justus Terry and Elijah Griffin to their current class, it would push them past Alabama (20 commitments) and just behind Ohio State (21 commitments) for the top-rated class in the country.
DawgNation.com has identified 10 prospects listed below who appear to be top remaining targets for the 2025 class.
While Georgia isn’t likely to land all of these targets, it is expected to land its fair share. The Bulldogs’ 2025 recruiting class will likely approach the 30-player mark for this cycle.
These are the main goals that Georgia has in mind for 2025:
5-star DL Justus Terry (Manchester/Manchester, Georgia).
The former UGA and USC commit seems likely to return to the fold. It also appears he will no longer allow his “marathon” recruiting to extend into the early signing period in December. We’re hearing that his final decision could come before the end of the summer. At 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, Terry is one of the top 10 overall prospects in the country.
Five-star DL Elijah Griffin (Savannah Christian/Pooler, Georgia)
While all signs have consistently pointed to UGA, the nation’s fourth overall prospect has consistently stated that he will wait until early December to share his decision. UGA is well positioned, but also has one official visit left to court Griffin. If Georgia closes with Griffin and Terry, everything else will be table stakes for what would be a second top recruit dinner in 2025.
4-Star CB Shamari Earls (Thomas Dale/Chester, Va.)
Earls is the ideal target in that guard column after his recent move to UGA. Earls is committed to South Carolina, but all signs indicate he won’t be a Gamecock anytime soon or long term. Athens is the trending pick for the nation’s No. 11 CB and the No. 102 overall prospect on the 247Sports Composite scale.
S Jaylan Morgan 4-star (Rockvale/Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
This talented safety seems wired like many of UGA’s past and present recruits. The nation’s No. 23 safety took his official visit to UGA on June 21. His final group appears to be Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State and Ole Miss with a decision set for July 8. The tea leaves indicate he’ll be a Bulldog in either Athens or Starkville next fall.
4-star WR Travis Smith Jr. (Westlake/Atlanta, Georgia).
Just a month ago, Smith seemed destined for UGA, but Alabama and Tennessee have gained momentum. To complicate matters, he has seen Georgia take on four commitments at receiver. Alabama only has one 2025 WR commitment and the Vols have three. Smith is one of the best receiver prospects to come out of the Peach State in several years.
Cortez Smith 5-Star LIO (Parkview/Lilburn, Georgia)
An ideal offensive line anchor in the style of Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, he will be a four-year starter this fall. Smith has UGA among a final group that includes Georgia Tech, Miami and South Carolina. He set his decision date in May for July 20 and has held firm. The nation’s No. 6 prospect on IOL’s list also won a Georgia High School Association state title in the shot put and finished second in the discus this spring.
Bryce Davis (Grimsley/Greensboro, North Carolina), 4-star category
Looking for another reason to pay attention to UGA recruiting on July 20? That’s where Davis comes to mind. The 4-star EDGE comes from the same high school as Georgia sophomore DT Jamaal Jarrett. He is ranked as the No. 7 EDGE in the country and the No. 55 recruit overall. Georgia has long prioritized Davis. The Bulldogs are in a final group that also includes Clemson, Duke and South Carolina.
S Rashad Johnson 4 stars (South Sumner/Bushnell, Florida)
Johnson quickly warmed to the Bulldogs and vice versa. Georgia offered him on June 3 and he accepted as an official on June 14. Johnson ranks as the No. 29 safety in the country and the No. 325 overall prospect. Louisville, Penn State and Texas A&M are the other schools to watch here.
4-star OT Damola Ajidahun (Duluth/Duluth, Georgia).
Ajidahun has great size (6-foot-6 and 285 pounds) plus a wingspan that extends past seven feet. He has UGA in his final eight, which includes strong interest from Georgia Tech, among others. While he hasn’t set a specific date, he has indicated he will make a decision this summer ahead of his senior season.
4-star OT Juan Gaston Jr. (Westlake High School/Atlanta, Ga.)
This massive overtime (6-foot-7, 355 pounds) has also been a UGA priority for some time. The son of a former Georgia Tech basketball player, he has the height. The No. 16 overtime and No. 159 prospect in the country has a tough schedule to commit to in the first half of his senior season. He has taken officials to Georgia, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee and hopes to see FSU and USC later this year.
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