The early signing period began Wednesday and while Georgia inked a majority of its 2025 class on the first day, there will be intrigue for Georgia football recruiting until 5-star DL Justus Terry makes his college decision at noon Friday.
If Georgia signs Terry, an AJC Super 11 selection, on Friday, the number of Georgians in this class will hit 21, the most in-state recruits in the Kirby Smart era. The Bulldogs will be within reach of surpassing the most in-state signees in any one class since Vince Dooley signed 24 Peach State prospects back in 1984.
Among the 2025 in-state prospects are two sets of high school teammates: Ethan Barbour and CJ Wiley from Milton and Isaiah Gibson and Rasean Dinkins from Warner Robins.
Rumors spread like wildfire across the message boards and chat rooms in the 24 hours leading to the early signing period.
A curious rumor about Florida making an 11th-hour run at 4-star Georgia quarterback commit Ryan Montgomery was reported by several outlets. The Gators were trying to keep Georgia from signing two quarterbacks in a class for the first time since 4-star D’Wan Mathis and 3-star junior-college transfer Stetson Bennett IV. Georgia announced his signing Wednesday morning.
However, Georgia lost a commitment Wednesday when Lee County’s Ousmane Kromah flipped his pledge from the Bulldogs to Florida State.
One thing Georgia has done to ensure maximum retention of its key targets is focus on the homegrown prospects. The Bulldogs are poised to sign more players in the state of Georgia than at any other time since Smart became coach in 2016.
Here are the previous in-state signee totals for each recruiting cycle:
- 2024: 9 (No. 1 overall class)
- 2023: 5 (No. 2 overall class)
- 2022: 13 (No. 3 overall class)
- 2021: 14 (No. 4 overall class)
- 2020: 8 (No. 1 overall class)
- 2019: 8 (No. 2 overall class)
- 2018: 15 (No. 1 overall class)
- 2017: 17 (No. 3 overall class)
- 2016: 19 (No. 6 overall class)
There have only been a few cycles dating to 1980 that the Bulldogs signed at least 20 in-state Georgians in one recruiting class:
- 2013: 23
- 2003: 20
- 2002: 20
- 1997: 20
- 1987: 22
- 1984: 24
- 1982: 21
Recruiting in the modern era of name, image and likeness and big offers plays a big part in the focus on in-state.
The thinking is that in-state players are more likely to stick closer to home in college, even when adversity hits and they are no longer out on the field for every meaningful snap at their position for the first time in their football lives.
However, the non-binding verbal commitments have never been airtight — and that still holds true. Players may be announced as signees today by their respective new teams, but things are not official until they report early this month for postseason practices.
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