Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs have been rolling out the red carpet for top prospects during Father’s Day weekend, but one of the crown jewels of the 2026 recruiting class just made a detour that stings in Athens.
Five-star running back David Gabriel Georges — a powerhouse out of Baylor High in Chattanooga, Tennessee — has canceled his scheduled visit to Georgia this weekend, according to Pete Nakos of On3/Rivals. The news lands like a curveball for a program that just flipped four-star wide receiver Jamir Dean from Penn State earlier this week.
Georges isn’t just skipping a trip. He’s reportedly trimmed his focus to three schools — and none of them are wearing red and black. Nakos and Hayes Fawcett of On3/Rivals report that Ole Miss, Ohio State, and Tennessee now sit atop his list. Georgia, once very much in the mix, appears to be on the outside looking in.
Another Recruiting Setback for the Bulldogs
This isn’t the first time in recent weeks Smart and his staff have missed on a priority target. Four-star edge rusher JaBarrius Garror chose Texas over Georgia earlier this cycle. Four-star quarterback Peter Bourque also passed on the Bulldogs, picking Virginia Tech instead.
That’s three high-profile whiffs in a short span — notable for a program accustomed to reloading with elite talent year after year. But Georgia isn’t exactly reeling.
Wins Stack Up Too
The Bulldogs have also piled up some serious recruiting victories that soften the blow. Four-star quarterback Colton Nussmeier — a key addition — committed to Georgia, giving the offense a long-term answer under center. On the offensive line, Smart added 340-pound mauler DJ Dotson, who turned down LSU, Georgia’s bitter SEC rival.
Those moves helped Georgia hold steady at No. 10 overall in the 247Sports recruiting rankings, though On3/Rivals slots them slightly lower at No. 13. For a program that has won two national titles in the last three years, the Bulldogs often finish strong on the trail, flipping late-cycle prospects and closing with a surge.
That late-charge reputation means Smart and his staff will likely turn their attention to other targets quickly. But losing Georges — a five-star back who could’ve anchored the 2026 class — leaves a real hole in the running back room. How Georgia responds will tell a lot about whether this is just a speed bump or a sign of something bigger shifting in SEC recruiting.
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