Georgia is making a strong push for one of the top tight ends in the 2026 class, and the race is heating up fast. The Bulldogs are battling it out with Penn State and LSU—his final three schools. LSU still doesn’t have a TE commit in this cycle, and Penn State has landed just one in 3-star Pierce Petersohn. That puts even more pressure on both programs to land this key target. Georgia, meanwhile, continues to stay aggressive. The Bulldogs are building momentum behind the scenes, keeping the pressure on with their signature recruiting intensity. “It never stops. It’s 365 recruiting,” Kirby Smart told On3. “That cell phone you’ve got, these smartphones are the death of college coaching.” So, that non-stop mindset is what keeps Georgia in the thick of every major battle.

However, Georgia’s tight end room is stacking up fast, and it’s not slowing down. The Bulldogs already have 4-star Lincoln Keyes locked in and are trending heavily for 5-star Kaiden Protho, who’s set to announce on July 12. But now, there’s another name circling the radar: four-star Brayden Fogle. Although Kirby Smart has Georgia firmly in the mix, with the current depth and momentum elsewhere, a commitment from Fogle would raise some eyebrows. Still, when the Dawgs come calling, it’s hard to ignore.

Following that, things just got interesting in Athens. On July 2, Dawg Recruiting lit up X with a bold prediction: Georgia is expected to land an elite tight end, but it’s not a 5-star in-state standout, Prothro. Instead, the buzz is all about four-star Brayden Fogle. On3’s Chad Simmons backed it up, crystal balling Fogle to the Bulldogs. The four-star is set to announce his decision on July 4, and Georgia is now trending ahead of PSU and LSU. So Kirby Smart might be on the verge of adding another weapon to an already loaded TE haul.

Why not? Brayden Fogle is rising fast—and the numbers back it up. He’s the No. 8 TE in the nation, the No. 6 overall prospect in Ohio, and ranks No. 132 nationally, per 247Sports. At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Fogle is a mismatch nightmare. He shines at Lexington High School, just an hour north of Columbus. Now, if he picks Georgia on July 4, he’ll become the 2nd tight end in UGA’s 2026 class. With Lincoln Keyes already on board, Kirby Smart could be building another elite duo in Athens.

But don’t rule out a triple threat in Athens. Georgia has signed 3 TEs in one class before, and they could do it again. With Lincoln Keyes already committed and Kaiden Prothro and Brayden Fogle both in play, the Dawgs are eyeing a full reload. Why? The future matters. Oscar Delp could be NFL-bound after this season. Lawson Luckie might follow in 2026. That leaves room—and a real need—for fresh firepower. And Kirby Smart knows how to plan ahead so that the TE pipeline isn’t drying up anytime soon in Athens.

But while Fogle is projected to land in Kirby Smart’s program, it’s important to look at where Georgia truly stands, from the standout tight end’s own perspective. Simply put…….

Brayden Fogle’s take on Georgia

Brayden Fogle didn’t need much time to fall for Georgia. From his very first visit, he felt the connection. “I knew I loved Georgia from the first time I went there,” he said, “and I don’t think that will change.” But what pulled him in? “The people and the culture they have down there are pretty one-of-a-kind,” he said. “It has an amazing coaching staff, but the culture is so football-based… for that football program, the standards are exceptionally high.” That kind of high-standard environment is exactly what elite talent like Fogle craves.

To be honest, for Fogle, Georgia checks every box. The Bulldogs offer more than wins—they offer a mindset. “Every year, you know that you are going to have a chance of winning that national championship,” he said. That championship DNA, paired with a strong support system and elite development, makes Athens feel like home. Simply put, Fogle sees Georgia as the total package.

Right now, while PSU and LSU continue to push hard for the talented tight end, Georgia remains front and center in the spotlight. And even though the prediction may favor Georgia, now it’s about closing the deal. Can Smart turn projections into reality? With momentum building in Athens, the answer might come sooner than expected.