Kirby Smart is swinging big again—and this time, it’s for the No. 1 player in the 2026 class. Well, Jackson Cantwell, a 5-star OT, will reveal his college choice on May 13. Now, the buzz is electric, and rightfully so. However, Miami reportedly dropped a massive $2 M NIL offer for his freshman year. That jaw-dropping number turned heads fast. But when the offer leaked, Miami fans exploded. One Miami insider even pointed fingers at Georgia for the leak. All that just cranked up the drama in this high-stakes recruiting race, but while the storm brews, Smart isn’t pumping the brakes—he’s already hunting his next prize.

The Bulldogs just landed a key commitment that totally jolted their 2026 class and got the recruiting trail buzzing. What started as a slow May just went fast and furious, and their climb up the rankings is suddenly impossible to ignore. From outside the top 15 to leapfrogging heavyweights like Alabama? That’s no small feat. Now, all eyes are on Athens, and honestly, the Dawgs are barking louder than ever.

On May 11, On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported that four-star safety Jordan Smith gave the Dawgs his commitment—and the ripple was felt nationwide. Ranked No. 75 overall and the No. 6 safety in the country, Smith’s pledge sent Georgia soaring to No. 6 in the On3 Team Rankings, leapfrogging Alabama (No.8) and Texas A&M (No.7). That’s thanks to some serious star power, especially since just days before, five-star QB Jared Curtis—the top signal-caller in the 2026 class—rejoined the Bulldog fold. Two absolutely huge wins fueling one red-hot surge, showing Kirby Smart isn’t just stacking talent; he’s building another monster down in Athens.

Hailing from Houston County High in Warner Robins, Jordan Smith stands tall at 6 feet 1 inch and 185 pounds—and his game is just as big. The Peach State star was a hot commodity, reeling in 36 offers from coast to coast. Back on April 20, he trimmed the list to 10, featuring powerhouses like Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and more. But when Sunday rolled around, Smith made it official. He picked the Dawgs over Georgia Tech, Vols, and Bama. Now, his message was short and sweet: “I’m home. Go Dawgs! 🐶”

Landing Jordan and Jared shot Georgia’s 2025 class from No. 8 to No. 6 nationally. They’ve now stacked up 9 commits with a 90.55 average rating, sitting pretty at No. 2 in the SEC, and apparently, Smith knew exactly where he wanted to be. “Development played a big role in my decision,” Smith said. “Being around a culture where winning and competing is everything meant a lot too. It’s also not too far from home.” Well, the Houston County standout, less than 130 miles from Athens, committed to Georgia ahead of his May 30 official visit. And get this—while Kirby Smart’s Dawgs have already locked down a couple of those star recruits, helping them climb the rankings, there’s talk that one more big one might jump on board soon, finishing out a seriously loaded trio.

Kirby Smart’s latest move to attract top talent

Jared Curtis is officially back in the mix, and he is sure a game-changer for Georgia’s 2026 class. The five-star, No. 2 overall QB committed last March, decommitted in October after sending some mixed signals (like riding that red Corvette!), but finally pledged back to the Dawgs this May. Now he’s the latest elite arm in Kirby Smart’s pipeline, looking to chase a national title and already pulling in other top talent coast to coast.

And the name making serious noise now? Jackson Cantwell—the No. 1 recruit in the nation. On May 12, just one day before his commitment, On3 dropped a bombshell on X: a photo of Cantwell alongside Georgia’s five-star QB commit, Jared Curtis, with the caption JC✕JC. And both wearing Georgia hoodies. The timing couldn’t be juicier. With all eyes on his May 13 decision, this pic lit up the recruiting world. Although Miami threw a $2 million NIL offer his way, now it looks like Kirby Smart’s pitch might be the real game-winner.

Kirby Smart and the Dawgs have definitely been playing the long game for five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell. They tossed him an offer at a camp back in July 2023, and the guy’s been to Athens a bunch since, always seeming to leave with a smile. Cantwell himself broke down his thinking, saying, “They’ve had many first-round tackles over the last couple of years… like everybody that starts at Georgia, ends up in the NFL at some point.” He also mentioned the personal connection, adding, “I just like the Athens area… My mom lived down there for a couple of years when she was training.” That mix of NFL development and a family tie clearly has Georgia high on his list.

Simply put, Georgia’s momentum is sky-high, with just one day left until Cantwell’s big decision. On Sunday, 247Sports made it official, predicting the Bulldogs to land the top recruit. This came right after Cantwell’s final visit to Athens—and by all accounts, it was a major success. Of course, Curtis, Georgia’s QB commit, wasn’t silent in the process. He made one last push on social media, sending fans into early celebration with a simple but powerful message: “Let’s get it done @jcantwell2499!! Go Dawgs!” Nothing is set in stone yet. Let’s see if Kirby Smart can land this talent or not.