Rivals.com national recruiting director Adam Gorney forecasted this week that the Georgia Bulldogs are likely to secure one of the top defensive recruits for 2026.On Monday, Gorney expressed confidence that Georgia will emerge victorious in the recruitment of five-star safety Jireh Edwards. He noted, however, that the Auburn Tigers and Oregon Ducks are also strong contenders in this race.According to Rivals.com, the leading schools for Edwards, who hails from Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy, include Oregon, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. There is speculation that this list could expand as numerous coaches have recently visited to evaluate him.The competition between Georgia and Auburn may intensify until the end, but Oregon should not be overlooked as they have prioritized Edwards in their recruiting efforts. Gorney’s prediction remains that Georgia will ultimately land him.
Jireh Edwards, standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 194 pounds from Upper Marlboro, MD, is recognized by Rivals.com as the second-best safety in the country and the second-ranked player in Maryland. He is also listed as the 14th overall player in the 2026 recruiting class.This highly sought-after recruit visited Athens for Georgia’s junior day over the weekend.”Understanding Georgia’s history, their player development, and the caliber of people they attract really stood out to me,” Edwards shared with 247Sports following his visit to Georgia.Edwards plans to take an official visit to Georgia in early June and is expected to announce his college decision on July 4. He will also visit Auburn and Oregon officially before making his commitment.Currently, Georgia has five players committed to its 2026 recruiting class, and further solid additions are anticipated in the upcoming months.
