Georgia is making waves in college football recruiting, and they’ve got their eyes on a rising star. Last month, they were named among the top five schools for Jireh Edwards, a standout safety from Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy. This young athlete is already catching attention as one of the top defensive backs for the 2026 class.
This weekend, Edwards, who stands at an impressive 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds, is visiting Athens to spend time with head coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs. Georgia is eager to climb to the top of Edwards’ list, competing with Oregon, Auburn, Texas A&M, and Tennessee for his commitment.
Earlier this week, Travaris Robinson, Georgia’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator, visited Edwards at home. Edwards told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that the meeting went "great" and described Robinson as "a coach he would play for."
“UGA is a great program with an amazing culture that Coach Kirby Smart is building,” Edwards said.
Just last weekend, Edwards checked out Auburn, and it made quite the impression. The Tigers are high on his list, especially since Hugh Freeze and his team recently signed three players from St. Frances Academy. They’ve also secured a commitment from three-star safety Wayne Henry for 2026.
For Edwards, making an early impact is crucial. He wants to make a splash as soon as he steps onto the college field.
“Making an impact as a true freshman, seeing what guys like **Caleb Downs** did and what **JJ Smith** did and are doing as a true freshman is the type of impact I want to make in college football,” Edwards told On3.
Edwards is ranked as the No. 37 overall prospect and No. 4 safety for the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. This ranking uses a mix of data from four major recruiting media companies. Plus, he’s the No. 3 player in Maryland.
Georgia already building top 2026 recruiting class
The Dawgs are off to a strong start for 2026. They ended January by snagging a commitment from Zech Fort, a four-star safety from IMG Academy in Florida. He’s ranked No. 101 overall and is the third four-star prospect to join Georgia’s 2026 class so far.
“Since I visited Georgia when they played Tennessee, I knew it,” Fort told On3. “Seeing what Georgia was like and what they represent as a team, we represent a lot of the same things.”
Leading the charge in this class is Vance Spafford, a four-star wide receiver from Tustin, California. He’s ranked No. 75 overall and No. 13 among wide receivers. Alongside him are Jontavius Wyman, a four-star cornerback from Jonesboro, Georgia, and other top-15 players in their positions.
Rounding out the class are Lincoln Keyes, a three-star tight end from Saline, Michigan, and Seven Cloud, a defensive lineman from Powder Springs, Georgia. This group has helped Georgia secure the No. 10 spot early in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
With such promising recruits and a strong start to their 2026 class, Georgia’s future looks pretty bright on the football field. Who knows what exciting plays and victories lie ahead?
