Gavin Honore De-Commits from Georgia: What It Could Mean for Michigan and the Broader Recruiting Landscape
We're still a long way from National Signing Day, but recruiting never sleeps-and neither do the storylines that come with it. One of the latest developments?
Three-star wide receiver Gavin Honore has officially de-committed from Georgia. The Las Vegas native had pledged to the Bulldogs over the summer, but in the months since, he’s taken unofficial visits and picked up a handful of new offers.
While the initial commitment was a win for Georgia, this move isn’t exactly shocking given the geography and the evolving recruiting landscape.
But what’s really catching attention now is the buzz linking Honore to Michigan-despite the Wolverines not having formally extended an offer yet.
Honore's Profile: A Rising Talent from the West
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Honore is the No. 4 overall prospect from Nevada, the No. 70 wide receiver in his class, and the No. 540 overall player in the 2026 recruiting cycle. He’s sitting on 20 official offers from a mix of Power Five programs, including Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisville, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Vanderbilt-and, of course, Georgia.
Notably absent from that list? Michigan. And that’s where things get interesting.
Michigan in the Mix-Without an Offer?
Despite not having offered Honore, Michigan is reportedly a top contender and is working to finalize a visit with him. That raises some eyebrows, and understandably so.
Why would a player de-commit from a top-tier SEC program like Georgia without a clear landing spot? And why would Michigan be in the conversation without putting an offer on the table?
There are a few ways to look at this. It’s possible that Honore’s de-commitment signals a shift in Georgia’s recruiting board-maybe the Bulldogs are making room for another receiver, or maybe the fit just wasn’t quite right. It could also be a case of Honore wanting to explore his options closer to home or in a region where he feels a stronger connection.
Geography Matters-But It’s Not Everything
Yes, Athens is a long haul from Las Vegas, and location always plays some role in recruiting. But let’s not forget: Georgia has had success pulling elite talent from the West Coast.
Kelee Ringo came from Scottsdale, Brock Bowers from Napa Valley, and Nate Frazier hails from Compton. The Bulldogs have shown they can recruit nationally and win those battles.
Still, securing a commitment is one thing-getting a signature on Signing Day is another.
For Honore, the distance may have been a factor, but it's rarely the sole reason a player flips or backs off a pledge. Relationships with coaches, scheme fit, depth chart outlook, and even academic or cultural comfort all play a role.
The Whittingham Effect?
Here’s another wrinkle: Michigan’s new head coach, Kyle Whittingham, brings a West Coast recruiting presence that could be influencing this situation. While Whittingham made his name at Utah, he’s now tasked with building a national contender in Ann Arbor-and that includes tapping into talent-rich regions like Nevada.
Nevada shares a border with Utah, and Whittingham’s longstanding ties in the area could be giving Michigan an inside track here-even if an official offer hasn’t been extended yet. It’s not uncommon for programs to bring a player in for a visit before making things official. That could be exactly what’s happening behind the scenes.
What’s Next for Georgia?
For Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs, this is just part of the process. De-commitments happen-especially this far out from Signing Day. The challenge now is finding the right replacement, whether that means circling back to other targets or identifying new ones who may be rising up the recruiting boards.
Georgia’s recruiting machine is one of the best in the country, and they’ve consistently shown an ability to reload. Losing a three-star receiver this early in the cycle isn’t a major setback, but it does create a ripple effect that could impact how they approach the rest of the class.
Final Thoughts
Gavin Honore’s de-commitment adds another layer to what’s already shaping up to be an intriguing 2026 recruiting cycle. Michigan’s potential involvement, despite the lack of an offer, is worth keeping an eye on-especially with Whittingham now steering the ship in Ann Arbor. As for Honore, he’s still got plenty of time to find the right fit, and programs across the country will be watching closely to see where he lands next.
Recruiting is a marathon, not a sprint. And this particular race is just heating up.