Kemon Spell’s recruitment has been one of the most closely watched storylines in the 2027 class, and for good reason. The five-star running back is ranked as the No. 1 player at his position and No. 7 overall in the country - a game-changer in every sense of the word. And while his journey has already taken a few twists, it’s far from over.
Georgia has been in the thick of it ever since Spell decommitted from Penn State last fall. That move came shortly after the Nittany Lions parted ways with head coach James Franklin, which opened the door for programs like Georgia to make a serious push.
And make no mistake - the Bulldogs didn’t hesitate. They surged to the front of the line, with many insiders pegging them as the team to beat.
But recruiting rarely plays out in a straight line, and this week brought a notable shift. A new crystal ball prediction from 247Sports has Penn State regaining the edge, suggesting that Spell may be trending back toward Happy Valley.
It’s not a shocking development - Spell is a Pennsylvania native, and the connection to the home-state school has always been strong. Still, for Georgia fans, it’s a tough pill to swallow after feeling like they had built real momentum.
That said, this race is far from finished.
Spell recently narrowed his list to four finalists, and Georgia is still very much in the mix. The Bulldogs haven’t backed off, and sources close to the recruitment indicate that they’re still pushing hard. With official visits still on the table, there’s plenty of time for Kirby Smart and his staff to make another move.
And when Smart is in the mix, you can never count Georgia out.
Notre Dame is another contender to watch. The Irish have quietly built a strong relationship with Spell and are considered one of the top three programs in the hunt. While Georgia may be trailing slightly behind Penn State and Notre Dame at the moment, the margins are slim - and in recruiting, momentum can flip fast.
Spell’s recruitment is shaping up to be a heavyweight battle down the stretch. He’s not just a top-tier talent - he’s the kind of back who can anchor a class and change the trajectory of a program’s offense. His blend of speed, vision, and power makes him a nightmare for defenses and a dream for offensive coordinators.
Georgia’s not in the driver’s seat right now, but the Bulldogs are still on the road - and with a closer like Kirby Smart behind the wheel, they’re not out of this race by any means.