Georgia kept the good news rolling on Tuesday afternoon, landing a major recruiting win by flipping No. 1 JUCO prospect Alius Mayo from California.
The Bulldogs are already off to a strong start on the field this fall, sitting at 4-0 overall, 2-0 in SEC play and ranked No. 2 in the latest AP Poll. Now they’ve added another headline to the 2026 outlook by pulling Mayo away from his commitment to Cal and sending him to Athens instead.
Mayo is a 4-star cornerback who currently plays at Modesto College in Stockton, Calif. He committed to California on Aug. 2, but that decision didn’t stick. Georgia ultimately won out for the 6-foot-4, 190-pound defensive back, who is the No. 1 overall JUCO prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, along with being the top JUCO cornerback and the top JUCO player from California.
On3’s Hayes Fawcett first reported the flip, which sends Mayo from the ACC path he had chosen to the SEC and Georgia’s defense.
A surprise official visit to Athens for last Saturday’s game against Oklahoma played a big role in the change. Georgia handled Oklahoma in blowout fashion, and just a few days later the Bulldogs were able to secure Mayo’s pledge.
Defensive backs coach Donte Williams also had a hand in the turnaround. His California ties helped Georgia make the push, and now the Bulldogs have added a major piece for the future, with Mayo set to join the roster in 2027.
Georgia is still building toward what comes next, even while games remain to be won in 2026.
In Other News...
Dwight Phillips Jr. Is Making Georgia Reconsider His Role
Dwight Phillips Jr. has given Georgia another reason to keep looking for touches in the backfield. The junior running back flashed that burst against Oklahoma with a 54-yard touchdown run, and he added to his night by making a key special teams tackle, the kind of all-around showing that tends to catch Kirby Smarts attention.
Phillips has also changed physically since arriving in Athens, adding strength and weight that have helped turn his speed into more consistent production. Smart has already pointed to his explosiveness and patience, and with the way Phillips is trending, Georgia appears to be rethinking how much more it can build around him on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Georgias Top 2027 Pledge Suddenly Brings Real Recruiting Doubt
Kemon Spells pledge has been one of the headline pieces of Georgias 2027 class since he committed in February, but the recruiting picture around the No. 1 running back in the cycle has gotten a little more complicated. According to 247Sports, another major college football program is now pushing for the Georgia commit, adding an unexpected wrinkle to what had looked like a clean early hold for the Bulldogs.
It is the first reported sign that Spell may be open to looking beyond Athens, though the specifics remain under wraps. The other school has not been disclosed publicly, and the exact nature of Spells interest is still unknown, leaving Georgia with at least one fresh recruiting question to monitor as the 2027 cycle develops. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Has Two Reasons To Take Vanderbilt More Seriously
Georgia heads into Saturdays matchup with Vanderbilt carrying plenty of the usual SEC expectations, sitting 4-0 and ranked No. 2 nationally. The Bulldogs are heavy favorites, but this is not just a routine tune-up on paper, with Vanderbilt bringing a 3-1 record and a little more intrigue than the average league opponent. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. EST on the SEC Network, with streaming available on the ESPN app and Fubo TV.
The extra attention comes from a couple of familiar names, starting with the health of Georgia back Nate Frazier as the Bulldogs get ready to sort out their rotation. Then there is Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis, who is expected to start against Georgia after flipping his commitment from the Bulldogs to the Commodores, adding a personal subplot to a game that already has more edge than the point spread suggests. [Read more 🡒]
