When Georgia signed four-star tight end Kaiden Prothro, they didn’t just land one of the state’s top prospects-they secured a homegrown game-changer who’s already rewriting record books before he’s even stepped foot on a college field.
Prothro capped off his high school career with a pair of major honors, including being named Georgia’s Mr. Football by Score Atlanta. That follows his recognition as MaxPreps’ Georgia High School Football Player of the Year in December-two titles that speak volumes about his dominance throughout the 2025 season.
At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Prothro is a matchup nightmare. He hauled in 58 catches for 1,115 yards and a jaw-dropping 27 touchdowns this past season-numbers that don’t just stand out, they scream elite production. Whether it was stretching the field or making defenders miss in tight spaces, Prothro was the engine behind a Bowdon offense that rolled to 13 wins and its fourth straight GHSA Class A Division II state title.
And when the lights were brightest, Prothro delivered. In the state championship game against Lincoln County, he caught four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, helping Bowdon secure a 35-31 win.
That was the exclamation point on a postseason where he didn’t just make plays-he took over games. In the semifinals, he went off for 113 receiving yards and two touchdowns, blocked a punt, and returned an interception for a touchdown.
That’s not just production-that’s game-breaking versatility.
While his offensive numbers grab headlines, Prothro’s impact wasn’t limited to one side of the ball. He chipped in 17 tackles and three interceptions on defense this season, showcasing the kind of physicality and football IQ that coaches love in a two-way player.
Georgia tight ends coach Todd Hartley sees the potential. He’s called Prothro a “flex end”-a hybrid weapon who might be listed as a tight end but plays more like a wideout. “You showcase his strengths as a fast catcher, route runner,” Hartley said, “and as he goes through his career, he becomes more of a multi-dimensional tight end.”
That vision isn’t just coach speak. Prothro’s high school resume backs it up.
Over his career, he totaled 157 receptions for 3,365 yards and 66 touchdowns-breaking the state record for career receiving touchdowns previously held by Jaden Gibson. He also notched 89 tackles and five interceptions while playing both sides of the ball for Bowdon.
Prothro made his commitment to the Bulldogs official on December 3 after initially pledging back in July, making him Georgia’s second-highest-rated signee in the 2026 class. And while he’s being brought in as a tight end, Prothro himself has said he sees his role as more than that.
“I’d probably say just an offensive weapon,” he said. “I may turn into a big-body type flexed out receiver.”
That’s the kind of versatility that has analysts buzzing. 247Sports’ Hudson Standish described Prothro as a “red-zone cheat code,” with the size of a tight end and the athletic profile of an outside receiver.
In his junior year, he averaged 21.5 yards per catch and turned 22 of his 56 receptions into touchdowns. That kind of efficiency is rare at any level.
Standish also pointed to Prothro’s standout week at the Under Armour All-America Game, where he held his own against elite national competition. While his blocking game is still developing, his physical tools and production suggest he could be a major piece in a 12-personnel-heavy offense-one of those mismatches that defenses simply can’t scheme around.
Bottom line: Kaiden Prothro isn’t just another highly-rated recruit. He’s a unique offensive weapon with the potential to reshape how Georgia uses the tight end position. With the frame, the hands, the route-running, and the playmaking instincts, he’s got all the tools to become a problem for SEC defenses-and maybe one day, an NFL front office’s dream.