Georgia Lands Four-Star DL P.J. Dean, Younger Brother of Former Bulldog Jared Wilson
Georgia added another major piece to its 2026 recruiting class on Wednesday, signing four-star defensive lineman P.J. Dean out of West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina. The Bulldogs edged out a late push from South Carolina to land the 6-foot-3.5, 260-pound prospect, who also held offers from Ohio State and more than 20 other programs.
Dean isn’t just another highly ranked recruit-he’s the younger brother of former Georgia offensive lineman Jared Wilson, and he becomes the latest in a growing list of Bulldogs following in their siblings' footsteps to Athens. That family connection helped lay the foundation, but it was Georgia’s consistency and coaching relationships that ultimately sealed the deal.
“Definitely the home feeling and the feeling I’ve got with coaches,” Dean said earlier this year. “Just the relationship I’ve got, they’ve been consistent with me. The whole time since they first offered me, they haven’t let up.”
That consistency clearly paid off. Dean brings a versatile, high-motor presence to Georgia’s defensive front, with a skill set that’s already produced serious numbers at the high school level.
In 10 games this season, he racked up 40 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six sacks, eight pass breakups, an interception (which he returned for a touchdown), two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. That’s not just production-that’s disruption.
And while he’s now locked in as a defensive lineman, Dean’s journey to that side of the ball is part of what makes his profile so intriguing. As a junior, he primarily played offensive line-allowing just one sack all season-while also contributing on defense in limited snaps. Even then, he flashed promise with 13 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and seven quarterback pressures.
That two-way experience gives him a unique perspective in the trenches, and it's something Georgia’s staff keyed in on during his recruitment. Originally recruited as an offensive lineman, Dean had a pivotal conversation with the Bulldogs’ coaches at his brother’s Pro Day in the spring. That’s when he expressed his desire to transition to the defensive line full-time-and Georgia embraced the idea.
“When I visited in the spring, I came there as a D-lineman. I was in all the defensive line meetings,” Dean said.
“It’s definitely how Coach Scott goes about it with his players, just how he coaches them and how he describes things. I’m a hands-on type of player.
I like a coach getting up and showing you stuff, and he’s really hands-on with his players. He’s not afraid to bend down, get into it with his players.
He’s a real active coach. He’s mellow, but when it’s time to turn it on, he turns it on.”
That coaching style clearly resonated with Dean, who’s already shown a strong understanding of technique and leverage-traits that show up consistently in his film. According to scouting evaluations, Dean has transformed his body over the last two years, shedding more than 50 pounds to boost his athleticism. That transformation is evident in combine testing and on-field burst, particularly on defense, where his quick first step and hand power stand out.
He’s currently ranked as the No. 102 overall prospect and No. 14 defensive lineman in the country by 247Sports, and the 247Sports Composite places him even higher-No. 98 overall, the No. 11 defensive lineman nationally, and the No. 6 recruit in North Carolina.
What makes Dean even more intriguing is his youth. Born in June 2008, he’s one of the younger players in the 2026 class, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he plays.
Evaluators praise his consistent motor and physical edge-he plays with a tone-setting presence that belies his age. His natural instincts and urgency off the snap make him a more fluid and disruptive defender than offensive lineman, and that’s where his ceiling appears highest.
There’s still room to grow-scouts note he can improve his flexibility and bend-but the foundation is there for Dean to become a major contributor in multiple defensive schemes. With his size, athleticism, and relentless energy, he projects as a high-major defensive lineman with the tools to develop into a future pro prospect.
For Georgia, this is more than just a win on the recruiting trail-it’s another example of the program’s ability to identify, develop, and connect with players on a personal level. And for Dean, it’s a chance to carve out his own legacy in Athens-one that might just mirror, or even surpass, the footsteps he’s following.