January was a busy month in Athens, with Georgia hosting a steady stream of high school talent as part of its offseason recruiting push. The Bulldogs rolled out the red carpet for dozens of prospects, including during a major recruiting weekend to close out the month. But while the visits brought plenty of buzz, they haven’t yet translated into a flurry of commitments.
So far, just one recruit from that wave has pledged to Georgia - and one notable in-state quarterback has already made it clear he’s heading elsewhere.
Derrick Baker, a three-star QB out of Alpharetta, GA, made the trip to Athens, took in the sights, and walked away knowing it wasn’t the right fit. Not long after, he committed to Tennessee, one of Georgia’s top SEC rivals.
His message? Simple and bold: “I’m going to look good in orange.”
Baker might not be the crown jewel of the 2027 class - he’s ranked No. 539 nationally, No. 37 among quarterbacks, and No. 62 in the state of Georgia, per the 247Sports composite - but this one still stings a bit. Not because Georgia missed out on a top-tier QB, but because an in-state prospect, one who was in the building and on campus, decided to take his talents to Knoxville.
Now, to be clear: Baker wasn’t Georgia’s top quarterback target. But when a local kid opts to suit up for a conference rival - especially one the Bulldogs will see on the field multiple times during his college career - it raises eyebrows. It’s the kind of move that adds a little extra edge to future matchups, even if Baker isn’t expected to be a game-changer from day one.
Georgia’s recruiting machine is far from slowing down, and it’s still early in the cycle. There’s plenty of time for the Bulldogs to land their quarterback of the future.
But in the ultra-competitive world of SEC recruiting, every win - and every loss - matters. Tennessee just scored a small victory, and Georgia will be watching closely to see how it plays out down the road.