Georgia has landed the flip that’s drawing the most attention in the 2027 recruiting cycle, and it comes with a name that sits at the top of the running back board.
Kemon Spell, the No. 1 ranked tailback prospect in the country, has gone from a Penn State commitment to a Georgia pledge, and Rivals analysts have labeled that move the biggest flip of the cycle so far. Spell had originally been headed to the Big Ten powerhouse close to home before the Bulldogs changed the picture.
James Franklin’s exit from Penn State after last season’s sluggish start played a major part in Spell’s change of heart. The move pushed the McKeesport, Pa., standout toward what he viewed as a more stable situation, and Georgia gave him that landing spot.
The Bulldogs had been a steady presence in Spell’s recruitment all along, so when the in-state option fell through, Georgia was ready to step in. Spell now gives Georgia its first five-star commitment in the 2027 class, joining No. 2 tight end Jaxon Dollar, who committed in April.
Georgia’s class is up to 17 pledges and ranks 16th nationally, with eight blue-chip prospects among them.
Spell may be the headliner, but he’s not alone in a cycle that has already featured plenty of movement. Miami, in particular, has been busy, pulling three top-15 flips of its own. The Hurricanes landed cornerback Ai’King Hall away from Oregon, top-five edge rusher Jaiden Bryant after he backed off LSU, and second-ranked cornerback Donte Wright after he left Georgia.
Two of those Miami additions, Wright and Bryant, were ranked by Rivals analysts as the second- and third-biggest flips in the 2027 cycle.
And the carousel may not be slowing down anytime soon. Several major 2027 commitments are still being courted heavily, including the class’s top overall player, defensive lineman Jalen Brewster, who is committed to Texas Tech but is being pursued by LSU and Florida.
LSU is also pushing to pull top-ranked national wide receiver Easton Royal away from Texas.
Meanwhile, David Jacobs, the consensus No. 1 edge rusher in the country, has been committed to Ohio State since the end of last year, but Georgia and Miami have both been working to get him to switch.
If one of those dominoes falls, Spell’s move could be bumped down the list. For now, though, Georgia owns the cycle’s biggest flip.
In Other News...
West Virginia Fans Need To See Scotty Foxs Video Game Likeness
EA Sports College Football 27 is already in the hands of MVP+ members, and early adopters are finding the usual launch-window quirks that come with a big sports game release. Missing players and a few minor glitches are part of the mix, but for West Virginia fans, the more noticeable issue is how the Mountaineers quarterback is being rendered on screen.
Scotty Fox Jr. is among the players whose likeness does not look quite right, which is the sort of detail fans notice immediately when they boot up a college football game. EA is expected to clean up some of those rough edges in future updates, but for now, West Virginia supporters are left waiting to see whether Fox gets a more accurate digital version before long. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Just Made An Early Push For A Rising 2027 Point Guard
West Virginias early work in the 2027 cycle is starting to take shape, and Justin Frison is the latest guard to land on the Mountaineers board in a meaningful way. The 5-foot-11 point guard from Germantown, Tennessee, has already built a strong national profile, with multiple high-major offers and a spot inside the top-150 for his class. He has also been one of the more productive players on the EYBL circuit, where his ability to set up teammates has stood out and helped him collect multiple All-EYBL honors.
Frison is set to visit Morgantown starting Sept. 25, giving West Virginia a chance to make a strong impression on a player whose stock keeps rising. The Mountaineers are not alone in the chase, but getting him on campus this early says plenty about how seriously they view him as a priority in the 2027 group. For a program trying to get ahead of the curve, this is the kind of visit that can matter long before signing day enters the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Another Former Mountaineer Just Landed A Summer Shot Fans Will Love
Toby Okani has landed another familiar stop with the Knicks, earning a spot on New Yorks Summer League roster and putting himself back in a setting he already knows. For West Virginia fans, the added wrinkle is the reunion factor, with Okani set to join former Mountaineer teammate Treysen Eaglestaff as the Knicks begin building out their summer group.
There is also a little more NBA mileage on Okanis resume than a typical camp invitee. He spent time with the Knicks G League affiliate last season and later got into six NBA games with the Memphis Grizzlies on a 10-day contract, giving him a chance to show he can hang at that level. New York opens Summer League play on July 10 against the San Antonio Spurs, and Okani will be trying to turn this latest opportunity into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]