BREAKING: Kirby Smart, UGA Football Land Dynamic Receiver Craig Dandrige
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ATHENS - For the 5th day in a row, Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs add another commitment in the 2026 class.
And once again, more commits are coming soon.
This time it’s James Coley who lands a big commitment in four-star wide receiver, Craig Dandridge.
One of the fastest-rising receivers across the country, Dandridge’s recruitment blew up this winter and he quickly climbed Georgia’s board this spring. The Bulldogs started to make him a big priority over the last three months and today they were able to land his commitment.
Why did Dandrige choose Georgia?
“I chose Georgia because of the people in that building. The amount of support that the players have from the coaches and staff that all just want to see us succeed is insane. Coach Smart also has a plan for his team and his players to develop them from the next level and also to be better young men in a world that desperately needs better young men.”
“Coach Kirby Smart made it clear that they are a top program who focuses on the development of their players to be better men and players on the field. What I liked about Coach Coley is that he’s very transparent and didn’t try to hide or move away from certain topics even when we asked the hard questions.”
What will Dandridge bring to Athens?
Speed, agility, and big-play potential.
At 6-foot-1 and 175-pounds, Dandridge was consistently one of the fastest and most explosive receivers in the state last year at Cambridge (GA). He’s quick, shifty, and can change directions on a dime. He’s an outstanding athlete, but his natural ball skills also impressed last season. He shows strong hands and the ability to go up and make a tough catch over a defender. He secures the ball consistently, but he also knows how to create separation and get open as well as any receiver in the state.
He brings a level of versatility as he can stretch the field vertically while also being a weapon in the screen and short passing game. When he has the ball in space, there aren’t many defenders who can catch up to him and bring him to the ground. He shows excellent burst and hits his top speed in a hurry. He does a great job of eluding defenders down the field and lit up the stat sheet last year with 57 catches for 1,443 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging an eye-opening 24.9 yards per catch.
There’s a lot to like about Dandridge’s game and it’s easy to see why the Georgia staff pushed harder and harder for his commitment over the last few months. He’s a big-play machine and one of the top wide receivers across the South.
What does Cambridge wide receivers coach Carl Vice have to say about Dandridge?
“Craig’s biggest strengths are his competitive toughness, understanding of defensive leverage, attacking the football, and his natural ability as a playmaker. Growing up as a wildcat QB, in addition to WR, Craig has always been placed in a playmaking role with a unique ability to make people miss in the open field, but really blossomed last year in his dedication to perfecting his craft as a wide receiver. He has a natural ability to attack the football in the air and pluck the ball effortlessly from defenders, stemming from his basketball background. We worked hard on his understanding of coverages and using leverage of the defensive backs to his advantage such as attacking their blind spots and pre-snap space to create sudden explosive opportunities.”
“However, the main thing was the shift in his mentality. Craig has attacked every opportunity and is the ultimate competitor. He wants to win more than anything and views each route as a personal opportunity to win a 1on 1 matchup and ultimately contribute to his team’s victory. Every play and game matters to him so much that he takes it personally and that directly influences his teammates. He is not nervous to go make a big play but rather calls for it and expects it from himself. His family have done a phenomenal job instilling discipline and positive values in him to lead to his success on the field. He is an academically strong student with a 3.5 GPA. He takes to coaching without hesitation and is determined to gain whatever edge he can to add to his toolbox. He possesses elite athletic traits but his willingness to try new things and be humble enough to accept correction has really allowed him to thrive over the past 18 months. Whoever lands Craig will be getting the ultimate competitor that will push their WR room to achieve new heights and not settle for good enough.”
The metro-Atlanta pass-catcher is ranked as the No.35 WR prospect and the No.229 overall prospect. However, you can expect to see his ranking rise more and more over the next several months.
Dandridge is Georgia’s third wide receiver commitment, joining four-star Ryan Mosley and four-star Brady Marchese.