BREAKING: Kirby Smart, UGA Football Land In-State DL Anthony Lonon Jr.
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs add another playmaking defensive lineman in the 2026 class.
This time they’ve landed a verbal pledge from promising in-state defensive lineman, Anthony Lonon.
A local defender out of Clarke Central (GA) in Athens, Lonon earned an offer from the Bulldogs back on June 3rd and has been trending Georgia’s way ever since. The 6-foot-2 260-pounder took an official visit to Georgia in mid-June and chose the Dawgs today over in-state rival Georgia Tech. He also had offers from N.C State, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, among others.
But in the end, Lonon decided to stay home and become a Dawg.
What will Lonon bring to Athens?
Productivity and potential.
He’s not the biggest or heaviest guy, but he’s a hard-working kid and a UGA legacy who was not passing up the chance to play for the Dawgs.
He moves well for his size, shows quick, violent hands and has a knack for attacking the quarterback as well as shutting down the run. He shows a quick first step off the snap and does a good job of playing with leverage against opposing offensive linemen. He can win battles with his quickness but is strong enough to throw back opposing guards when not double-teamed. He was one of the top defenders in the Athens area last season with the potential to keep adding more weight and muscle over time.
This is a kid that loves Georgia and won’t break the bank from an NIL perspective. His best football is way ahead of him and the defensive staff likes the potential that he brings to the table.
As a junior last season, Lonon made 51 tackles, 15 TFLs and eight sacks. He gives Georgia their seventh DL commitment in the 2026 class. He’s a local defender on the rise who has a chance to really surprise Georgia fans right down the street at the next level.