Four-Star Defensive Backs Break Down Latest UGA Football Visit
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ATHENS - After another big week on the recruiting trail, sources say the Georgia Bulldogs are trending in the right direction for several major prospects in the 2027 class.
Major Bulldog targes have made their way through Athens throughout the week including two impressive in-state defensive back targets who made their way to town.
One if four-star safety KJ Caldwell Jr.. The playmaking do-it-all athlete at Parkview (GA) is one of the top prospects in Gwinnett County who liked what he saw from his latest visit to the Classic City.
“The biggest takeaway from the visit for me was just how involved they are with their players, especially the early enrollees. Since I’m planning to enroll early, that really stood out to me and showed how much they invest in developing their guys from day one.
“What stands out most about Coach Smart is the standard he holds everyone to”, Caldwell Jr. added. “You can tell he runs a very disciplined and competitive program, and everything is done at a high level. Being around him and his staff, you can see why they’ve had so much success. It feels like a place that would push me to be my best every day and help me grow on and off the field.”
As a junior last season, the 6-foot-1 180-pounder made 38 tackles last season with two sacks and one INT that he took back for a touchdown. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one more. On offense, Caldwell ran for 264 yards and six touchdowns, averaging over seven yards per carry.
Caldwell is ranked as the No. 6 safety prospect and the No. 76 overall prospect in the country for the 2027 class.
Another four-star defensive back who made it to Athens recently is Atlanta-area safety, Adryan Cole. The Douglas County (GA) defender brings plenty of size at 6-foot-2 185-pounds who shined both in coverage and against the run last season for the Tigers.
Cole has been a long-time Georgia target and recapped his recent visit to Athens with Dawg Post.
“My biggest takeaway from the visit was just how consistent everything is, from the culture to the way they practice and develop players,” Cole told Dawg Post. “You can tell there’s a standard, not just something they talk about. Everything is detailed and done with a purpose.”
“What stands out most about Coach Smart to me is how direct and competitive he is. He sets a clear expectation for everyone in the program, and you can feel that energy from the whole staff. At the same time, you can tell he really cares about developing his players both on and off the field. Being around him and his staff, you see why they’ve been so successful.”
As a junior last season, Cole made 69 tackles with one forced fumble and one INT in coverage. He’s currently ranked as the No. 20 safety prospect and the No. 214 overall prospect in the country.
