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Georgia Gets Strong Message From Five-Star RB
Georgia Gets Strong Message From Five-Star RB originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Georgia Bulldogs emerged confident after five-star running back Derrek Cooper visited campus last weekend. On3's Chad Simmons reported on June 13 that the Bulldogs could very well be the favorite in the top running back's recruitment.
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While Cooper stopped short of calling the Bulldogs the favorite, he didn't tell Rivals' Harrison Reno anything that would suggest Georgia isn't his No. 1 choice at the moment.
While talking to Reno, the running back raved about the relationships he's made with the Bulldogs program.
"Our bond is very good," Cooper told Reno. "You know, we talk every day, you know, just chatting it up, see how things are going. So our bond is pretty tight."
Georgia Bulldogs football head coach Kirby Smart© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Reno wrote that Cooper's mother, Tonya Brinson, is playing "a significant part" in his recruitment. That makes it all the more important that the Bulldogs feel like family to the running back.
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"Development, the family that's being felt from the coaching staff," Cooper added. "You know, she just wants to be able to sleep at night knowing that I'm well taken care."
Cooper is a consensus top five running back in the 2026 recruiting class. Based on the 247Sports Composite rankings, Cooper is also the No. 2 Florida prospect and No. 20 overall recruit for 2026.
Simmons reported the Miami Hurricanes are Georgia's biggest competition for Cooper. Although the Bulldogs appear confident they will eventually land the running back, the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine and 247Sports Crystal Ball both have Cooper committing to Miami.
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The Auburn Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida State Seminoles, Penn State Nittany Lions and Ohio State Buckeyes are also contenders for Cooper.
Related: Highly Touted Playmaker Expected to Have Unfortunate Change of Heart on Georgia
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
