Latest news with #VanceSpafford
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia Bounces Back With Good News on Highly Touted Star
Georgia Bounces Back With Good News on Highly Touted Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Georgia Bulldogs lost a verbal commit from a playmaker to begin this week. But shortly after, they gained a commit on defense. Advertisement While the Bulldogs lost highly touted wide receiver Vance Spafford to Miami, they gained defensive linebacker Khamari Brooks. On3's Chad Simmons reported Monday four-star edge rusher Khamari Brooks has pledged to Georgia instead of the Alabama Crimson Tide. "Brooks is a Georgia legacy who lives 15 minutes from Athens," Simmons posted on X. "[Coach] Kirby Smart and company kept him home." Brooks told Simmons the program welcomed him and his entire family during all of his visits. That played a role in his decision. But so did the program's future plans for him. "With Georgia, it is about how they use guys at my position," Simmons wrote. "How [linebackers] coach [Chidera Uzo-]Diribe coaches is a lot like my high school, and how he uses the outside linebackers/EDGE is similar to what he [does] now, but at a higher level against better athletes.' Georgia Bulldogs and coach Kirby Smart gain defensive linebacker Khamari Brooks.© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Brooks will be the third member of his extended family to play football at Georgia. Advertisement "I have a lot of history with Georgia," Brooks told Rivals. "One of my uncles was among the first five [Black] players in program history, and my stepgrandad played there." Based on the 247Sports Composite rankings, Brooks is a top 15 edge rusher and Georgia prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. Overall, he is ranked the No. 112 recruit in the class. The Bulldogs landed Brooks the same day the program saw four-star player Spafford flip to the Miami Hurricanes. Georgia still has two receiver commitments in the 2026 class, but Spafford is more highly rated than either of them. Related: Georgia Dealt Great News From Highly Touted Star This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia Dealt Brutal Blow on Star Playmaker on Monday
Georgia Dealt Brutal Blow on Star Playmaker on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The grumblings were true. The Georgia Bulldogs lost their top wide receiver commit for the 2026 class to a familiar foe. Advertisement Four-star wide receiver Vance Spafford flipped his commitment from the Bulldogs to the Miami Hurricanes on Monday. Both Rivals' Adam Gorney and On3's Hayes Fawcett reported the flip. Spafford will join five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, who was a top Georgia target, in Miami. Although they won't ever play with him, former Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck also landed with the Hurricanes this offseason. The receiver referenced the Hurricanes coaching staff and Cantwell's commitment as major factors in his decision to flip. 'Coach (Kevin Beard) is incredible,' Spafford told Gorney. 'He knows what he's talking about. Coach (Shannon) Dawson is incredible, too, and they're all communicating with me every day and really trying. Coach (Mario) Cristobal is phenomenal. That guy is great. Advertisement "The commitment with Jackson (Cantwell) is big as well. A good offensive line for a good quarterback is all I could ever want.' Georgia Bulldogs football head coach Kirby Smart© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The possibility of Spafford decommitting from the Bulldogs has been discussed in recruiting circles for weeks. On3's Chad Simmons reported on June 13 that the UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies were both trying to flip Spafford from Georgia. Those two programs appeared to be the biggest concern for the Bulldogs with Spafford due to the receiver being from California. But instead, Spafford will head to Miami. Based on the 247Sports Composite rankings, Spafford is the No. 9 receiver and 10th-ranked California prospect. He is also the No. 74 overall recruit in the class. Advertisement Without him on board, the Bulldogs have two receivers left committed for 2026 – Brady Marchese and Ryan Mosley. Both are three-star prospects. Related: Georgia Bounces Back With Good News on Highly Touted Star This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Blue-chip WR Vance Spafford picks Miami, decommits from Georgia
June 23 - Wide receiver prospect Vance Spafford shifted his commitment on Monday from Georgia to Florida. Spafford, from Mission Viejo, Calif., told 247Sports that he made the move, in part, because he is looking for a chance to play on a team that works together as one unit. "The football team is made up of the best of the best," Spafford said in the 247 Sports interview. At Florida, he will play with quarterback Carson Beck, a transfer from Georgia. "When I went on my visit there earlier this season, I just noticed how amazing their offensive line was, how much time Carson Beck had to throw, so why not join a team that is going to throw the ball like that? The program will always attract the best players, and it's got a winning culture, so that's something that really was hard to turn down for me," Spafford said. The 247sports composite lists Spafford as the No. 9 wideout in the nation and the No. 74 overall player in the 2026 class. He made five official visits since May 30: Southern California, UCLA, Washington, Miami and Georgia. He initially committed to the Bulldogs last November. The Hurricanes are heading into their fourth season with Mario Cristobal at head coach. His three-year record is 22-16. Miami, which finished 10-3 (6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) last season, begins the 2025 campaign against visiting Notre Dame on Aug. 31. Spafford is ranked as the No. 124 overall prospect, No. 12 wide receiver, and No. 17 overall recruit in California by 247Sports. At the ESPN Future 50 event last July, Spafford won the fastest man competition, running a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. Below is the 247Sports Scouting Report on Spafford from May 28, written by 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins. "Gifted wide out and has some rare traits that should allow him to be a dominant player at the next level. Elite as a route runner and looks like a college player already in his ability to turn a defender and get separation. Extremely quick and explosive off the line and has the down field speed to separate. Runs well after the catch and shows the ability to make multiple defenders miss in the open field. Not a big receiver at a shade under 5-foot-11 but has a strong upper body and can easily beat press coverage and is tough to bring down one on one. Wins 50-50 and contested catches and shows advanced ball awareness. Explodes getting in and out of his breaks and should offer value as a punt and kick returner as well. Highly instinctive football player combining polish and explosive big play ability. A fun prospect to track over the coming years and has the skill set to play on Sunday's." --Field Level Media
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Highly Touted Playmaker Expected to Have Unfortunate Change of Heart on Georgia
Highly Touted Playmaker Expected to Have Unfortunate Change of Heart on Georgia originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Georgia Bulldogs have three wide receivers committed in the 2026 recruiting class. However, they may lose the most highly-regarded wideout. Advertisement On3's Jake Rowe reported Friday that four-star receiver Vance Spafford is "unlikely to sign with the Bulldogs" despite giving the program a verbal commitment last November. "The 5-foot-9 wideout is a west-coast kid who probably isn't going to leave the time zone," Rowe wrote. "That leaves Georgia, for now, with the well-rounded Ryan Mosley, who is a four-star prospect, and the explosive Brady Marchese, who is also a four-star." "Georgia checks off some important boxes with those two guys." Rowe focused on the positive -- the Bulldogs still have receivers Brady Marchese and Ryan Mosley committed for 2026. Advertisement But based on the 247Sports rankings, Marchese and Mosley are just three-star prospects. Spafford is the No. 12-ranked receiver in the 2026 class. Georgia Bulldogs football head coach Kirby Smart© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images But recruiting experts have predicted that Spafford could back out of his commitment with Georgia. On3's Chad Simmons reported on June 13 that the UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies were both trying to poach the receiver. Rowe made no mention of any other specific programs. But UCLA and Washington are obviously on the west coast, which is where Rowe expects the receiver to play in college. In addition to being the No. 12 receiver, Spafford is the 17th-ranked California prospect in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The wideout is also the No. 124 overall recruit in the class. Advertisement Related: Coveted Playmaker Delivers Unclear Message on Georgia Ahead of SEC Visit This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Concerning News Emerges for Georgia With Dawgs on High Alert With Star Playmaker
Concerning News Emerges for Georgia With Dawgs on High Alert With Star Playmaker originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Georgia Bulldogs landed a big verbal commitment from four-star wide receiver Vance Spafford. But now the Bulldogs are trying to hold onto that commitment. Advertisement On3's Chad Simmons reported Friday that two other programs -- the UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies -- are trying to poach the receiver. Spafford also has a visit upcoming with the Miami Hurricanes. "Multiple schools are pushing hard for the four-star in California and he has already had great trips to UCLA and Washington this summer, with a visit to Miami coming next week," Simmons wrote. "Georgia has some work to do to keep Spafford in this class, so this weekend is key." Georgia Bulldogs football head coach Kirby Smart© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Simmons explained that the potential to lose a commitment from a playmaker is nothing new for the Bulldogs. "This is kind of like a repeat from last week when talking about Georgia getting wide receiver commit Brady Marchese on campus," Simmons wrote. "He was coming off an official visit to Michigan and the Wolverines were very close to flipping the four-star. Advertisement "Marchese locked his commitment in with Georgia earlier this week and shut things down. Can the same thing happen with Vance Spafford?" According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Spafford is both a top 10 receiver and California prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. Furthermore, Spafford is the No. 74 overall recruit in the class. Georgia owns the fourth-best recruiting class for 2026 based on the 247Sports rankings. In addition to Spafford, the Bulldogs have received verbal commitments from three-star receivers Marchese and Ryan Mosley. Related: Georgia's Confidence Surging on Coveted RB as College Football News Drops This Week This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
