For Kirby Smart, in-state recruiting isn’t just a box to check. It’s the competitive edge Georgia refuses to surrender. Every January, his approach is to control the state first, then expand outward. This week’s recruiting trail reinforced that priority and intent, with UGA’s upcoming Junior Day bringing them into sharper focus. 

“Georgia will host a wave of recruits this weekend for a ‘Junior Day’ event,” DawgNation’s Jeff Sentell wrote on X on January 16. “5-star safety Chance Gilbert is expected to make the trip. How does Gilbert feel about the Dawgs? Who else is in town? There’s another 5-star in-state safety that tops the list.”

It underscores just how heavily Georgia is leaning on its backyard for elite defensive talent. Junior Day will feature 16 total prospects, nine of them from Georgia, a ratio that reflects Kirby Smart’s long-standing philosophy.

Chance Gilbert stands as the centerpiece of the weekend. The East Coweta standout is the nation’s No. 2 safety in the 2027 cycle and the No. 2 overall player in the state. At 6’1 and 175 pounds, he brings verified speed and multi-positional value, having played both receiver and safety last season. His track experience sets him apart even from top recruits.

He ran a 10.57 in the 100 meters as a freshman and believes he is now capable of running in the low 10.2 range after recovering from surgery that limited him during his sophomore year.

As a junior, Chance Gilbert recorded 58 tackles and three interceptions, while also contributing heavily on offense with 16 receptions for 393 yards and five TDs, where he averaged a field-flipping 24.5 yards per catch. He even added a 68-yard rushing TD, reinforcing the versatility Kirby Smart covets in his defensive backs.

Georgia is not alone in its recruitment. Clemson and Georgia Tech have both made strong impressions, and Alabama remains firmly in the mix. Still, the Bulldogs continue to sit squarely among his top choices. 

“They are definitely a top three team,” he said in October. “I mean, it’s home. It is Georgia. You can’t go wrong with stating home. If you start there, you have a high opportunity of going pro and you’re going to the league if you start at Georgia. That stands out to me.”

Chance Gilbert may headline Junior Day, but he isn’t the only elite safety on campus. 5-star Casey Barner from McEachern, a 2028 prospect, is also expected in Athens. He’s one of Georgia’s most explosive defenders.

The vision of a safety duo leading the secondary is a key selling point. Kirby Smart also visited Howard High in Macon for 4-star safety Ta’Shawn Poole, a 2027 prospect, who confirmed he’ll be in Athens later this month.

Kirby Smart also stopped at Locust Grove to see 2027 OT Timi Aliu, ranked No. 17 nationally at his position. Georgia continues to aggressively recruit in-state linemen, and Aliu fits the long-term profile.

Smart’s focus on in-state prospects like Aliu isn’t just about talent acquisition; it’s a key component of a larger roster-building philosophy centered on pre-existing chemistry, a trend that has become a hallmark of his championship-caliber teams.

The chemistry behind Kirby Smart’s Georgia roster

Jeff Sentell also recently identified a trend that explains why Georgia’s recruiting feels so cohesive. Nearly a third of the roster shared a high school locker room with at least one current teammate. The 2026 roster will include 31 players with a high school connection in Athens, making up about 30 percent of the group, as the SEC approaches a 105-man limit.

There are now two sets of brothers on the roster, including Lawson and Carter Luckie, and Nnamdi and Ekene Ogboko. Beyond that, programs like IMG Academy, Buford, Warner Robins, Camden County, and North Oconee have multiple alumni on Georgia’s roster. Khalil Barnes anchors the North Oconee group while Ellis Robinson IV headlines the IMG contingent.

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Significantly, Georgia is recruiting talent, familiarity, trust, and shared history. Those connections reduce friction inside a locker room and accelerate cohesion on the field. When pressure hits, that matters. 

And as Kirby Smart continues to lock down Georgia’s borders, it is becoming clear that the Bulldogs are reinforcing relationships with those who already know how to win together.