NFL DRAFT DOMINANCE, FIVE-STAR FEVER, AND JARED CURTIS WATCH: Georgia Bulldogs Flex Power with Another Monster Draft Haul While Looking to Seal the Deal with Elite Quarterback Target in Heated Final Stretch of Recruitment Battle.

ATHENS, GA — When the NFL’s 2025 Draft concluded in Las Vegas, one theme rang louder than the flashbulbs or commissioner’s podium: the University of Georgia is the undisputed factory of football excellence.

Another NFL Draft. Another wave of Bulldogs turning pro. Another reminder that Kirby Smart’s program isn’t just the class of the SEC — it’s the gold standard of modern college football.

And while draft picks and trophies line the halls of Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, the work in Athens is far from done. With a record-setting recruiting class already forming, Georgia has its sights set on the next generational cornerstone: five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, the crown jewel of the 2026 class.

Georgia’s dynasty, it seems, is entering its next chapter — one that blends development dominance with recruiting supremacy, and a quarterback pursuit that could shape the next five years of college football.

Georgia sent 11 players to the NFL in the 2025 draft, with three first-rounders and seven picked in the top 100. It marked the third consecutive year Georgia has placed 10 or more players in the draft — an astounding stat that cements the program’s unmatched player development model.

Among the headliners:

• LT Amarius Mims (No. 4 overall, Patriots) – Towering, smooth-footed, and relentless, Mims was widely regarded as the top offensive lineman in the draft.
• LB Smael Mondon Jr. (No. 19, Steelers) – The heart of the Bulldogs’ defense, Mondon’s athleticism and IQ drew comparisons to Roquan Smith.
• TE Brock Bowers (No. 21, Chargers) – A two-time All-American and Mackey Award winner, Bowers is already being dubbed a future Pro Bowl staple.
• CB Kamari Lassiter (Round 2, Seahawks) and DL Nazir Stackhouse (Round 3, Lions) — Defensive stalwarts that anchored one of the nation’s most suffocating units.

“It’s becoming almost routine,” said ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. during the live broadcast. “If you want to find Day 1 starters in the NFL, go to Georgia’s two-deep. It’s plug-and-play talent.”

For Kirby Smart and his staff, the draft isn’t just an offseason exclamation point — it’s a recruiting accelerator.

“Kids are watching the draft just like fans,” said Georgia recruiting coordinator Fran Brown. “When they see that red ‘G’ go up on screen over and over, it hits different. That’s real. That’s legacy.”

Georgia has now produced 35 NFL Draft picks in the past three years, including 11 first-rounders. But perhaps even more impressive is the breadth: quarterbacks, running backs, linemen, defensive backs, tight ends — every position has a Georgia pipeline.

“We’re not just recruiting stars,” said Smart. “We’re building pros. And that sells.”

The Bulldogs’ 2026 recruiting class is already ranked No. 2 nationally, trailing only Alabama — but with key decisions looming, Georgia could soon overtake the top spot.

Of the 14 commitments already secured:

• Six are ranked in the national Top 100
• Three are five-stars, including edge rusher Kentrell Foster, offensive lineman Jaylen Whitmore, and safety Zion Ricks
• Multiple prospects are heavily leaning toward Georgia pending one key domino: Jared Curtis

The Nashville-native quarterback is the prize everyone wants. And Georgia is pushing all-in.

Jared Curtis, the consensus No. 1 overall quarterback and No. 2 overall player in the 2026 class, is as close to a “can’t-miss” prospect as there is in the high school game. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds with elite arm strength, football IQ, and mobility, Curtis has drawn comparisons to Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence.

His recruitment has been a war between Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Ohio State. But sources close to Curtis say the battle is narrowing — and Georgia is very much in the lead as decision day approaches in July.

“Curtis sees the bigger picture,” said one SEC recruiting analyst. “He wants to win, go pro, and play in meaningful games on national TV. Georgia checks all of those boxes. And they’ve been recruiting him as a top priority since his sophomore year.”

Georgia’s pitch to Curtis includes:

• NFL development pedigree (see: Bennett, Fromm, and now Beck)
• A wide-open, increasingly modern offensive system under OC Mike Bobo
• NIL structure that ranks among the top five nationally
• The opportunity to lead a national title contender as a true freshman

Curtis has already taken three unofficial visits to Athens this year, and multiple sources suggest Georgia is preparing a red-carpet official visit in early July — a final effort to close the deal before he announces.

“Jared’s relationship with Kirby is real,” said a family source. “They’ve built trust. Georgia isn’t just recruiting him — they’re planning around him.”

With Carson Beck likely headed to the NFL after the 2025 season, the Georgia QB room could be wide open for 2026. While talented options like Gunner Stockton and Ryan Puglisi are waiting in the wings, Curtis would have every opportunity to compete — and potentially win the job — as a freshman.

“That’s the selling point,” said former Georgia QB D.J. Shockley. “Come in, compete early, and take the reins of a dynasty. If I’m a five-star QB, I’d want that smoke.”

If Georgia secures Curtis, it could set off a domino effect: elite wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs often commit to top QBs. The Bulldogs are already in contention for five-star WR Micah Caldwell and top-25 TE Jalen Monroe, both of whom have cited Curtis’s destination as “a major factor.”

It’s easy to forget that just a few years ago, Georgia was still trying to climb over the Alabama mountain. Now, they are the mountain.

• National titles in 2021 and 2022
• SEC East dominance for the better part of a decade
• NFL draft supremacy
• Elite recruiting every cycle

And perhaps most importantly, Kirby Smart hasn’t taken his foot off the gas.

Insiders say the staff is more aggressive now than ever before, especially with NIL fully integrated into the recruiting model and the transfer portal offering new opportunities to plug and play.

Georgia recently unveiled its new Player Performance and Development Center, a $70 million facility featuring:

• A custom NIL content studio
• AI-based motion tracking systems for QB development
• Virtual reality game prep suites
• A personal branding mentorship lounge backed by former NFL players

“We’re building a place where the best come to become legends,” said Smart. “That’s the mission.”

According to multiple recruiting insiders, Curtis is expected to announce his decision between July 20–31, with Georgia currently in pole position.

Tennessee is pushing hard, banking on in-state loyalty and proximity to home. Alabama is leveraging tradition and staff relationships. Ohio State is emphasizing QB development under Ryan Day.

But Georgia? Georgia is offering a chance to become the face of a new dynasty chapter.

“If they land Jared Curtis,” said 247Sports’ Tom Loy, “Georgia could finish with the highest-rated class in recruiting history. He’s that impactful.”

And the Bulldogs know it.

July is shaping up to be a defining month, one that could determine whether Georgia remains merely elite — or untouchably dominant.

In the era of NIL, transfer chaos, and conference realignment, sustained dominance is rare. But Georgia isn’t just weathering the storm — it’s thriving.

From the NFL Draft stage to the recruiting trail, from offensive line trenches to quarterback war rooms, the Bulldogs are executing at a level few programs have ever sustained.

Jared Curtis may be the next name to wear the “G” across his chest. If so, it could mark the beginning of a new era — not just of Georgia excellence, but of uninterrupted, generational dominance.

For now, all eyes are on July.

But make no mistake:

The Dawgs aren’t waiting for greatness to come. They’re building it — again.