Georgia, Kirby Smart Handed Disappointing Recruiting News on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 1:40 PM ET

When it comes to their 2027 recruiting class , the Georgia Bulldogs and coach Kirby Smart have quickly gotten to work, having already landed two commitments, with the biggest being four-star cornerback Donte Wright.

They have several talented players on their radar, including quarterback Kharim Hughley out of Gainesville, Georgia, whom they have already hosted for a total of four unofficial visits.

That's a lot of work to put in for a player who still has two more years of high school left, and unfortunately for the Bulldogs, on Thursday, Hughley chose the Clemson Tigers instead, per On3's Hayes Fawcett.

BREAKING: Four-Star QB Kharim Hughley (2027) has Committed to Clemson, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’0 200 QB Gainesville, GA chose the Tigers over Illinois, Georgia, & Florida

“The place to be ATGTG ”https://t.co/kA8BiZUNjN pic.twitter.com/LsxurtGVz5
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 10, 2025

Not coming out on top in this battle will certainly sting, as On3 Industry Rankings place him as a four-star recruit, the No. 15 quarterback, the No. 26 player in Georgia and the No. 190 player in the nation.

Last year, in his first season at the varsity level for Gainesville High School, Hughley put up some impressive numbers, completing 140-of-232 passes for 2,543 yards, 22 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 126.1 quarterback rating.

Georgia was not the only team Clemson was going up against, either, as Hughley's also taken visits with Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Auburn and Florida State.

However, Hughley is not the first player in the 2027 class that the Tigers and coach Dabo Swinney have added this offseason, as he joins four-star linebacker Max Brown, who committed to the program on June 3.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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