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Georgia, Kirby Smart Lose 4-Star QB to SEC Rival

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Apr 10, 2026 11:49 AM ET

The Georgia Bulldogs are heading into the 2026 college football season with a legitimate starter at the quarterback position in junior signal caller Gunner Stockton.

That said, the Bulldogs will need to find an heir to Stockton soon, as he will only have one year of eligibility left after 2026, assuming he doesn't leave early to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Among Georgia's top quarterback targets from the 2027 recruiting class was Davin Davidson, a four-star prospect out of Sarasota, Florida.

Davidson, listed at over 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, is ranked the No. 13 quarterback in his class and the No. 154 player nationally in 247Sports Composite's ranks.

Georgia remained atop Davidson's list of top programs throughout his recruitment, positioning itself as a serious contender alongside several SEC programs and making his final four-school cut.

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart after beating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2025 SEC Championship.© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Davidson ultimately committed to the Florida Gators on Thursday, choosing his hometown college over a group of finalists that included Georgia, Auburn and Kentucky.

The highly-touted recruit, however, admitted that the Bulldogs were very close to landing him.

“It got really tight with Georgia,” Davidson said. “Miami was up there, too, before they took another quarterback.”

WATCH: The moment four star QB Davin Davidson committed to Florida. pic.twitter.com/Iquhu00E7C
— Nick Marcinko (@marcinko_nick) April 9, 2026

Davidson threw for 2,360 yards and 23 touchdowns against just six interceptions during his first season as a starter at Cardinal Mooney. He led his school to a state title, tossing seven touchdowns against two interceptions in the playoffs.

The decision delivers a significant setback for Georgia, which is still searching for its first quarterback commitment in the 2027 class.

As things stand, the Bulldogs have five quarterbacks on their roster, including Stockton. Two of them are redshirt freshmen, while the other two are true freshmen arriving as part of the 2026 recruiting class.

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

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