Kirby Smart gets high upside 3-star EDGE to stay home and commit to Georgia Bulldogs over Florida

Howard is ranked No. 1,069 nationally, the No. 107 defensive lineman in his class, and the No. 116 player in the state of Georgia. After a recent official visit to Athens, it didn’t take long for him to decide that he is staying home.

”I chose Georgia because they are the best at developing players,” Howard told On3. “I also love the coaches, their style of defense, and how they play in the SEC.”

Aside from his NFL size at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, what makes Howard stand out is his versatility. Georgia sees him as someone who could play multiple roles along the defensive front at defensive end, shift inside, or as a hybrid outside linebacker. That kind of flexibility is rare, and something coach Smart is always looking for. Sure, Howard might not see much action until Year 2 or Year 3, but he's an overall high upside and low risk lock. 

Georgia now has two EDGE commits committed to their class of 2026, with Howard joining four-star Khamari Brooks. 

Georgia Bulldogs 2026 Commits

Georgia currently boasts the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class and has 20 players committed to their recruiting class of 2026:

• 4-star EDGE Khamari Brooks
• 4-star Linebacker Shadarius Toodle
• 4-star Offensive Tackle Ekene Ogbok
• 4-star Cornerback Caden Harris
• 5-star Kicker Harran Zureikat
• 5-Star Punt Returner Wade Register
• 4-star Offensive Lineman Zykie Helton
• 4-star Cornerback Justin Fitzpatrick
• 4-star Defensive Lineman Carter Luckie
• 4-star Wide Receiver Ryan Mosely
• 4-star Safety Jordan Smith
• 5-star Quarterback Jared Curtis
• 3-star Offensive Tackle Graham Houston
• 3-star EDGE Corey Howard
• 3-star Offensive Lineman Zachary Lewis
• 4-star Tight End Lincoln Keys
• 3-star Safety Kealan Jones
• 3-star Defensive Lineman Seven Cloud
• 4-star Safety Zech Fort
• 3-star Wide Receiver Brady Marchese