Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

SEC Powerhouse Emerges As Leader For Nation's No. 1 DL

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated May 31, 2025 6:39 PM ET

A leader has emerged for class of 2026 four-star defensive lineman James Johnson as he takes multiple official visits over the summer.

Johnson (6-foot-2.5, 285 pounds) plays for Northwestern High School in Cape Coral, Florida. The highly-coveted recruit ranks as the No. 1 defensive lineman, the No. 3 player in the state and the No. 15 recruit overall in his class (On3).

Despite missing time with a knee injury, Johnson posted 60 tackles (29 for loss) with five sacks as a junior in 2024.

Johnson is one of the many high-profile recruits visiting Georgia over the weekend, and it's the Bulldogs that are the current favorite to land his commitment, according to On3's Steve Wiltfong.

Illinois and Penn State hosted Johnson on official visits in May. He also plans to visit Syracuse, Miami, Florida and Florida State before finishing out the summer back at Georgia on June 20.

"I feel like Georgia has led for much of this year in his process," Wiltfong said. "Miami, Florida and Syracuse are some of the other heavy hitters ... But coach Trey Scott, Georgia's defense, style of play, culture are all things that have resonated with him. Georgia has been the leader in this recruitment."

Head coach Kirby Smart and position coach Trey Scott have recruited among the best along the defensive line. UGA's 2025 class featured No. 1 defensive lineman Elijah Griffin, and NFL stars like Jalen Carter, Travon Walker and Jordan Davis are a testament to the development in Athens.

The Bulldogs do have some stiff competition for Johnson, though, and nothing is certain at this point in his recruitment.

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

More must-reads: