Griffin, leading DT in 2025 class, selects Georgia

Eli Lederman, ESPN Staff WriterOct 18, 2024, 01:46 PM ET Close Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.Five-star defensive deal with Elijah

Griffin, ESPN’s leading uncommitted possibility in the 2025 class, committed to Georgia over Miami and USC Friday afternoon, closing among the country’s most vital late-cycle recruitments seven weeks before the start of the early finalizing period.Griffin, a dominant interior force from Savannah, Georgia, is the No. 5 overall possibility

in the 2025 ESPN 300 and the nation’s No. 1 defensive deal with in the current cycle. Five-star DT Elijah Griffin has dedicated to Georgia, rejecting Miami and USC. Icon Sportswire The 6-foot-4, 280-pound protector was when anticipated to extend his recruitment to the start of the early signing

duration on Dec. 4, but Griffin rather opted to commit to the Bulldogs following a see to Georgia last weekend during the program’s 41-31 win over Mississippi State on Saturday.With Griffin’s pledge, first-class defensive deal with Justus Terry, a previous Georgia and USC commit, is the last uncommitted player amongst the top 10 prospects in ESPN’s rankings for the 2025 class.Griffin is now the highest-rated member of Kirby Smart’s 2025 class, which holds commitments from 16 ESPN 300 prospects, consisting of nine from the leading 100.

The No. 2 possibility in the state of Georgia, Griffin leads an outstanding protective class bound for Athens in 2025, signing up with outside linebacker Zayden Walker(No. 16 in the ESPN 300), protective end Isaiah Gibson(No. 30)and cornerback Shamari Earls(No. 75 )amongst the 7 ESPN 300 defenders in the Bulldogs’inbound class. Georgia’s 2025 recruiting class sat at No. 5 in ESPN’s latest team rankings for the 2025 cycle prior to Griffin’s dedication from the gymnasium at Savannah Christian Preparatory School Friday afternoon.The mid-October pledge ends an enduring recruitment between Griffin and the Bulldogs that began when Georgia used the talented young defender at 13 years of ages.

Griffin made regular visits to Athens as he blossomed into an overwhelming protective wrecker at Savannah Christian, where Griffin led the Raiders to a state title game appearance in 2023 and began his senior season this fall with 69 career takes on for loss, including 33.5 sacks.Griffin took an unofficial see to Georgia in January before going to Junior Day occasions at Florida and Clemson this spring, then took official check outs to Miami and USC in June. A month later

, Griffin narrowed his finalists to Georgia, Miami and USC before going to the Bulldogs ‘neutral-site opener against Clemson in Atlanta in Week 1 and returning to Sanford Arena on Saturday.Griffin was expected to visit Miami and USC once again later this fall, however his recruitment closed earlier than anticipated, buoyed by a tight relationship with Bulldogs defensive line coach Tray Scott and years-long recruiting efforts.Griffin’s pledge might mark the first of numerous dominos to succumb to Georgia in the closing stages of the 2025 cycle as the Bulldogs seek to land their ninth-consecutive top-three class going back to 2017. Georgia continues to go after Terry, ESPN’s No. 7 possibility out of Manchester, Georgia, and have actually made strides in recent weeks toward potential turns of ESPN 300 safeties Eric Winters(Auburn devote )and Lagonza Hayward Jr. (Tennessee commit ). With Griffin off the board, Terry stands as the highest ranked of the 8 top-100 potential customers who remain uncommitted entering the weekend in a group that likewise includes four-star professional athlete Michael Terry III (No. 24 in the ESPN 300 )and safety Jordan Young (No. 39). Junior defensive end Jahkeem Stewart, ESPN’s No. 1 prospect in the 2026 cycle, is likewise anticipated to reveal a dedication in between now and the early signing duration after reclassifying into the 2025 class on Oct. 5. Stewart has arranged check outs to Ohio State, LSU and USC over the next month and went to Oregon’s 32-31 win over the Buckeyes last weekend.