This Sentell’s Intel rep on Georgia football recruiting breaks down the names that DawgNation has been able to confirm will be in Athens this weekend for the annual scavenger hunt that has developed into a major official visit weekend.

It is a [May] Georgia football recruiting tradition like no other. But it has suddenly morphed into something bigger than we’ve seen up to this point.

Georgia is set to host its biggest slate of official visitors ever for the annual scavenger hunt weekend that takes place every May. DawgNation has been able to confirm the names of four official visitors set for this weekend.

The annual scavenger hunt across the UGA campus hosts has featured pictures (and a subsequent obscure NCAA rule change) with live snakes and an at-times cutthroat competition to win the scavenger hunt that has included pilfered golf cart keys and selfie quests in the past.

Yet it now has another major 5-star visitor added to the guest list.

5-star OT David Sanders Jr. will be in Athens for the first time since a spring practice visit to check out the Bulldogs. DawgNation was able to confirm the news of the planned visit early this evening with a family source, but Steve Wiltfong on On3.com was the first with that news.

Every visit these days from Sanders is big. DawgNation has ranked the 5-star from Charlotte as the No. 1 “top target” on its weekly “Before the Hedges” listing of top prospects since the debut of the 2025 list back in November of 2023.

Sanders now ranks as the nation’s No. 1 OT prospect and the No. 2 overall recruit for the 2025 cycle on the 247Sports Composite scale. The On3 “Industry Ranking”

The Providence Day star won’t be the only 5-star in attendance over the weekend. 5-star 2026 QB commit Jared Curtis is expected to come down from Nashville for all the fun.

The expected guest list now also includes 5-star LB Zayden Walker, 5-star S Trey McNutt and also a key flip target in 4-star EDGE Isaiah Gibson out of Warner Robins. Gibson is currently committed to USC.

Lest we forget, the other major visits of the weekend will be the 48 hours of official visit time with the following prospects:

• 4-star RB Bo Jackson
• 4-star WR Marcus Harris
• 4-star WR Phillip Bell
• 4-star OL Ziyare Addison

Check out the list of names DawgNation has been able to confirm this week.

There will undoubtedly be a few more names added to this early list. There should be a few big 2026 names that will join Curtis this weekend to start building that class.

Garrett made the list above and it sounds like the 4-star Prince Avenue DL target will make the trip, but a final decision has not been made yet.

These plans are, as always, also subject to change.

DawgNation will continue to update this list as the RSVPs roll in for the week.

Did you know the weekly DawgNation.com “Before the Hedges” program is available as an Apple podcast? Click to check it out and download it.

SENTELL’S INTEL

(check on the recent reads on Georgia football recruiting)

Even with new TV partners, one of Georgia’s most important games will be staying in its usual time slot.

ESPN announced that Georgia’s game against Florida on Nov. 2 will be at 3:30 p.m. ET. Only instead of CBS airing the game, ABC will now do so.

This year’s game against Florida will have the added intrigue of Georgia having running back Trevor Etienne. The standout running back transferred into the Georgia program this offseason after spending the previous two seasons with Billy Napier and the Gators.

Etienne is expected to be Georgia’s top running back.

“He’s a good back. He’s quick in and out of the hole,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said of Etienne following the spring game. “He’s different than what we’ve had. I think the Swift analogy is good. Cook’s analogy is good. He’s really taken a lot of personal pride in working on his protection. He had a nice pick up today. He’s learning the offense. Look, the guy’s been a good SEC player for two years. It’s not like he’s a freshman. He’s a really good player and a really good kid. I’ve been proud of the way he’s his deal.”

Georgia has won three straight games against the Gators, including both matchups against Napier. Since Smart became Georgia’s head coach, he is 6-2 against the rival Gators. The game will be played in Jacksonville, Fla.

The SEC broadcast partner also announced that Georgia’s Week 3 game against Kentucky will start at 7:30 p.m. ET and air on ABC.

The trip to Kentucky will see Georgia face off against former Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff and linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, as both transferred into the program this offseason.

The matchup against Kentucky will be Georgia’s first road game of the season. Smart is 8-0 against Mark Stoops. The two coaches are the longest-tenured in the league.

Georgia beat Kentucky 51-13 when the two teams met in Sanford Stadium last season.

ESPN has announced game times for four of Georgia’s games now. The Bulldogs take on Clemson at 12 p.m. ET on ABC on Aug. 31 and Alabama on Sept. 28. The latter is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET start on ABC as well.

Georgia football-Florida game time, TV Network

Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV Network: ABC

Date: Nov. 2

Location: Jacksonville, Fla.

Georgia football-Kentucky game time, TV Network

Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET

TV Network: ABC

Date: Sept. 14

Location: Lexington, Ky.

Another Georgia election is right around the corner, and thanks to early voting, many residents have already cast their ballot. While partisan politics generally takes up the most airtime, one nonpartisan race has begun to make headlines this year: the battle over a state Supreme Court seat. 

Though they are often much quieter than their partisan counterparts, judicial elections nonetheless play a crucial role in the lives of Georgia residents. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s judicial elections. 

When are the next Georgia judicial elections? 

Nonpartisan elections will be held as part of the Georgia state primary on Tuesday, May 21. Voters should check their My Voter Page at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ to view the most up-to-date information about their registration status, polling locations, and sample ballots. 

Who is running for the Georgia Supreme Court in 2024? 

Four sitting justices, John Ellington, Nels Peterson, Andrew Pinson and Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs are currently running for re-election. The newest member of the court, Andrew Pinson, is currently being challenged by former Democratic Congressman John Barrow. 

Barrow recently made headlines by openly centering abortion rights in his Georgia Supreme Court campaign — a tactic that has made him the subject of an ethics complaint due to a state law that urges judicial candidates to “not make statements or promises that commit the candidate with respect to issues likely to come before the court that are inconsistent with the impartial performance of the adjudicative duties of judicial office.” 

More: Mark your calendars: Here is every date you need to know to vote in Georgia in 2024

Barrow defended his position at the Atlanta Press Club Debates in April. 

“Partiality has nothing to do with your opinions about the law,” he said. “As the root word implies, it entails feelings about the parties, being in favor of one party or another. The United States Supreme Court explained this a good while back when they said ‘impartiality,’ of the sort that judges should strive for, means you’re not going to favor one party over another.” 

“Every person who’s expected to be a judge has to have strong feelings about the law,” Barrow continued. “If he doesn’t, he’s not qualified to serve on the court.” 

Barrow filed a lawsuit in federal court in response to the complaint, arguing that it impedes his First Amendment right to free speech, but a judge has yet to issue a ruling. 

Georgia elections: Important dates, how to register, and what to know ahead of 2024

What types of cases does the Georgia Supreme Court hear?

The Georgia Supreme Court is the highest judicial power in the state, and thus will review decisions in both civil and criminal cases made by lower courts across the state. The court has appellate jurisdiction over a wide variety of cases, including: 

• Constitutionality cases 
• Election contests 
• Cases involving title to land, divorce, wills or equity 
• Death sentence appeals 
• Habeas corpus (unlawful detention) cases 
• All cases involving extraordinary remedies 

The nine justices will typically hear cases en banc, and assign one justice to write the court opinion. In order for a lower court decision to be overturned or reversed, at least five justices must concur. 

How do Supreme Court elections work? 

Unlike seats in the legislative or executive branch, justices on the supreme court are elected through a nonpartisan election process, and serve six-year terms. This year, four of the nine justices are running for re-election, with only one justice facing a primary challenger. 

Although Supreme Court justices in Georgia are elected via popular vote, there is rarely an open seat on the court; new justices are almost always appointed by the governor to finish out their successor’s term, and will then run as an incumbent in the next election.  

Though partisan politics don’t necessarily play a role in judicial campaigns, the overall composition of the court skews conservative. Out of the nine sitting justices, eight were appointed by Republican governors, including Pinson. The other was appointed to a state appellate court by a Democratic governor, and later won his seat unopposed.