Georgia

SEC Team Recruiting Rankings: Georgia’s Big Commit, Zech Ford, Moves the Needle

Published

1 year ago

January 30, 2025

SEC Team Recruiting Rankings: Georgia’s Big Commit, Zech Ford, Moves the Needle

College football season ended a week-and-a-half ago when Ohio State beat Notre Dame in the National Championship game, but the recruiting stove is red hot across the sport.

In the SEC, Georgia landed a commitment from big-time safety Zech Fort of IMG Academy in Florida on Thursday. How did it impact the recruiting rankings across the SEC?

247Sports updated its composite team rankings following the commitment and five SEC programs checked in the top 10 nationally while three more ranked within the top 20.

Despite a woeful 2024 season that saw just a 2-10 overall record and winless SEC campaign, Mississippi State still ranks ahead of four other SEC teams.

Here is what the SEC team recruiting rankings look like as of January 30, 2025. Clearly there is a lot of time for movement to be made as we’re 11 months from the early signing period, but the foundation for recruiting classes is clearly being built.

No. 16: Kentucky (0 nationally)

Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops during a game at Tennessee in 2024

Nov 2, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops talks with an official during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. / Saul Young/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Kentucky is the only team in the SEC that is yet to receive a public verbal commitment in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

15. Vanderbilt (54th nationally)

Dec 27, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Clark Lea looks on during a timeout during the first half of the 2024 Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium. / Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Vanderbilt Football:
1 commitment
87.26 average player rating
17.26 team points

14. Missouri (51st nationally)

Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz in a game against Arkansas in 202

Nov 30, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz watches play against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Missouri Football:
1 commitment
89.58 average player rating
19.58 team points

13. Alabama (49th nationally)

Alabama head football coach Kalen Deboer before a bowl game against Michiga

Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on before running onto the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium. / Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Alabama Football:
1 commitment
95.05 average player rating
25.05 team points

12. Mississippi State (42 nationally)

Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby during a 2024 game against UMas

Nov 2, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby speaks with players during the fourth quarter against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. / Matt Bush-Imagn Images

Mississippi State Football:
4 commitments
87.07 average player rating
34.05 team points

11. Ole Miss (38th nationally)

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin after winning the Gator Bowl vs. Duk

Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin is interviewed after the game while holding the Ash Verlander Champions Trophy of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Ole Miss defeated Duke 52-20. / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ole Miss Football:
2 commitments
86.66 average player rating
37.21 team points

10. Texas (33rd nationally)

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian at a press conferenc

Texas Longhorns Head Coach Steve Sarkisian speaks during the Coaches’ Press Conference at AT&T Stadium, Jan. 9, 2024. Both coaches answered questions from the media during the conference, and will face each other in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semi-final game on Friday. / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Texas Football:
2 commitments
95.35 average player rating
50.55 team points

9. Florida (28th nationally)

Florida head coach Billy Napier after winning the Gasparilla Bowl over Tulan

Dec 20, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier is presented the Gasparilla Bowl championship trophy after the win against the Tulane Green Wave at Raymond James Stadium. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Florida Football:
3 commitments
90.63 average player rating
61.32 team points

8. Oklahoma (19th nationally)

Brent Venables leads Oklahoma out for the Armed Forces Bow

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables locks arms with players before the Armed Forces Bowl football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Navy Midshipmen at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Navy won 21-20. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oklahoma Football:
4 commitments
91.32 average player rating
83.65 team points

7. South Carolina (14th nationally)

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer celebrates beating Missouri in 202

Nov 16, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer celebrates beating the Missouri Tigers at Williams-Brice Stadium. He is holding the Mayors Cup, given to the winner of the South Carolina-Missouri game. / Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

South Carolina Football:
5 commitments
89.93 average player rating
96.70 team points

6. Georgia (12th nationally)

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart leads the Bulldogs against Texas in the SEC Championshi

Georgia coach Kirby Smart takes the field with his team before the start of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. / Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Georgia Football:
5 commitments
92.03 average player rating
106.71 team points

5. Arkansas (9th nationally)

Arkansas head football coach Sam Pittman after winning the Liberty Bow

Dec 27, 2024; Memphis, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman reacts during an interview after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Arkansas Football:
9 commitments
87.96 average player rating
117.09 team points

4. LSU (8th nationally)

LSU head football coach Brian Kelly after winning the bowl game over Baylo

Dec 31, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly celebrates after defeating the Baylor Bears in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl in the second half at NRG Stadium. / Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

LSU Football:
6 commitments
91.63 average player rating
123.91 team points

3. Auburn (7th nationally)

Nov 16, 2024; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze greets fans during Tiger Walk before the game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Jordan-Hare Stadium. / John Reed-Imagn Images

Auburn Football:
6 commitments
93.11 average player rating
132.21 team points

2. Tennessee (6th nationally)

Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel before a CFP game against Ohio Stat

Dec 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Tennessee Football:
7 commitments
90.7 average player rating
135.95 team points

1. Texas A&M (2nd nationally)

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko disagrees with an official's decision in a game against Texas in 2024

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko reacts to an overturned tageting call against the Texas Longhorns during the Lone Star Showdown at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in College Station, Texas. / Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Texas A&M Football:
10 commitments
92.2 average player rating
192 team points

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Georgia

A council meeting is called in a small Georgia town whose mayor fired the entire police department

Published

15 minutes ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

A council meeting is called in a small Georgia town whose mayor fired the entire police department

COHUTTA, Ga. (AP) — The town council in a small north Georgia mountain community called a special meeting Friday evening to discuss reinstating the police department after the mayor fired the chief and all the officers.

The notice for the meeting, posted outside the Cohutta Town Hall, says the council will also consider a request for the mayor’s “immediate resignation.”

Another sign posted earlier this week in the town of about 930 people announced that the police department had been dissolved “per Mayor Ron Shinnick.” It told people who need help to call a non-emergency county number.

The jobs of the chief and about 10 officers were terminated as of Wednesday morning. Exact reasons haven’t been shared publicly, and townspeople are hoping to get some answers at Friday’s meeting.

Shinnick said he took action because of some comments officers posted on social media. The now-former Sgt. Jeremy May said it involved a complaint that he and other officers had raised about the mayor’s wife Pam Shinnick, who had served as the town clerk.

“This all comes to personal vendetta from the mayor, and I wholeheartedly believe that,” May told WRCB-TV. “We took a stand for transparency, and in result, every one of them has lost their jobs.”

The now-former Cohutta Police Chief Greg Fowler told WRCB that he couldn’t comment in detail as the officers were clearing out the police department and removing equipment from the building this week. The mayor told the station he’s not sure what will happen next.

Phone calls and emails left Friday by The Associated Press for Shinnick and the town’s attorney were not immediately returned.

With no police officers working, the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office said in a brief statement that deputies will help the townspeople if they need it. Cohutta, just south of the Tennessee line, is about 100 miles (161 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.

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Georgia

If Georgia Democrats want to win the governorship, we must let Republicans in

Published

12 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

If Georgia Democrats want to win the governorship, we must let Republicans in

Opinion

Former GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan has the best shot at defeating the GOP in November’s general election.

Democratic candidate for governor Geoff Duncan walks in to file paperwork to run for election at the Capitol in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

By Michèle Taylor – For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

42 minutes ago

I was fresh out of college when I worked on my first presidential campaign for the Democratic candidate in 1988.

Over the years, I have worked on campaigns across Georgia and the nation. I have served as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee’s national finance committee and as our country’s United Nations human rights ambassador under President Joe Biden.

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Biden and Obama both evolved in their political positions

Ambassador Michèle Taylor is a lifelong Democrat who served in the Biden administration. She is a professor of the practice at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. (Courtesy)

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Duncan showed he is willing to fight against Trump

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Georgia

Injured US military veterans find relief and awe swimming with a whale shark at Georgia Aquarium – The Boston Globe

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2026

Press Room

Injured US military veterans find relief and awe swimming with a whale shark at Georgia Aquarium – The Boston Globe

ATLANTA (AP) — Swimming with manta rays, giant groupers, and even a whale shark brought joy and excitement to a group of injured U.S. military veterans who got to experience the healing power of water and wildlife at the Georgia Aquarium.

The swim Wednesday at the aquarium in Atlanta also gave the U.S. service people who are part of the Wounded Warrior Project a much needed respite from their recovery and the stresses of life. The organization works with injured and wounded veterans and their families.

“It gives them, you know, 30 or 40 minutes to just relax,” said Jason Bush, manager of the aquarium’s Military Salute program, which once a week brings members of the armed forces to swim or dive with marine animals.

Quentin Collins, with the Wounded Warrior Project, prepared to swim at the Georgia Aquarium.Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

A person took a video of the participants with the Wounded Warrior Project swimming at the Georgia Aquarium, on Wednesday.Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

“Whether it’s swimming in the water or scuba diving in particular, you’re weightless,” he added. “So physically, it takes away even for a moment physical pain that you feel when you’re on land.”

The military veterans snorkeled or swam with the giant whale shark, Yushan, stingrays, and a variety of other marine animals. After being rescued from a Taiwanese fish market several years ago, Yushan is the only whale shark in captivity in the Western Hemisphere, according to aquarium officials.

“They go in nervous and they come out saying it’s the best experience they’ve had in their life,” Bush said.

William Mund, a U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant who was wounded in Iraq, said the water helps with his blood flow. His swim with the whale shark was a “once-in-a-lifetime thing,” he said.

U.S. Army Col. Quentin Collins was wounded twice in Iraq – once by a mortar and then a second time when he drove over an improvised explosive device. Collins, who is paralyzed, said his favorite part was “surfing” with the whale shark.

Lee Menzies, with the Wounded Warrior Project, swam on Wednesday.Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Antwain D'Angelo Vaughn — Antwain D’Angelo Vaughn “Dee” with the Wounded Warrior Project participated in the Veterans Immersion Program on Wednesday.Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

“Actually, its wake pulled me with it,” a joyous Collins said. “So I was swimming forward and the next thing I know, I’m going backwards and I realized the whale shark is right below me.”

Quentin had not been in the water since 2020 because of his injuries. His son, Ian Collins, got to witness his it.

“It’s a wonderful thing to see my dad being able to enjoy things he couldn’t anymore,” he said. “It’s a great thing to see.”