No. 2 IOL in the Country Commits to Bulldogs

© Bob Self/Florida Times-Union/USA TODAY NETWORK

Consensus four-star interior lineman Cortez Smith committed to the Georgia Bulldogs. ESPN rates Smith as the No. 2 IOL prospect in the 2025 cycle and the No. 80 overall recruit. A resident of the suburban Atlanta area, Smith received offers from Florida State, LSU, Miami, Oregon and other top programs but decided to stay in his home state and play in the trenches for coach Kirby Smart's Dawgs.

The principal Georgia representatives responsible for Smith's recruitment are offensive line coach Stacy Searels and assistant coach Todd Hartley.

Cortez Smith

Smith is 6-foot-3 and weighs 315 pounds. As a true center, he is a unique recruit. OL coach Searels compared Smith to former Bulldog center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. who was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Smith is a standout performer in track and field. He won the Georgia 7A shot put state championship and was runner-up in the discus throw.

Bulldogs' 2025 Class

Smith is the 21st recruit to commit to the Bulldogs' 2025 class. He is the third OL commitment for Searels in this cycle, joining Mason Short and Dontrell Glover.

Here is a list of the 21 members of Georgia's 2025 recruiting class:

• Elyiss Williams, five-star TE 

• Isaiah Gibson, five-star EDGE

• Zayden Walker, five-star LB

• Ethan Barbour, four-star TE 

• Ryan Montgomery, four-star QB

• Mason Short, four-star IOL

• Stephon Shivers, four-star DT

• Bo Walker, four-star RB

• Thomas Blackshear, four-star WR

• Talyn Taylor, four-star WR

• Dontrell Glover, four-star IOL

• Jadon Perlotte, four-star LB

• Darren Ikinnagbon, four-star EDGE

• Landon Roldan, four-star WR

• Christian Garrett, four-star DL

• Todd Robinson, four-star DB

• Christian Garrett, four-star DL

• Jaylan Morgan, four-star S

• Rashad Johnson, four-star S

• Cortez Smith, four-star OL

• Tyler Williams, three-star WR

With the addition of Smith, Georgia regains the No. 3 position in the 247Sports team class rankings, vaulting up over LSU.

While Smith's NIL value is undisclosed, several members of the Bulldogs' 2025 class have inked 6-figure NIL Deals, led by QB Ryan Montgomery, whose deal is valued at $437,000.

Stay tuned to College Football Dawgs for continued reporting on the Georgia Bulldogs and other exciting college football news.