Georgia trending for Five-Star Plus+ DL Elijah Griffin after weekend visit

The state of Georgia is loaded when it comes to the 2025 football recruiting class, and the program in Athens is looking to take full advantage of that fact.

There is no bigger target in the Peach State this cycle than Savannah (Ga.) Five-Star Plus+ defensive lineman Elijah Griffin, the nation’s No. 3 overall recruit and No. 1 defensive lineman. Programs across the country have been lining up over the past year and a half in hopes of landing him, but the home-state Bulldogs have always been the biggest threat to do so.

And after a weekend unofficial visit, the buzz around Kirby Smart and Co. is only growing stronger. On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons logged a pick on Monday afternoon for the Bulldogs to win out with Griffin, pushing them heavily into the lead in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

“Leading up to this weekend, I have viewed Georgia as the favorite to land Griffin,” Simmons wrote in explaining the pick. “After this weekend, the buzz is even higher around the Bulldogs. Griffin had his grandmother on campus for the first time. His younger sister loved it in Athens. His mother is very comfortable with the staff and Georgia continues to sit in a good spot for the No. 1 prospect in their state.

After talking to sources, I have logged a pick for Georgia on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. South Carolina is viewed as Georgia’s biggest competition. Griffin is visiting Florida this weekend, then Clemson on Jan. 27. Griffin has always talked about making a decision late in the process, but there is a chance he decides to commit earlier. That is something still being discussed.”

Griffin has been high on the Bulldogs for a while

Few prospects in any class have been more coveted by Georgia than Griffin, who has made the four-hour drive from Savannah to Athens on more than a dozen occasions. UGA was the first program to offer him back in September of 2020, when he was just a freshman.

“I have a blast every time I am there,” Griffin told Simmons after his visit. “I have been back and forth from Athens to Savannah so many times that I have those relationships. And I have relationships with the players and the coaches, and it honestly feels like I am sitting in my own living room when I am hanging out with those guys.”

From top to bottom, Georgia’s staff has made him feel like their top priority this cycle, and even their commitments have made a push to get him in the class.

“Georgia just keeps showing more love. I spent time with Coach Kirby Smart, Coach Tray Scott, Coach Dell McGee, Coach David Cooper and almost everyone. I hung out with Warren Brinson, some other players, commits like Bo Walker and Justus Terry. And I just feel comfortable up there.”

This visit was a little different for Griffin though. It was his first time seeing a Georgia basketball game, but even more important, it was the first time he had his grandmother with him.

“She means everything to me. She met the coaches, she got to talk to the people I always talk to at Georgia and I just wanted her to meet the people there. I love her so much and she has been there from day one for me, so I wanted her to get a feel for Georgia, too.”