Georgia trending for coveted 2025 4-star OT Jaelyne Matthews

Georgia is close to locking down the No. 1 class in the 2024 On3 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings, but the Bulldogs are also making moves in 2025.

Kirby Smart and Co. already hold the second-ranked class in ’25 with six commits, all of whom rank as four-star prospects. The Bulldogs are now trending to add another one in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

After updated predictions from around the recruiting industry, the Bulldogs hold a 91.1% chance of landing 2025 four-star offensive tackle Jaelyne Matthews out of Tom’s River (N.J.) North High.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder decommitted from Penn State on Tuesday morning after previously pledging to the Nittany Lions on January 31.

“After careful consideration I have decided to respectfully decommit from Penn State,” Matthews wrote on Twitter. ”This has been a difficult decision, as I have the utmost respect for the university, its coaches, and the entire Penn State community.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the coaching staff, faculty, and fans at Penn State for their unwavering support and belief in me. The recruiting process has been an incredible journey, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity that Penn State offered me.l

“After much reflection and discussion with my family and mentors, I believe it is in my best interest to explore other options for my academic and athletic future. This decision was not made lightly, and it comes after countless hours of thought and contemplation.”

Bulldogs looking to land one of the country’s elite offensive tackles

Matthews had offers from across the country before picking Penn State. And a number of schools threw their hat into the ring despite his previous commitment status. That list includes Florida, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Michigan in May.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, offered all the way back in April of 2022 and have remained in pursuit since.

Matthews is the No. 83 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 11 offensive tackle and the No. 1 junior recruit in New Jersey.

Georgia already has one offensive tackle committed in the 2025 class: top-20 overall prospect Micah DeBose out of Mobile (Ala.) Vigor High. The Bulldogs also have commitments from projected five-stars Justus Terry and Elyiss Williams as well as top-50 overall recruit Jadon Perlotte in the cycle.