Elite 2026 TE Kaiden Prothro names top five schools

One of the top soon-to-be senior prospects in the Peach State is down to his final five schools.

On Thursday, Bowdon (Ga.) four-star tight end Kaiden Prothro told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that he’s narrowed his list of top schools down to five. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Texas have made the cut for the 6-foot-6.5, 210-pounder.

Prothro is the No. 32 overall prospect and No. 2 TE in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player in Georgia.

Earlier this month, Prothro locked in four official visits to each of his finalists aside from Texas. He’s scheduled to see Georgia on May 30, Alabama on June 6, Auburn on June 10 and Florida on June 13.

“Great coaches, coaches that build relationships with their players and how a school develops my position are things that I look at,” Prothro told On3 in an interview in December when asked about what he’s looking for in a school.

As a junior for Bowdon, Prothro caught 56 passes for a whopping 1,203 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s racked up 39 scores and over 2,200 receiving yards across his first three seasons.

Prothro impressed at All-American Game last month

Last month at Under Armour All-America Game week, Prothro looked like one of the top 2026 prospects in the nation. His performance caught the attention of On3’s Scouting and Rankings team.

“Kaiden Prothro looked like the clear top tight end prospect in attendance at Under Armour. The 6-foot-6, 210-pounder was also one of the top 2026 pass-catchers on hand, along with Tristen Keys, who ranks as a top ten prospect for On3. While Prothro was quiet during Thursday’s game, he had two great days of practice, earning On3 MVP Honors on Day 2. He showed the athleticism and skill of a wide receiver while having the frame of a future tight end.

…The burst off the line, speed to pull away vertically, and ball-tracking skills stood out. Prothro had a best-on-best win over Five-Star Plus+ cornerback Naeem Offord in 1-on-1’s. The showing in Orlando backs up a big junior season that saw the top 100 prospect haul in 56 catches for 1,203 yards and 22 touchdowns.” – Scouting and Rankings Director Charles Power