Skip to main content

Warren Brinson makes bold prediction for Georgia freshman Elijah Griffin

On3 imageby:Jake Roweabout 9 hours

JakeMRowe

Elijah Griffin Georgia
Photo by Chad Simmons/On3

ATHENS, Ga. Warren Brinson spoke to media at UGA Pro Day on Tuesday, likely for the last time as a member of the Bulldog football program. He made sure to go out with a bang, making a bold statement regarding freshman defensive lineman Elijah Griffin.

“Next Jalen Carter,” Brinson said when asked about Griffin. “That’s it.”

Brinson was able to get a look at Griffin during bowl practices but he has also been in attendance for Georgia workouts and its first spring practice on Monday.

That comparison carries a lot of weight seeing as how Carter just might be the best defensive lineman in Georgia history. He was taken by Philadelphia with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Just one year later he was a key cog in the Eagles’ Super Bowl run that prevented Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City from winning their third straight title.

Carter won two National Championships at Georgia, serving as a co-starter in 2021 and then a disruptive force when healthy in 2022. The Apopka, Fla. native had six sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in his Georgia career, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Carter was downright unblockable at times, especially in 2022 as he anchored a Georgia defensive line that helped the team to a 15-0 record and its second National Title in as many seasons.

Griffin comes in with plenty of fanfare and expectation. He finished the 2025 recruiting cycle as the No. 3 overall prospect in the country according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that includes all four websites that publish recruiting rankings. Griffin was also the No. 1 defensive lineman in America and the No. 1 player in Georgia.

The Bulldogs began recruiting the talented defender when he was a freshman in high school and landed his commitment in October. He joined the team in December and has since generated consistent buzz.

You may also like