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Decision Preview: Five-Star Defensive Tackle Justus Terry Announces Friday

Eric Nahlinby:Eric Nahlin•12/05/24
Justus Terry 2 copy 1
Photo by Chad Simmons/On3

The Texas Longhorns currently sit at No. 1 in the overall team recruiting rankings for the 2025 class but things could change in a hurry on Friday when five-star Justus Terry decides between Texas, Georgia, Auburn, and Alabama. You can tell by the teams involved how competitive this recruitment it is but to really hammer it home, Alabama is No. 2, Georgia is No. 4, and Auburn is No. 7 in the On3 rankings. 

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Terry, a nearly 6-foot-5, 280 pound defensive tackle, hails from Manchester, Georgia, a small town in the west central part of the state. As such, it’s no surprise the instate Bulldogs, who at one point held his commitment, have long been considered the favorites. But, proximity also helps the two Alabama schools as well.

His Recruitment 

Georgia offered Terry in the eighth grade and held his commitment from January of 2023 until March of 2024 when he pulled a shocker and flipped to USC. By May, he returned to Athens for his official visit and de-committed from USC a few weeks later. 

He took his Alabama official visit in June. 

Though Texas offered years ago, it wasn’t until mid-October when this recruitment truly got ‘real’. Steve Sarkisian and Kenny Baker used the Texas-Georgia game as a reason to get Terry in for his official visit from October 18-20. Inside Texas heard positives before and after the visit, though Georgia’s win in Austin made it seem like Terry would be that much more difficult for Texas to sign. 

Terry’s most recent visit was to Auburn from October 23-25. 

Handicapping 

Just like in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday against Texas, Kirby Smart holds home field advantage. Though Georgia kids frequently leave the state, proximity has allowed Smart to recruit Terry for a long time. Obviously Georgia is battle-hardened when it comes to winning these competitive recruitments. In fact, Georgia already holds a commitment from an instate five-star defensive tackle in Elijah Griffin. 

Huge Freeze is also no stranger to these recruitments. Who could forget Freeze’s time in Ole Miss, especially the 2013 class when the Rebels, yes the Rebels, landed five five-stars including defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche from Georgia?

Kalen DeBoer has done well to adjust to life in the Deep South, at least from a recruiting perspective, after moving from the Pacific Northwest. Alabama appears heavily invested in keeping the dynasty rolling. 

Texas is every bit the outsider in this recruitment as it is in the conference. Also, Texas is a solid 60-minute performance away from winning the conference. Perhaps there’s some symmetry here.

My prediction remains with Georgia but I’m not entirely counting out Texas, either. Both schools have needs at the position, and Texas’ just got greater.

Details 

Terry will announce at noon Eastern at Manchester High School. 

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He is the On3 Industry Ranking No. 9 player and No. 2 defensive lineman in the country.

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