What happens when a top SEC rival’s prized recruit walks into Athens and walks out with Georgia on his mind? Sparks fly, recruiting boards shift, and fanbases hold their breath.
In the ever-competitive arms race of college football recruiting, Kirby Smart just might be pulling off one of the most headline-grabbing heists of the 2026 cycle—and it’s aimed directly at arch-rival Auburn.
Enter Shadarius Toodle, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive juggernaut from Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile, Alabama. Ranked No. 168 nationally, No. 9 among linebackers, and sitting comfortably as a Top 10 prospect in Alabama per the 247Sports Composite, Toodle’s name has been echoing through recruiting war rooms across the country. His versatility, instincts, and sideline-to-sideline speed have made him a must-have prospect for elite programs like LSU, Michigan, Miami, and, of course, the SEC titans: Auburn and Georgia.
Toodle stunned Tiger fans when he pledged to Auburn during last year’s Big Cat Weekend, crediting Hugh Freeze and D.J. Durkin’s player-first culture and Auburn’s deeply rooted “family feel” as the clinching factors. At the time, Toodle didn’t just commit—he declared the Plains felt like home.
But now? The ground is shifting—and fast.
This past weekend, Toodle was among nine elite recruits hosted in Athens for Georgia’s famed “Scavenger Hunt” recruiting event. This isn’t your typical campus visit—it’s a masterclass in branding, bonding, and Bulldog culture. The event is designed to dazzle, and for Toodle, it did more than that—it redefined his recruitment.
Following a full day shadowing Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker, Toodle didn’t mince words:
“Georgia is number one on my board.”
Yes, you read that right. A flip from Auburn to Georgia—long considered a recruiting betrayal of the highest order—could now be on the horizon.
Recruiting Earthquake Incoming?
According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, a respected voice in college recruiting circles, the Bulldogs now lead the race for Toodle’s signature. And when Wiltfong says the flip is in play, you can bet the phones in both Auburn and Athens are burning hot.
If Kirby Smart pulls this off, it won’t just be another win on the trail—it would be a direct blow to a conference rival and a symbolic victory in the ever-escalating SEC power struggle. Let’s not forget, Georgia’s recruiting machine has been steamrolling the nation since Smart took over, and flipping an in-state SEC commit only adds to that mystique.
What’s Fueling Toodle’s Shift?
While Auburn once offered Toodle a comforting home, Georgia is offering him a launchpad to greatness. The Bulldogs, back-to-back national title contenders with a linebacker lineage second to none, offer something few programs can match: elite development, relentless competition, and national exposure.
And walking the hallowed halls of Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, seeing Georgia’s NFL factory in action, and rubbing shoulders with players like Walker—who may soon hear his name called on Sundays—left an undeniable impression.
Toodle is no longer just thinking about comfort—he’s thinking about legacy.
The Bigger Picture: NIL, Glory, and the Georgia Effect
While neither program has publicly discussed NIL specifics, the growing influence of branding and long-term exposure cannot be ignored. Georgia, armed with a pipeline to the pros and one of the most watched defenses in the nation, has become an NFL springboard. If Toodle’s goal is Sunday stardom, Athens might just be his new home.
But don’t count Auburn out yet. Hugh Freeze is a relentless recruiter and won’t let this elite prospect walk without a fight. The Tigers have momentum, a rabid fanbase, and an underdog chip on their shoulder—exactly the kind of energy that fuels shocking Signing Day comebacks.
The Verdict: Drama Brews in Dixie
Shadarius Toodle’s recruitment just went from quiet commitment to full-blown SEC soap opera. With Georgia now surging to the top of his list and predictions leaning toward a flip, the question becomes: will the Bulldogs seal the deal? Or will Auburn dig deep and reclaim their defensive gem?
One thing’s certain—this isn’t just a recruiting battle. It’s a culture war, a test of coaching charisma, and a litmus test of NIL-era influence.
And like all great SEC stories, this one is far from over.
