Duo Elite Four-Star Wide Receivers Craig Dandridge and Rusty Mansell Commit to Georgia Bulldogs in Major SEC Recruiting Coup
ATHENS, GA — In a bold stroke that reshapes the 2025 college football recruiting landscape, the Georgia Bulldogs landed a powerhouse wide receiver duo—Craig Dandridge and Rusty Mansell—both four-star talents, who announced their commitment to head coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs program over a host of elite programs, including Florida, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Stanford, and Tennessee.
The announcement came during a nationally televised commitment ceremony in Atlanta, where both players, dressed in matching custom Georgia letterman jackets, declared their intent to “run with the Dawgs.” It marks one of the most significant dual commitments for Georgia in recent years—especially at the wide receiver position, a group the Bulldogs have aggressively targeted for retooling under offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
Craig Dandridge, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound receiver out of Miami Northwestern High School, is known for his explosive acceleration and acrobatic catch radius. Widely regarded as one of the most physically gifted pass-catchers in the Southeast, Dandridge turned heads at the Under Armour All-America Camp, clocking a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash and showcasing elite footwork in drills. Ranked as the No. 7 receiver nationally by 247Sports, Dandridge cited Georgia’s “professionalism, toughness, and winning culture” as key reasons for choosing Athens.
“They develop dogs here. I want to compete, win championships, and get ready for the league,” Dandridge said. “Coach Smart keeps it real. He told me what I needed to hear, not just what I wanted.”
Joining him is Rusty Mansell, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound route technician from Buford High School in Georgia, who led the Wolves to a 7A state title last season with 1,312 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Mansell, named Georgia’s Gatorade Player of the Year, drew praise for his elite route running, high football IQ, and clutch playmaking in big games. A legacy name in Georgia prep football, his commitment carries symbolic weight for the Bulldogs’ in-state dominance.
“This is home,” Mansell stated. “I’ve been wearing red and black since I was five. Kirby Smart built a dynasty, and I’m ready to be part of that next chapter.”
The commitment of Dandridge and Mansell gives Georgia two top-15 receivers in a single class for the first time since 2019. Their decisions were hard-fought wins over SEC rival Florida, where Billy Napier aggressively pursued both prospects, and Stanford, which intrigued Dandridge with academic prestige. Oklahoma and Tennessee also hosted the pair on official visits this spring, but neither could match Georgia’s unified vision and SEC pedigree.
This high-profile recruiting haul is another signal that Georgia remains the team to beat in the SEC and nationally. With Smart’s defensive foundation now matched by an influx of elite offensive talent, the Bulldogs are positioning themselves not just for SEC dominance—but for another national championship run.
“They’re not just getting athletes,” Smart said after the announcement. “They’re getting Dawgs.”
