Georgia Lands 4-Star 2027 DB in Early Recruiting Battle Over Oregon, USC
In a dramatic early recruiting twist for the Class of 2027, the Georgia Bulldogs secured a pivotal commitment Monday from rising defensive back phenom Jamari “Jet” Caldwell, a 4-star recruit out of Long Beach Poly (CA). The win marks a key national recruiting victory for head coach Kirby Smart, as Georgia edged out fierce competition from the Oregon Ducks and the red-hot USC Trojans, both of whom had pushed hard for Caldwell’s pledge.
Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 185 pounds, Caldwell has already drawn comparisons to former Georgia greats like Kelee Ringo and Tyson Campbell. Known for his elite acceleration, ball skills, and physical presence at the line of scrimmage, Caldwell has been on national radars since his freshman year. He clocked a verified 4.43 40-yard dash during a regional combine in April and led his team in interceptions as a sophomore, with seven picks—two returned for touchdowns.
Georgia’s recruiting staff, led by assistant Fran Brown and new West Coast regional scout Marcus Dillard, made Caldwell a top priority early in the cycle. Sources close to the situation say Georgia began seriously courting Caldwell during a satellite camp in Las Vegas in early June. Within weeks, Caldwell made an unofficial visit to Athens, where he toured the new $80 million football facility, met with NFL-bound alumni, and stood on the Sanford Stadium field under the lights—an experience he later described as “surreal.”
“The visit to Georgia changed everything,” Caldwell said in a video announcement posted to his Instagram. “They made me feel like family. It’s not just about football there—it’s about building men, preparing for life after the game. I want to win championships and get developed by the best. Coach Smart and Coach Fran made it clear they believe in me.”
The commitment comes as a gut-punch to USC, which had been on a recruiting tear after landing five blue-chip defensive backs in the previous six months. Lincoln Riley and Trojans defensive backs coach Donte Williams reportedly met with Caldwell’s family three times this summer. Oregon, under head coach Dan Lanning, also hosted Caldwell for a private campus tour and had hoped to keep the SoCal standout in the Pacific Northwest.
Georgia fans immediately lit up social media in celebration, using the hashtag #JetToTheDawgs. Caldwell becomes the Bulldogs’ first defensive back commitment in the 2027 class and is expected to be a cornerstone recruit in a cycle that analysts say is already shaping up as one of Georgia’s strongest in recent memory.
While it’s early, Caldwell’s pledge is a symbolic blow to the idea that top West Coast talent will stay local. With Georgia now planting deeper recruiting roots in California, the battle for elite prospects is stretching coast to coast—and the Bulldogs are proving, once again, that they can
win anywhere.
