Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are the favorites to land a recruit that recently decommitted from the Tennessee Vols.

On Wednesday, 2027 four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife officially decommitted from Tennessee.

The news had been expected for some time.

Georgia likes what it sees in four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife

Fife, 6-foot-5/290 pounds from Summerville, GA, is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 40 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 18 player in the state of Alabama (he plays high school football in Alabama currently).

The feeling is that Tennessee and Fife mutually parted ways.

“Sources indicate that this has been a bit of a mutual falling out that both sides knew wouldn’t end with Fife inking with Tennessee,” reported 247Sports’ Benjamin Wolk.

Tennessee landed a commitment from junior college defensive lineman Christian Mays earlier this month. The Vols knew that landing Mays would likely push Fife out the door. So in a sense, the Vols picked Mays over Fife.

Georgia, though, has always liked Fife — even before Mays committed to Tennessee.

If Fife ends up at Georgia, it’ll be interesting to compare his career to Mays’ career in a couple of years and see which program made the better evaluation.

Georgia is the better program right now, but Tennessee has a great defensive line coach in Rodney Garner, and I’m sure he was heavily involved in this decision.

The Bulldogs have had success before with recruits that Tennessee didn’t want — wide receiver Ladd McConkey comes to mind. Fife has a chance to join the group of Tennessee-castaways-turned-stars.

LSU and Ole Miss are also in the mix for Fife, so it’s not guaranteed that Georgia will land him, but it’s hard to see the Bulldogs missing on an in-state target if Smart decides to make a serious push.