Top edge defender recruit in Georgia may flip his commitment amid visits to premier college football programs
The battle for the top edge defender recruit in Georgia might be the most hotly contested recruiting contest in the entire nation. Isaiah Gibson has just shy of 40 FBS scholarship offers, six official visits set for this summer, and he's reportedly going to add even more here soon. While it is true he's technically […]
The battle for the top edge defender recruit in Georgia might be the most hotly contested recruiting contest in the entire nation. Isaiah Gibson has just shy of 40 FBS scholarship offers, six official visits set for this summer, and he's reportedly going to add even more here soon. While it is true he's technically committed to Lincoln Riley and USC at the moment, it certainly doesn't feel like that's going to last for long.
Gibson has been one of the fastest rising blue chip recruits in the nation for over a year now, and with every passing week since his junior season began it seems his recruitment has been heating up. But where will he most likely end up playing his college football, and why is every top program and recruiting service out there so interested?
Isaiah Gibson's Elite Talents
Gibson had already garnered significant attention coming off his stellar sophomore performance at Warner Robins High School in Georgia as he helped carry their defense to a state championship appearance in 2022. Warner Robins is one of the premier high school football programs in the entire state of Georgia, so for him to not only be starting, but put up some of the most impressive numbers on the team was special. Then his junior season happened and took his stock to a whole new level.
Gibson went off last fall, reportedly tallying nearly 20 sacks and 60 pressures off the edge, dominating every single opponent with ease. Then to follow that up he destroyed top players he faced on the recruiting circuit this spring at various events too. And this past week he cemented his five star status when both 247Sports and On3 released their updated rankings, both of them listing him firmly inside the Top 30. There is no debate. Gibson is the number one edge defender recruit in Georgia, and potentially the entire country.
Where will Isaiah Gibson end up signing?
Lincoln Riley has committed this offseason to completely revamping his defense at USC. And it looked like he took a major step in that direction landing Gibson's commitment this spring. Gibson met with USC in March and promptly made it known he was intending to play his college football there. However, as his summer official visit schedule started coming into view it was clear his recruitment was far from over.
Georgia just had an unofficial visit with him this past week (along with stud linebacker Zayden Walker) and look primed to flip him here soon as they're about to host his official visit on May 31st. However, the Bulldogs and Kirby Smart aren't the only other premier college football program in the mix.
Gibson is set to officially visit Shane Beamer and South Carolina on June 7th. Hugh Freeze and Auburn on June 10th. Billy Napier and Florida, June 14th. Then after that he's set to visit both Ohio State and Oklahoma within a few days of each other on the 18th and 21st according to On3 Sports. And that's not all! Anna Adams of 247Sports expects him to add the Tennessee Vols to the list here soon too (as you can see in her post below).
So who in the world is actually going to land Gibson?
"Georgia, I like where Georgia stands…and ultimately it's going to be hard for USC to keep Isaiah Gibson in the fold."
Those are the words of the recruiting king himself, Steve Wiltfong of On3. USC impressed him this spring, but Gibson is set to visit Georgia for the third time since January.
Georgia may be in front, but if we look at his most recent run of visits and comments there may be another top three in the mix.
After visiting Auburn he made it clear he wants to get back soon ("I just want to get out there"), setting up an official visit almost immediately after his unofficial with them this spring. Then he added an official with Ohio State late to the mix without much known contacts prior. Given their track record of defensive line and edge draft picks they could steal him late.
And lastly, prioritizing another visit to Tennessee here soon after just seeing them less than a month ago makes it seem like they're storming up the board for him late too. The surge of mock drafts with the Vols' James Pearce Jr. going number one overall certainly can't hurt their chances either.
It's going to continue being a hard fought recruiting battle for Isaiah Gibson for the next month or so, but after more than a half dozen official visits take place we should ultimately get some clarity on the future of perhaps the best edge defender in the nation.
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And if you want to watch some Isaiah Gibson highlights to see how he might fit with your favorite college football program you can check out the video below!
