Georgia To Host 5-Star TE After Missing Out On Mark Bowman To USC originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Georgia is in the hunt for another elite tight end after missing out on five-star Mark Bowman on Friday.
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Head coach Kirby Smart and position coach Todd Hartley put a lot of stock in recruiting tight end talent to Athens, making Bowman a key target in the 2026 class.
Bowman (6-foot-4.5, 225 pounds) plays for high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California. He is rated as the No. 1 tight end, the No. 4 player in the state and the No. 16 recruit overall in the class (247Sports).
The Bulldogs hosted Bowman in November for the decisive win over SEC rival Tennessee and are scheduled for an official visit on June 13.
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
However, that upcoming trip isn’t a given considering Bowman’s pledge to the Trojans.
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Bowman is coming off a visit to Ole Miss and is scheduled to visit Alabama over the weekend.
Friday’s disappointing news for Smart and Co. could be short lived if a good impression is made over the weekend. Georgia plans to host a large group of elite recruits, including five-star tight end Kaiden Prothro.
Prothro has been on UGA’s radar dating back to his middle school days. He plays for in-state high school Bowdon and ranks as the No. 2 tight end, the No. 6 player in the state and the No. 42 recruit overall.
The 6-foot-6, 210 pound tight end caught 56 passes for 1,203 yards with and 22 touchdowns as a junior in 2024. Also a basketball star, Prothro averaged 20.7 points, 16.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game on the hardwood last season.
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The Bulldogs made Prothro’s final five schools in February, also including Texas, Auburn, Alabama and Florida. Georgia will be the first program out of his contenders to receive and official visit.
While Bowman will likely still be pursued by Georgia, locking down a talent like Prothro would provide a cornerstone piece to an already talented class.
UGA currently holds the No. 5 class nationally with 10 commitments, including No. 1 quarterback Jared Curtis.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
