The recruiting wars between Miami and Georgia continue to heat up, and this time, the tug-of-war is over one of the top running backs in the 2026 class, Jae Lamar. The Colquitt County (GA) star is rated a four-star prospect and has long been on national powers’ radar, but the Canes and Dawgs are emerging as the two most aggressive suitors.
Miami running backs coach Matt Merritt made his interest known early, visiting Colquitt County High School to see Lamar in early May. According to Stephen Wagner of CaneSport (On3), Merritt is expected to return to Moultrie this Thursday, making it clear that the Hurricanes are pushing hard to pull the elite ball-carrier out of Georgia.
Lamar, who showcases power, vision, and breakaway speed, fits the mold of recent high-level backs to come out of the Peach State. Keeping elite in-state talent home for Georgia has been a hallmark of Kirby Smart’s recruiting machine. New running backs coach Josh Crawford continues that tradition, with Lamar firmly planted on UGA’s board as a high-priority target. Smart and Crawford will no doubt be pitching Lamar on the history of developing NFL running backs like Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, D’Andre Swift, and James Cook.
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Adding fuel to the fire in this recruiting showdown is that Miami recently scored a major recruiting victory over Georgia, landing five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 class. That win sent shockwaves through the recruiting world and stated that Mario Cristobal and his staff are not backing down from going toe-to-toe with the SEC’s elite.
And of course, the two programs have shared headlines all offseason thanks to the transfer portal drama involving former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. After helping lead the Bulldogs to an SEC Championship and CFP berth, Beck shocked the college football world by entering the portal and ultimately choosing to return home to Florida to lead the Hurricanes. His move to Miami added another layer of intrigue between two programs whose paths continue to cross in high-stakes roster management situations.
With Jae Lamar’s recruitment in full swing and an official visit to Athens this summer, Georgia and Miami are poised for yet another head-to-head clash — this time for one of the premier backs in the 2026 cycle.
Related: David Pollack Slams Hurricanes Over Reported NIL Deal for 5-Star Recruit
