or the second year in a row, Georgia is feasting in the Garden State.
The Bulldogs have added Darren Ikinnagbon to the 2025 class, the No. 1-ranked recruit in New Jersey, the second-straight year they’ve accomplished that feat. Ikinnagbon committed to Georgia on Saturday at the spring game, he told Dawgs247.
“The coaching staff, they’re a family. The environment over there and everything is nice,” Ikinnagbon told Dawgs247 earlier this spring. “There’s a drive there to win. Everything they do down there is to win.”
This was Ikinnagbon’s second visit to Georgia this spring. Ikinnagbon emerged as a major EDGE target for Georgia when outside linebackers coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe went to see him earlier in the year. Ikinnagbon visited for a big Georgia junior day, and immediately thrust Georgia into one of his favorites.
Ikinnagbon already has an official visit to Georgia scheduled for May 31-June 2.
Other programs who were high on Ikinnagbon’s list: Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, among others. Ikinnagbon ranks as the No. 1 player in the state of New Jersey. Listed as the No. 12 defensive lineman in the 247Sports rankings, Georgia has recruiting him in a EDGE role that could be a down defensive end all the way out to a standup outside linebacker depending on how his body develops. Ikinnagbon ranks No. 84 in the overall player rankings.
Ikinnagbon becomes Georgia’s seventh commitment in the 2025 class. He’s the third on the defensive side of the ball, joining linebacker Jadon Perlotte and defensive lineman Stephon Shivers.
247Sports scouting report from Hudson Standish
A scheme-versatile imposing presence on the defensive line with the athletic tools to blossom into one of the top defensive linemen in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Size hasn’t been third-party verified, but is believed to be hovering around 6-foot-5, 250 pounds with additional length in the arms. Flashes a quick first step off the line of scrimmage and demonstrates good foot and body quickness for his size. Wrestling multi-sport background shows up on tape as he has a keen understanding of leverage while engaged. Plays with a heightened sense of urgency that manifests in plenty of chase-down tackles in pursuit. At this stage of his development is more of a reactionary pass rusher, and will need to develop a deeper bag of moves to produce against the pass against College Football’s elite. Possesses the ideal combination of athleticism and physical tools to become an impact player at the high-major level with long-term NFL Draft early-round upside.
