It turns out that the Georgia Bulldogs are mortal, at least on the recruiting trail.
Kirby Smart and his staff had secured a commitment from 4-star linebacker Jadon Perlotte all the way back in 2022. However, the Buford, Georgia native changed his mind and flipped his commitment to the USC Trojans on Tuesday, July 30.
Hayes Fawcett announced the flipped commitment via X.
BREAKING: Four-Star LB Jadon Perlotte has Flipped his Commitment from Georgia to USC, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 30, 2024
The 6’4 205 LB from Buford, GA had been Committed to the Bulldogs since December 2022
“Go Trojans✌️✌️✌️”https://t.co/1i2tZ4z9OK pic.twitter.com/7zobolu8eo
A 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker, Perlotte had multiple offers from top-tier programs. Those offers included Georgia and USC, along with the Florida State Seminoles, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Ohio State Buckeyes. After initially deciding to stay close to home and play for the Bulldogs, Perlotte is now heading to the West Coast.
It's tough to lose an in-state recruit, but the Bulldogs should still be in good shape. According to On3, they still have the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the country. The class is headlined three players who are the top-ranked recruit at their respective positions. Those players are EDGE Isaiah Gibson, TE Elyiss Williams, and linebacker Zayden Walker.
The Walker commitment may have played a factor in Perlotte's decision to flip commitments. A fellow in-state linebacker, Walker is the top-100 ranked player nationally and one of the top players in the state of Georgia. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, his athletic profile and ranking would give him an initial step up on Perlotte for eventual playing time.
It'll be some time before these top recruits see the field for Georgia. Unfortunately, one of those players won't be Perlotte as he attempts to become a household name in Los Angeles.
