Breaking news: 5-star player decommit from Georgia bulldogs and flip to Indiana Hoosier over Alabama and Tennessee Vols….
Georgia received bright news for the 2026 recruiting class on Thursday. Four-star safety Zech Fort announced his commitment to the Bulldogs, choosing Georgia over Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Florida State.
The Long Beach, California native and IMG Academy standout is the No. 104 overall prospect, No. 8 safety and No. 17 recruit in Florida in the class of 2026 on the 247Sports Composite. He has the highest rating of the five commits in the Bulldogs’ 2026 recruiting class.
“Coach Smart, with what he’s done with the program,” Fort told 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Brian Dohn earlier this month on why Georgia was high on his list. “It’s a winning program. He played safety at Georgia, so him being a safety, why not have him teach me how to play the position because he played it?”
Fort was the only freshman in IMG Academy history to be named a team captain, and he has continued in that role as a sophomore and junior. He recorded 36 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and one pass breakup in his junior season.
His speed, instinct and explosiveness jump out in his tape, meaning he will likely play as an “enforcer” in the Georgia defense — a role that has been manned by the likes of Dan Jackson and Lewis Cine in past years.
His commitment adds to a long list of IMG Academy players that have committed to Georgia. Some of the most notable from that pipeline in recent years include Nolan Smith Jr., Warren Brinson and Daylen Everette.
Georgia co-defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson and defensive backs coach Donte Williams built a relationship with Fort over the past several years leading up to his commitment. Robinson and Williams have caught fire on the recruiting trail, as Fort is now part of a group of eight defensive back commits in the 2025 and 2026 classes, including six four-stars.
Fort most recently visited Georgia last fall when the Bulldogs beat Tennessee 31-17 on Nov. 16. He named a top six list of schools earlier this month before ultimately choosing Athens as his next
destination.
