Apart from an on-field competition, there has been a simultaneous buzz about the recruiting game shaping the reality of college football for the upcoming years. A fascinating anecdote? Many of the future architects of the Big 12 or SEC giants are now honing their craft in a blazing high school season. The regular season of high school football is heading to the home stretch across the nation. Consequently, the top prospects of the 2026 cycle are on the constant watch of the CFB coaches. Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth’s PJ Dean has been the prime among them. The kid sparked a silent race between two powerhouses, Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide. Kirby Smart, however, seems to have an edge over the Bama, and here’s why.

With the new year approaching, college football juggernauts started to seize their 2026 roster with an early jump on the most bonafide high school prospects. While the talents brewing at the schools are numerous, we are, for now, keeping our focus on PJ Dean, the 6-foot-3, 325-pound kid who takes the high school football world to the storm with his insane speed and unfathomable athletic prowess. Quite not a surprise; the Bulldogs and Bama are reportedly eying to sign him like anything. But what will be the deciding factor for the No. 13 IOL?

ON3‘s recruitment head, Josh Newberg noted, ”I spoke with him this week, you know, and he named three schools for me and that starts with Georgia. his, brother Jared Wilson starts at Center at the University of Georgia. They’re connected, obviously.”

Dean isn’t a guy who is very much vocal about exploring the programs. Despite giving off the beast energy inside the gridiron, the high school phenom is pretty low-key on his future moves. When he opened up on his choices, it wasn’t something to be taken with a grin of salt.

From the physique, with excellent functional strength, to a sky-high frame, the guy has everything that allows him to aspire for the mammoth university years. But if he enters Georgia, can we see a better, updated version of Brother Jared Wilson? Well, time will gauge the rest.

Jared Wilson becomes Kirby Smart’s new favorite

Wilson, the standout starting center, suffered an injury during the week 5 SEC game. ‘‘He missed some time. He did some really good things, some really athletic things, and then he had a couple of plays that he didn’t make. He was the first guy that came up to me walking off the field and said he screwed up a couple of plays, but that’s football.” said Kirby Smart when asked about Wilson. But what he did at the match against Clemson spoke for the elite he is becoming.

Despite a sluggish start against Clemson, Wilson scored 100 per cent snap accuracy. As the Bulldogs’ head coach said, he has usually been in 95-96 per cent snap accuracy until one match in the season. The phenom beat his own records when reached his full potential in a crucial week 5 game.

The No.2 in the current AP Poll ranking will certainly add another asset to their jam-packed roster if they bring in PJ Dean from the same bloodline as Wilson.

What’s your take on family ties behind PJ Dean’s potential Alabama vs Georgia pick? Let us know in the comments.