The college football recruiting trail is cooking up, and one name is making waves like a tsunami—Jae Lamar. The 4-star running back from Colquitt County High in Georgia has been living the dream, with top-tier programs practically rolling out the red carpet for him. But over the weekend, Lamar nearly let the cat out of the bag, giving fans and coaches alike a heart-stopping moment. With Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney keeping close tabs, this recruitment saga is shaping up to be a high-stakes showdown.

Lamar, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound speedster with a scorching 4.40-second 40-yard dash, has literally been short-listed by some of the big-time college football powerhouses. And while he’s been playing it cool, Georgia seems to have a serious edge in this race. “I would say like Georgia has a huge impact on my recruitment process,” Lamar admitted. “Just because of the simple fact of the family feel and the home feel there.” And when the reigning SEC Kings roll out the red carpet, it’s hard to ignore.

His strongest connection? Georgia running backs coach Josh Crawford. This ain’t just about Xs and Os—this is personal. “Before I was even a thing, before anyone even knew about me, Coach Crawford stopped by my school,” Lamar revealed. “He actually recruited my oldest brother when he was at Western Kentucky.” Crawford’s early belief in Lamar is paying dividends, with the Bulldogs sitting pretty in the race for his signature.

Georgia isn’t just trying to land one elite RB—they’re stacking talent like a championship-winning dynasty. And Lamar’s drawn to it. “The simple fact of it being RBU,” he said. “They have numerous great backs there. The player development, the way they run the ba-l. It’s just a lot of facts why I want to be there.”

During a recent interview, Lamar nearly let his commitment slip—a moment that had fans scrambling for answers. When discussing his upcoming official visits, he made it pretty clear that Georgia, Miami, and Auburn were in heavy rotation. “I want to go somewhere where I know that in three or four years, I’m going to be ready to take that next step to the NFL,” Lamar said. “Somewhere that’s actually developing me as a player.”

The moment of truth came when he started gushing about Georgia’s environment, coaching staff, and overall vibe. For a second, it felt like the decision was coming right then and there. But he caught himself—barely. Ryan Day and the Ohio State faithful must’ve held their breath. The Buckeyes are in this fight, but they might be playing from behind. Meanwhile, Swinney might be looking at an “L” unless he finds a way to flip the script fast.

The chase from Ohio State & Clemson for 2026 class RB: Jae Lamar

But hold on, this ain’t over yet. Ohio State has been making major moves in Jae Lamar’s recruitment, with running backs coach Carlos Locklyn leading the charge. The Buckeyes jumped in with an offer in November and haven’t let up since. Lamar acknowledged just how much that meant, saying, “It impacted my recruitment a lot.” He’s been watching Ohio State’s backfield closely, and the Buckeyes’ ability to churn out NFL talent has his full attention. But will it be enough to pull him out of SEC country?

Meanwhile, Clemson and Dabo Swinney are on the outside looking in. The Tigers have been lurking, but their grip on Lamar seems weak compared to Georgia and Ohio State. Ain’t gonna lie, Clemson seems out of the race now. Dabo Swinney might need a Hail Mary to pull off a recruiting miracle.

With official visits locked in for Georgia (May 30-June 1), Auburn, and Miami, the next few months will be crucial in determining Lamar’s future. Ohio State will need to make a big impression, while Clemson seems to be slipping away. But at this rate, the Bulldogs might just be a few months away from another elite running back joining their stacked roster.

Will Lamar shock the world and pick the Buckeyes? Or is this race already over, and he just hasn’t made it official yet? One thing’s for sure—this recruitment is reaching its boiling point, and when the decision drops, it’s gonna shake the college football world to its core.