Georgia’s No. 1 linebacker names his top-five schools

Four-star linebacker recruit Ja’Bios Smith has announced his top five schools, per Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett. Smith is an athletic and versatile linebacker with elite upside, as the Georgia native is expected to continue narrowing down his options this summer.

Smith’s top five schools include Texas Tech, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The Georgia Bulldogs have remained a top landing spot for the talented linebacker throughout his recruitment process, and Smith would prove to be an excellent addition to the Dawgs’ defense of the future. Smith currently has official visits scheduled with South Carolina (May 1), Florida (May 28), Texas (June 5), Texas A&M (June 12), and Georgia (June 19). Smith previously visited Georgia on April 8.

Smith is ranked as the No. 12 linebacker and the No. 141 player from the 2027 cycle, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is listed as the No. 13 recruit in Georgia, as Smith could stay home and play for the Bulldogs in 2027. The 6-foot-3, 195 pound linebacker flashed his potential on numerous occasions at Swainsboro High School.

Georgia has targeted a plethora of talent from the class of both 2027 and 2028 this offseason. The Bulldogs were recently named as a top five school for five-star OL Mark Matthews, while Georgia has submitted an offer for 2028 quarterback Kaden Kraft as well.

Georgia inside linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann have done an elite job of recruiting linebacker prospects in recent years. The Bulldogs have eight commitments in the class of 2027, but none at linebacker. That will change soon as we approach the early signing period in December.

Ja'Bios Smith top schools