College Football HQ

Heated SEC Rivals Emerge as Top Two for Nation's No. 8 Safety

Two teams seemingly always battling on the field and on the recruiting trail are at it again.
Joe Cox|
Georgia coach Kirby Smart has his Bulldogs as one of the two finalists for a top 2027 safety prospect.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart has his Bulldogs as one of the two finalists for a top 2027 safety prospect. | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

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Alabama Crimson TideGeorgia Bulldogs

If familiarity breads contempt, then there's plenty of contempt as two longtime SEC rivals are going head-to-head over a top prospect. This particular sight is hardly unusual. The two teams are not only intense rivals, they're perennial competitors for both the SEC crown and the top recruiting class in America.

Tide vs. Bulldogs-- again

Yes, Georgia and Alabama are at it again, this time on the recruiting trail. On the field, they've met in four of the last eight SEC championship games. Off the field, the battle might be even tighter. Rivals analyst Brett Greenberg reports that the two schools are the top two in the recruitment of four-star safety recruit Tavares Harrington.

Harrington told Greenberg that Georgia and Alabama stood out for him because of their respective cultures, noting "they produce players." Indeed, Georgia and Alabama are consistently near the top in attracting top recruiting talent and producing NFL Draft picks.

Harrington's history

Harrington could be the next star. The 6'3" defensive back from Chicago is ranked as the No. 8 safety prospect in the nation by Rivals' Industry Rankings, which also places him as the No. 100 player in the country. 247sports classifies Harrington as a cornerback and their industry rankings place him as the No. 101 player in the nation, albeit the No. 13 cornerback prospect.

Harrington has set visits for both schools, with Georgia slated to come first on June 5th, and Alabama next on June 19th. Rivals' prediction machine has Notre Dame as a leader, but Harrington seems to be focusing on the unsurprising pair of SEC powers.

The talent and development battle of UGA v. Bama

In a recent article, Rivals highlighted the programs that have grabbed the most five-star recruits in the last four recruiting cycles. Despite the retirement of Nick Saban, Alabama hasn't budged from the top spot, claiming 17 Rivals industry five-star recruits during that span.

But second place on that list is owned by Georgia, which has itself claimed 14 five-star recruits during the run. The Bulldogs stayed one recruit ahead of Texas, with Oregon claiming the fourth place spot with nine five-star recruits.

Likewise, Alabama has placed 34 players as NFL Draft picks over the past four Draft classes. That group includes 10 first-round picks. Georgia racked up 46 Draft picks in that span, which includes 13 first-round picks.

Harrington, whether he ultimately lands as a safety or a corner, fits the profile for recent defensive back recruits from either school. Given his 6'3" size and athleticism, Harrington projects as a player physical enough to handle outside receivers, but speedy enough to play in the middle of the field as needed. Heading toward visit time, the outstanding prospect is pondering whether to join the Tide or Bulldogs.

DeBoer
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama are a strong candidate for Tavares Harrington, | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Joe Cox
JOE COX

Joe is a journalist and writer who covers college and professional sports. He has written or co-written over a dozen sports books, including several regional best sellers. His last book, A Fine Team Man, is about Jackie Robinson and the lives he changed. Joe has been a guest on MLB Network, the Paul Finebaum show and numerous other television and radio shows. He has been inside MLB dugouts, covered bowl games and conference tournaments with Saturday Down South and still loves telling the stories of sports past and present.

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