Michigan Commit, Nation's No. 1 Kicker Ruled Ineligible After Transfer to Georgia Power Milton

Ryan Jung transferred from IMG Academy to defending Georgia power Milton, but an eligibility ruling could sideline one of the nation's top special teams prospects for the entire 2026 season.

IMG Academy's Ryan Jung (25) runs off the field after kicking a point after try during the first quarter of a high school football matchup at Mandarin High School, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The IMG Academy Ascenders defeated the Mandarin Mustangs 57-7. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Ryan Jung can kick a football a long way, like a really long way. But moving from Florida to Georgia, it turns out, is harder.

Jung, the No. 1 kicker in the Class of 2028, per Kohl's Kicking, is a Michigan commit. He transferred from IMG Academy to Milton this offseason. However, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has ruled him ineligible. Milton coach Ben Reaves confirmed the ruling and said the family is appealing.

Why Jung Was Ruled Ineligible

The case has become a test of Georgia's transfer rules. Specifically: what counts as a family move when the student hasn't been living with the family.

Under GHSA rules, most transfer students must wait 365 days before becoming eligible for varsity competition unless they qualify for one of several exceptions, including a bona fide family move. The student has to relocate at the same time as the entire family unit into the new school's service area. The old residence has to be given up. The new one has to be permanent.

And this is where Jung’s specific situation gets a bit muddy.

Jung boarded at IMG in Bradenton. His family did not live there. His mother and sister came from the Nashville area. His father came from Duluth. Jung came from IMG. Then they established a residence near Milton. There was no single household for him to leave.

"I was pretty shocked because I thought I was going to be eligible because we followed all the rules," Jung told On3. "According to the rules, we should be eligible."

The GHSA hasn't released the ruling, so the exact reasoning remains private. The reporting points to the bona fide move as the sticking point.

Another GHSA exception applies only to students transferring from non-member schools within Georgia, meaning it does not apply to IMG Academy in Florida.

Milton Appeals the Decision

Milton has appealed, and the decision will first go to the executive director or a designee, then to the Hardship Committee. A hardship generally has to involve circumstances beyond the family's control.

The next hardship meeting is Aug. 18. Milton's first game vs. North Cobb is Aug. 21. The GHSA hasn't said whether Jung is on the agenda for that meeting.

A Bigger Question for GHSA

The appeal will determine whether one of the nation's top kicking prospects takes the field this fall for Milton. It could also shape how the GHSA interprets future transfer cases involving boarding-school athletes whose families relocate after they enroll elsewhere.