Georgia lands former USC commit, four-star edge rusher Isaiah Gibson
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and his staff have done it again.
Just a few days after four-star Isaiah Gibson backed off his commitment to USC, Smart and staff members helped the Bulldogs land a pledge from the 6-foot-5, 240-pound edge rusher.
Gibson has always had a great relationship with the two Georgia coaches, and they never gave up. The Warner Robins, Georgia, native has always had a good relationship with the staff.
Gibson told UGASports that Smart was the first coach to call him after he committed to USC.
"Right when I committed (to USC), I want to say coach (Kirby) was the first person to text me. He told me Georgia would be in it until the end, and I respect that, man," Gibson said in May. "They weren't too pushy or on my tail about it. I heard from the whole UGA staff in 30 minutes."
Georgia was relentless in recruiting Gibson, one of the nation's top edge rushers. He was in Athens for its Scavenger Hunt event on May 17 and returned two weeks later for his official visit.
During those two visits, the staff, specifically Smart, the pitch was that Georgia would be in it for the long haul. He knew Smart didn't want a coveted player such as himself to leave the state.
Gibson highlighted the staff was original in its approach and didn't shy away from their plan.
"By staying original," Gibson said of Georgia's pitch during his official visit in May. "They stay original. They are who they are. They say who they are, and they show who they are also."
Gibson also visited South Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida, and Ohio State. The Rivals200 prospect backed off his commitment to USC shortly after visiting the Buckeyes on June 18.
Gibson was originally supposed to take his final official visit to Oklahoma from June 21-23, but plans changed when he decided to return to Athens for the third time in just over a month.
UGASports confirmed he was visiting Georgia again, and the rest was history. Gibson joins Stephon Shivers, Christian Garrett, and Darren Ikinnagbon as the other defensive line commits.
"I just love being around the staff. They're amazing (and Georgia) feels like home to me," Gibson said. "(Athens) feels like Warner Robins. Georgia is Georgia. It would just be a good fit."