This Sentell’s Intel rep on Georgia football recruiting has the latest with 4-star DL Preston Carey. He ranks as the nation’s No. 36 DL and the No. 309 overall prospect for 2026 on the 247Sports Composite. The On3 Industry Ranking has him as the No. 30 DL and No. 298 overall.
Preston Carey is also a Georgia Bulldog. This run is definitely hotter than the top of a water tower in Tifton in the middle of July.
The 4-star DL at IMG Academy is now the third commitment of the day, 18th commitment of the month and the 11th commitment of the last nine days.
“It feels really good,” said Carey, who was working out at 6 a.m. on the morning of his commitment day. “There’s a lot to be done.”
The addition of Carey now swells the 2026 Georgia football class up to 26 public commitments, with a handful of other targets who have secured their spots in this class still to come in the month of July.
“I’m thankful to be a Dawg,” he said.
What was it ultimately about Georgia?
“I think Tray Scott, like I said, has been recruiting me since the eighth grade,” Carey said.
Carey, who was once a quarterback growing up, said he felt the love from both Scott and former Georgia assistant coach Fran Brown back when he was coming up out of middle school.
“I’m really excited,” Carey said at his live-streaming ceremony. “I’m trying to hold my composure but I feel ready to run through a brick wall right now.”
The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder played for the national team at IMG Academy for his junior season. His decision came down to Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Rutgers.
He projects to be a first and second down run defender for the Bulldogs in the SEC.
Check out his junior film below:
Preston Carey: What he loves about the Georgia football program
He also had one big takeaway about the Dawgs from his official visit earlier this summer. That’s the visit that set the bar quite high.
Some of that came from the insight he got from current Bulldogs Jordan “Big Baby” Hall and Christen Miller.
That’s what was repeated from Georgia defensive line coach Tray Scott, defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, and head coach Kirby Smart.
“You know everything you hear is true,” Carey said. “Tray Scott develops. The most first-round picks in the past five years at the defensive line. They preach that as well. They talk about how elite a coach Coach Scott is and how he gets you right. The players preach that only a certain breed of people come to Georgia. You have got to want to work. You have got to want to grind, and then you’ll reap the benefits.”
That fits what Carey is looking for.
He doesn’t mind hearing how hard it will be to be a Georgia Bulldog. He loves challenges. That’s why he moved away from his home just outside of New York to play for the national team at IMG Academy. He wanted to go against elite competition every day in practice while he was still in high school.
“I like it,” he said. “I’ve always had to work hard my whole life to be where I am today and just like any other person that wants to be elite you’ve got to work your butt off and you know at Georgia, people reap the benefits when they work their butt off and so, you know, why wouldn’t I love that? That’s what I’ve done my whole life.”
“I love challenges. I love new environments. I love when coaches demand the best out of you because they see your best still inside of you, but they love you hard and coach you hard. I love that, and you know that’s definitely all the vibes I got at UGA on my official visit.”
Have you seen this week’s “Before the Hedges” weekly recruiting special on YouTube yet? Check it out below.
SENTELL’S INTEL
(Check on the recent reads on Georgia football recruiting)
