Former Georgia football commit flips to UGA’s rival

In recent weeks, Georgia football has enjoyed a series of promising developments on the recruiting front, but not every moment has been smooth sailing.

One such moment came on November 8, 2024, when three-star defensive lineman Stephon Shivers decided to decommit from the Bulldogs.

While Shivers was among the lower-ranked players in Georgia’s 2025 class, his departure still represented a setback, as any decommitment can stir concern for a program.

However, just two weeks after his decommitment, Shivers wasted no time in finding a new home within the SEC.

The young defensive lineman quickly turned his attention to the University of Florida, and within a week, he made an official visit to the Gators’ campus.

Shortly thereafter, predictions began to emerge, indicating that Shivers would be committing to Florida. On November 18, the news was confirmed—he officially became a Florida Gator.

While it’s typically disappointing for Georgia fans to see one of their own flip to a rival, this situation feels somewhat different.

Despite his potential, Shivers was not one of the highest-ranked recruits in Georgia’s class. In fact, the Bulldogs already had several other defensive linemen committed who are ranked higher than Shivers.

Georgia is also in the running for a few more top-tier recruits who could further bolster their defensive line in the near future.

In the grand scheme of things, Shivers’ decision to join Florida likely won’t have a significant impact on Georgia’s future.

The Bulldogs continue to build an impressive roster, and losing one recruit, even to a rival, doesn’t feel like a major blow.

However, it will still be interesting to see how Shivers performs against Georgia over the next few seasons.

Given the nature of college football recruiting, it’s unlikely that there will be any lasting animosity between Shivers and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.

Ultimately, this move could work out well for both Shivers and the Bulldogs.

While Georgia fans will certainly hope that their program thrives, they will also be keeping an eye on Shivers’ career with the Gators.

As with any recruit, only time will tell how his choice will unfold. For now, though, both programs move forward, each with their own goals and expectations for the future.