The college football season may still be weeks away, but for the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, the war has already begun. And this time, the battlefield is not Sanford Stadium or Bryant-Denny. It’s the living room of top-tier recruits, social media timelines, and whispered promises behind closed doors. The recruiting war between Georgia and Alabama has reached fever pitch, and at the center of it all stands a five-star linebacker named Khamari Brooks.
Georgia and Alabama have built their recent legacies on the foundation of elite recruiting, and this offseason has underscored that reality more than ever. With Brooks, arguably the most dominant defensive player in the 2025 class, announcing his final two schools, tensions between the two SEC giants have escalated to a whole new level.
For Georgia, defending back-to-back-to-back SEC East titles means nothing if they cannot continue to dominate in the recruiting trenches. Kirby Smart and his coaching staff have made Brooks the No. 1 priority, pulling out all stops in the recruitment process. Georgia has offered Brooks an unprecedented level of attention, including personalized film breakdowns, exclusive NIL opportunities, and even a private tour of the Bulldogs’ newly unveiled $80 million football operations facility.
Alabama, however, refuses to back down. With Kalen DeBoer stepping into the massive shoes left by Nick Saban, he understands that securing a talent like Brooks is critical to asserting Alabama’s continued relevance on the national stage. DeBoer has made Brooks the statement recruit of his new era, utilizing the support of Tide legends and NFL alums to win over the young linebacker’s camp.
Sources close to both programs have described the rivalry as “intense and personal.” Georgia believes Brooks is the heir to the Roquan Smith legacy, while Alabama sees him as the next Will Anderson. The emotional investment from both fan bases is palpable, flooding message boards and social media with predictions, pressure, and propaganda.
What makes this early clash so intriguing is the psychological advantage it could provide ahead of the 2025 season. If Georgia lands Brooks, it sends a clear signal that Smart’s dominance in the region remains untouched. If Alabama wins out, it would be DeBoer’s signature victory in his first full recruiting cycle, injecting new life into a program adjusting to life after Saban.
No matter the outcome, this battle has proven that the SEC’s fiercest rivalry isn’t limited to Saturdays in the fall. The competition for Khamari Brooks is a microcosm of a deeper struggle—one between titans of the sport, each vying for supremacy in an era where talent acquisition is everything. Georgia vs. Alabama has already begun, and the echoes of this off-season showdown will be felt for years to come.