Top Safety Stuns College Football by Choosing Georgia Over Michigan, Ohio State, and Alabama in Shocking Transfer Decision
By Carson Hill | College Football Insider | June 23, 2025
In a move no one saw coming, All-American safety Malik “Hawk” Reynolds, widely considered the top defensive back in the transfer portal, has sent shockwaves through the college football world by announcing his transfer to the University of Georgia, bypassing expected landing spots like Michigan, Ohio State, and Alabama.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had been a cornerstone of one of the nation’s top defenses at Oregon, where he earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. His combination of ball-hawking instincts, sideline-to-sideline speed, and bone-rattling tackling earned him the nickname “The Hawk” among teammates and NFL scouts alike.
Reynolds entered the transfer portal in early May, citing a desire to “find a program that aligns with my hunger for greatness and development.” With Michigan and Alabama long thought to be his top two, Georgia emerged quietly, then decisively.
> “After a lot of prayer, thought, and deep conversations with my family, I’ve decided to commit to the University of Georgia,” Reynolds said in a surprise video posted to social media. “I’m ready to lock in with the Dawgs and bring another championship back to Athens.”
The implications are massive.
Georgia, already reloading after a dominant 2024 campaign that ended in a heartbreaking College Football Playoff semifinal loss, now adds a game-changing talent to its secondary, arguably its only question mark heading into the 2025 season. Reynolds is expected to immediately step into a starting role and become the on-field general of Kirby Smart’s evolving defensive scheme.
> “He’s the smartest defensive back we’ve recruited or brought in since Eric Stokes,” said Kirby Smart during a hastily arranged press conference. “Malik’s instincts, toughness, and leadership are off the charts. He’s SEC-ready—and SEC-driven.”
The commitment is especially painful for Michigan, who had hosted Reynolds on an official visit just last weekend. Ohio State and Alabama reportedly offered large NIL packages and highlighted immediate NFL development pipelines.
But for Reynolds, Georgia’s consistency in defensive dominance and Kirby Smart’s track record with safeties—from Lewis Cine to Richard LeCounte—ultimately made the difference.
> “They’ve got dogs in the NFL, and they’re building dogs in Athens,” Reynolds said. “That’s where I want to be.”
Reynolds’ decision immediately vaults Georgia’s transfer class to No. 2 nationally and solidifies them as a top contender heading into the 2025 season. NFL scouts are already projecting Reynolds as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with some even comparing his versatility to that of Minkah Fitzpatrick.
As for the rest of college football? They’re officially on notice.
With The Hawk now flying in Athens, the Dawgs just got even more dangerous.
