🐶 Georgia Bulldogs Land Nation’s No. 1 Tight End Mark Bowman in Blockbuster Commitment
By Travis McKenzie | ESPN College Football Insider | June 23, 2025
The Georgia Bulldogs just scored big — both literally and figuratively — as Mark Bowman, the nation’s No. 1 tight end and one of the most physically gifted athletes in the 2025 recruiting class, officially committed to the Dawgs in a move that could shape the program’s offensive future for years to come.
Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 255 pounds, Bowman is already being compared to NFL greats like Travis Kelce and Brock Bowers — the latter being a Georgia legend himself. With a rare blend of size, speed, and soft hands, Bowman has been a nightmare matchup for defenders on the high school level, torching linebackers with agility and boxing out safeties with his frame. Now, he’ll take his talents to Athens, turning down elite offers from Alabama, USC, and Michigan.
> “Georgia just felt like home,” Bowman said in a live-streamed commitment ceremony held at his high school in Tampa, Florida. “Coach Smart and Coach Hartley have a plan for me, not just to develop as a player, but as a man. I want to win championships, and there’s no better place to do that than Georgia.”
Recruiting insiders had speculated for weeks that Bowman was leaning toward the SEC, but few expected Georgia to land him this decisively, especially given the aggressive push made by Alabama in recent weeks. According to sources, Bowman made a surprise unofficial visit to Athens earlier this month and was “blown away” by the facilities, the program culture, and the tight end legacy Georgia has built.
Kirby Smart, never one to miss a recruiting moment, celebrated the commitment in typical fashion — with a bulldog-sized bark.
> “Mark is the total package,” Smart said in a statement. “He’s got the tools, the attitude, and the work ethic to not only succeed here but to dominate. He’s a game-changer.”
Bowman caught 74 passes for 1,102 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior at Clearwater Prep, and scouts expect even bigger numbers in his senior season. His ability to line up in the slot, inline, or even wide has made him one of the most versatile weapons in recent recruiting memory. ESPN ranks him as the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2025 class, and 247Sports gave him a rare “generational talent” grade.
Georgia fans are already buzzing on social media, with the hashtag #BowDownForBowman trending nationally within minutes of the announcement.
With Bowman’s commitment, Georgia’s 2025 class now moves to No. 2 nationally, trailing only Ohio State in the latest rankings — though many analysts believe the Bulldogs may finish at the top if their momentum continues.
As the red and black faithful look toward the future, one thing is clear: Mark Bowman is the next great Bulldog, and in Athens, the tight end tradition just got even stronger.
When you’re the best in the nation, you don’t just commit — you make a statement. And Bowman just made his in Bulldog red.
