Georgia Football Loses Recruiting Battle for 4-Star LB to SEC Rival
Linebacker Kenneth Simon II has garnered significant attention in the 2027 recruiting class. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he is a four-star prospect, the No. 13 linebacker and the No. 144 player in the nation, according to Rivals Industry Rankings.
The Georgia Bulldogs have been in hot pursuit. Simon announced his offer from the Bulldogs on Jan. 12 and has made his way to Athens for two unofficial visits (March 21 and April 18) with the team.
Kirby Smart and his staff began to see their hard work pay off. Set to announce his decision on Monday, Georgia, the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels and Tennessee Volunteers were named the four finalists, per Rivals' Chad Simmons.
Not only was Georgia going up against several other top SEC teams, but Simon's father, Kevin Simon, was a linebacker for Tennessee from 2001 to 2005. However, neither the Bulldogs nor the Volunteers won this battle. Instead, he chose the Crimson Tide, according to Rivals' Hayes Fawcett.
"BREAKING: Four-Star LB Kenneth Simon II has Committed to Alabama, he tells me for @Rivals The 6'2 210 LB from Brentwood, TN chose the Crimson Tide over Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee," Fawcett wrote.
BREAKING: Four-Star LB Kenneth Simon II has Committed to Alabama, he tells me for @Rivals⁰
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 11, 2026
The 6'2 210 LB from Brentwood, TN chose the Crimson Tide over Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee
"Roll Tide"⁰https://t.co/4NMUEyG6Jlpic.twitter.com/prKHNzZKBo
It's a big-time addition for the Crimson Tide. It marks Alabama's seventh overall commitment and first linebacker in the 2027 recruiting class. The group now ranks 23rd in the nation and eighth in the SEC.
On the other hand, Georgia loses out on a talented linebacker recruit. However, the Bulldogs do have the best chance to land four-star linebackers Joakim Gouda (90.3%) and Noah Glover (20.8%) according to the Rivals recruiting prediction machine.
Related: Alabama Football Emerging as a Favorite for Coveted 2027 Running Back
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 4:34 PM.