Georgia saw its secondary depth weakened for the 2026 season with the transfer of former 4-star recruit Dominick Kelly, according to a report on Wednesday afternoon by Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer of CBS Sports.
The reported transfer of the prized cornerback from the Bulldogs’ 2025 recruiting class is a major hit to a program that’s trying to regain its footing following that dramatic College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to SEC rival Ole Miss on New Year’s Day night. Kelly appeared in 10 games as a true freshman for Georgia this past fall, registering 3 tackles, 2 of them solo, and 3 pass breakups.
While Kelly played mostly in a backup role for Georgia in 2025, he was only getting started in Athens or so Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart hoped. But now that reportedly isn’t the case anymore, as the St. Petersburg, Fla., native and IMG Academy product is heading elsewhere for the 2026 season.
Interestingly, Kelly reclassified in order to get to Georgia a year earlier than he would’ve, but that strategy is moot now as he’s reportedly moving on after just one season in Athens.
Kelly’s reported departure on Wednesday now means Georgia has had 14 players leave the program during this transfer portal cycle.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have only made 6 additions to the 2026 roster via the portal, with still a few more days to go before this portal cycle ends on Friday.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
