Georgia falls behind Ohio State and Oregon in race for top-ranked 5-star recruit with elite NFL projection

One of the hottest recruiting races for 2026 5-star offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho continues to evolve. The massive 6-foot-6, 345-pounder has been considered a Penn State or Virginia Tech lean up until this week. However, the latest intel has Iheanacho giving Ohio State, Oregon, and Georgia more consideration.

There are a ton of heavyweight programs trying to land the nation's No. 3 overall recruit. He has 29 official offers on the table, so he can basically go wherever he wants. You can be sure any program would accept him if he asked for an offer.

Latest insider info from On3's Chad Simmons has Iheanacho looking at Ohio State and Oregon more than Georgia, despite the company's enigmatic recruiting prediction machine has the Bulldogs ahead of Oregon. The Buckeyes have made a big effort in revamping its offensive line, and Oregon wants to fit into the Big Ten, so this makes sense.

The Bulldogs' struggles are interesting to observe. They're trailing in the chase for a 4-star OT Nick Brooks , so losing out on Iheanacho would be another blow. No one is crying or overly worried for Kirby Smart, but this might be another indicator of how NIL can swing some races for top talent.

Can Penn State still land the Baltimore, Maryland, native? They have the edge in the RPM predictions, but Simmons' prediction shows the increased effort from Ohio State and Oregon being substantial. They're putting in a full-court press as they seek to add size at the tackle position.

Iheanacho has the prototypical build for the SEC. But what's promising is the reports of his hard-working personality. Here's what On3 has stated on him:

Immanuel Iheanacho impresses on and off the field. He said he prides himself on success in the classroom and his 6 a.m. workouts in the weight room, where he can easily be seen on social media deadlifting 500-plus pounds. He's also known to dominate on the basketball court. Iheanacho led Georgetown Prep to an 8-2 record in 2023 while earning first-team all-league honors. He was also the only underclassman to earn first-team all-state honors in 2023. "He's one of those guys you want on your team," Georgetown Prep coach Dan Paro said. "He's the complete package."

Here's the scouting report on Iheanacho from 247Sports :

A supremely powerful offensive lineman who wears his verified 6-foot-6.5, 350-pound listing extremely well. Owns some of the longest arms in the 2026 cycle and has better-than-expected lower body explosiveness at his size. Primarily works at offensive tackle, but will likely be limited to the right side or could even slide inside to IOL depending on how his body develops over the next few years. Presents an incredibly difficult problem for opposing front seven defenders to solve thanks to his massive reach and top-tier power in the hands that can flatten well-put-together defensive linemen. Will need to improve his ankle and hip flexibility, but even with some stiffness in his lower half is still athletic enough to dominate on both Friday nights and the offseason camp circuit. Checks multi-sport boxes with skillful basketball tape. Rare elite football prospect that boards at the renowned Georgetown Preparatory School. Somebody defenders look to avoid in the run game, especially at the second level. Could potentially become an immediate impact player for a college football playoff contender in the run game. Should be viewed as an intriguing option at RT or IOL with plenty of long-term NFL Draft upside that pairs nicely with ready to contribute heft.