In a surprising turn of events for Georgia football, the Bulldogs have lost yet another in-state defensive back recruit, as four-star cornerback Chase Johnson announced his commitment to the Virginia Tech Hokies. Johnson, a standout from Emanuel County Institute in Swainsboro, Georgia, chose the ACC program over Georgia, Florida State, and Louisville, according to Hayes Fawcett.

Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 150 pounds, Johnson is ranked as the No. 37 cornerback and No. 366 overall recruit in the class of 2027. His decision marks a significant win for first-year Hokies head coach James Franklin, who is building an impressive recruiting class that currently sits at No. 17 in the nation.

"It feels great. I just felt like it was the team I fit in best with, especially with how I fit into their defensive backfield," Johnson told 247Sports. "I feel like we do the same thing there as we do here. I could play nickel or corner. Punt returner as well."

For Georgia, the loss of Johnson adds to a growing concern in the secondary. The Bulldogs have now seen two blue-chip cornerbacks flip to other schools—five-star Donte Wright to Miami and four-star Jerry Outhouse to UCLA. As a result, Georgia's 2027 recruiting class has dropped to No. 31 nationally, a far cry from the dominant classes the program has produced under Kirby Smart in recent years.

While there's still plenty of time for the Bulldogs to turn things around, the recruiting trail has been tough outside of a major win in landing five-star running back Kemon Spell. For now, Georgia fans will be watching closely to see if the program can regain its momentum on the defensive side of the ball.