Joakim Gouda, a four-star linebacker from Powder Springs, Georgia, wasn’t planning on making a decision so soon.
He was originally going to commit on July 1, but then he took an official visit with the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend, and that apparently changed everything.
Despite major interest as well from the Auburn Tigers, Florida Gators and Texas Longhorns, Gouda decided to move up his timeline after the official visit to Athens.
He committed to UGA on Monday, becoming Kirby Smart’s 12th 2027 commitment.
Everything about this past weekend made him want to pull the lever for the Bulldogs.
“Really what made me accelerate and be 100 percent committed to Georgia is what I’ve seen during the weekend,” Gouda told Chad Simmons of Rivals. “What they have shown me is that they’re elite in everything they do.”
When Gouda says he believes Georgia is elite in everything it does, he really means everything. That’s not to mention the fact that he can play college football in Athens for one of the best programs in the country and be under a two-hour drive away from McEachern High School.
Gouda transferred from Douglasville (Ga.) South Paulding to McEachern for his senior season.
“It’s close to home, great academics, great life after football, great exposure, great development, good NIL,” he said. “It’s like I know what I want, and Georgia has what I want. So it’s like, why do I need to go on the other visits?”
UGA lands highly-ranked four-star LB recruit Joakim Gouda
One would assume that his scheduled official visits to Florida (June 4), Texas (June 12) and Auburn (June 19) are off.
At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Gouda is an elite linebacker recruit. He’s ranked as the No. 14 linebacker in the 2027 class and the No. 21 player from the state of Georgia.
In 2025 for South Paulding, Gouda racked up 100 total tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.
Ultimately, at UGA, he found an opportunity to play football in his home state at a very high level, and that was too hard for him to pass up.
“It means a lot to play for Georgia,” Gouda said. “When I first started playing football, that was the only team I was watching. Seeing Kirby and the winning culture they have, I loved it. A lot of family and friends wanted me to go to Georgia, so being able to do that means a lot.”
