It’s never too early to start looking at the 2026 class. Georgia Tech has already garnered interest and attention from highly coveted safety Cortez Redding. The Yellow Jackets don’t have a commitment from the 2026 class yet, but it’s a good sign that they have a top prospect.
Cortez Redding plays for the Jonesboro Cardinals in Jonesboro, Georgia. He’s one of the best safeties in the country. Redding is rated the No. 16 safety, No. 23 in the state of Georgia and No. 197 in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite. Reading had 42 offers before narrowing down its list of schools on Friday. His top 12 includes Florida, Oregon, Kentucky, UNC, USC, Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, North Carolina State, Florida State, Auburn and Georgia Tech.
Redding is a hard hitter who loves to play inside the box and make destructive plays. He is known for making sticks and causing opposing ball carriers to fumble the football. He’s also a good open field tackler. Redding can also play center field, run from one side of the field to the other, and play with the ball. It’s a rare trait found in safety equipment, and only the elite can consistently perform it at a high level. Now consider Ed Reed’s potential. I don’t say this lightly, I’ve seen Reading play in person several times.
One of them was in the spring. I was visiting various high school football teams in the Peach State to see how the teams were doing. I interviewed Redding after their spring game win against rival Lovejoy. I asked him about his greatest skill on the field.
“My biggest traits are IQ and physicality. I feel like I can tackle anyone and guard anyone,” Redding said.
Redding is also a multi-sport athlete, a high-level basketball player, and an excellent all-around player on the court. As a sophomore for the Cardinals, Redding averaged 11.4 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds. He almost tripled his points compared to the previous year.
The Yellow Jackets took an early interest in Reading and were one of the first schools to extend an offer to him before his recruiting spree last September. It would be a great addition for the Yellow Jackets if they can keep Reading at home. He has great instincts and will fit seamlessly into the defensive backfield and make a big impact in that area. It’s still early, but as teams compete for positioning from late winter to early spring, recruiting continues to be a must-see.
I also had the opportunity to do a rare, uncut, unfiltered exclusive interview with Redding and some of his teammates over the summer. It was so cool to see Redding expressing his authentic self. One of the things that is impressive about him is how hard he works and how much he wants to be great. Every time he steps on the field, he goes above and beyond, always challenging himself to be the best on that field.
