A first-team All-American Athletic Conference safety is coming home and transferring to the Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs have added a third transfer portal commitment in the secondary from East Carolina Pirates safety Ja'Marley Riddle. Georgia continued a major theme in its 2026 transfer portal class. Riddle is a Peach State product.
The former three-star recruit was immediately productive with East Carolina. Riddle, who played high school football for Camden County in Kingsland, Georgia, made the 2025 All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) first-team.
247Sports ranks Riddle as the No. 303 transfer in the country and the No. 22 safety. Riddle's production speaks for itself and means he could be undervalued in the portal rankings.
In both 2024 and 2025, Riddle recorded at least 60 tackles, three interceptions and four pass deflections. The ECU standout also recovered a fumble in 2025 as the Pirates went 9-4. Riddle led ECU in interceptions (three) and tackles (70) this past season.
Riddle will compete for playing time at defensive back next season along with incoming Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes. Safety KJ Bolden figures to be locked into a starting role for Georgia. Georgia is also expected to return Kyron Jones and Rasean Dinkins at safety/STAR. Zion Branch is another name to watch at safety.
Starter Joenel Aguero entered the transfer portal along with Adrian Maddox and Jaden Harris. Senior safety JaCorey Thomas is out of eligibility.
Ja'Marley Riddle announces his commitment to Georgia
Feels great to be home, Go DAWGS! #NATTYpic.twitter.com/vs5PqWIss6
— Ja’Marley Riddle (@JRiddle22_) January 9, 2026
Georgia's incoming transfers
- Clemson safety Khalil Barnes
- Georgia Tech wide receiver Isiah Canion
- USC cornerback Braylon Conley
- Auburn linebacker Amaris Williams
- ECU safety Ja'Marley Riddle
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: ECU DB Ja'Marley Riddle to transfer to Georgia football
Category: General Sports
