The 6-foot-5 offensive lineman became UAB’s fifth known commitment from Georgia after changing his pledge less than three weeks after committing to the Panthers.
Image credit: UAB Athletics (Shared by Messiah Mack on social media)
UAB continued its momentum on the recruiting trail Thursday by flipping offensive lineman Messiah Mack from Georgia State, securing a commitment from the 6-foot-5, 298-pound Coffee High School (Douglas, Ga.) standout.
Mack’s commitment is significant not only because UAB flipped a prospect already pledged to another FBS program, but because the Blazers entered the recruitment after his commitment to Georgia State. In less than three weeks, UAB identified the Coffee High School standout as a priority, got him to campus for an official visit and ultimately convinced him to change his decision.
Mack becomes the fifth known commitment from the state of Georgia in UAB’s 2027 recruiting class, further illustrating the coaching staff’s continued success recruiting one of the nation’s premier high school football states.
Messiah Mack at a Glance
| Position | Offensive Line (Left Tackle) |
| Height / Weight | 6’5″, 298 lbs. |
| High School | Coffee High School (Douglas, Ga.) |
| Class | 2027 |
| Recruiting Rating | Rivals 3⭐ (81.33 Industry Rating) |
| Previous Commitment | Georgia State |
| Committed to UAB | June 25, 2026 |
| Offers | Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, Savannah State, Georgia State and UAB |
| Notable Measurables | 81-inch wingspan • 4.94-second 40-yard dash • 375-pound bench press • 325-pound power clean • 19.3 mph top speed |
A Late Recruiting Push Pays Off
Unlike many recruiting battles that unfold over several months, Mack’s recruitment accelerated quickly.
His first Division I scholarship offer came from Florida A&M on Jan. 28, before additional offers followed from Bethune-Cookman, Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, Savannah State and Georgia State as his recruitment gained momentum throughout the spring.
Georgia State extended an offer on May 15, and less than a month later, Mack announced his commitment to the Panthers on June 7.
That commitment, however, did not end his recruitment.
Just one day later, UAB entered the picture with a scholarship offer, setting the stage for a late recruiting battle. Mack honored his previously scheduled official visit to Georgia State before traveling to Birmingham the following weekend for an official visit with the Blazers.
Less than three weeks after committing to Georgia State, Mack announced he was flipping his commitment to UAB, giving the Blazers another recruiting victory in the state of Georgia.
An Athletic Blindside Protector
Although recruiting services differ on Mack’s long-term collegiate position, he primarily played left tackle at Coffee High School and identifies himself as a left tackle on his social media profiles.
His reported testing numbers reveal why UAB was willing to pursue him so aggressively after entering the recruitment late. At nearly 300 pounds, Mack pairs impressive length with above-average athleticism, including a reported 4.94-second 40-yard dash, an 81-inch wingspan, and a 19.3 mph top speed.
Those measurable traits, combined with his experience protecting the quarterback’s blind side, made him an intriguing developmental prospect for the Blazers.
Rather than recruiting a finished product, UAB appears to have identified a prospect with uncommon physical tools and the upside to develop into a high-level offensive lineman over time.
Developing at a Proven Program
Mack comes to UAB from Coffee High School in Douglas, Georgia, a program that has established itself as one of the state’s consistent contenders.
The Trojans captured the 2023 Georgia Class 5A State Championship, finishing 15-0, before following it with an 11-3 campaign in 2024. Although Coffee endured a rebuilding season in 2025, finishing 4-7, Mack developed within a program that has consistently competed against some of Georgia’s top talent.
A Familiar Connection
Another interesting storyline emerged during Mack’s recruitment.
UAB run game coordinator and offensive line coach Gordon Steele and Coffee High School offensive line coach Garrett Grady share ties to Valdosta State’s football program. Steele lettered as an offensive lineman for the Blazers from 2006-08 (and again in 2010), while Grady has publicly stated he was a member of Valdosta State’s 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship team.
Grady also accompanied Mack during his official visit to Birmingham and was one of the individuals Mack tagged in his public commitment announcement.
While the extent of that relationship’s influence on Mack’s recruitment is not publicly known, the shared Valdosta State background represents another noteworthy connection in UAB’s successful pursuit of the Georgia standout.
Film Review with Darion Smith
Blazer Victory co-host and former UAB offensive lineman Darion Smith breaks down Mack’s film and explains why the Georgia standout could become one of the more intriguing developmental prospects in UAB’s 2027 recruiting class.
“The first thing that jumps out is how raw he is. You can tell there are areas that need refinement—his first steps, pass sets, pad level and overall technique all need coaching.
“But what excites me is everything you can’t coach.”
“He’s 6-foot-5, around 290 pounds, he’s athletic, he’s strong and he plays with a relentless motor. He’s the kind of player who’s trying to put the defender across from him on the ground every snap. That’s the mentality you want.
“When you watch the film, you see a player with natural size, strength and athletic ability. Those are tools that are difficult to find. The technique can be developed.
“UAB has done a good job developing offensive linemen over the years. Mack actually reminds me of former UAB standout Chris Hubbard in that regard. He’s a prospect with a lot of natural ability who, given time in the right development program, could turn into a really good offensive lineman.
“Bryce Daniels is a very technically sound offensive lineman. You can tell he’s been coached exceptionally well—his footwork, angles and fundamentals all stand out. Mack is almost the opposite. He wins with athleticism, physicality and toughness. If UAB develops him the right way, I think they found a gem.”
What It Means for UAB
Mack’s commitment continues several themes that have emerged throughout UAB’s 2027 recruiting class.
The Blazers continue to strengthen their recruiting footprint in Georgia while adding another prospect with notable physical upside in the trenches. More importantly, this recruitment illustrates the staff’s confidence in its own evaluations. Rather than backing away after Mack committed elsewhere, UAB entered the race late, trusted what it saw on film and successfully convinced him to change his decision.
Whether Mack ultimately develops into a tackle or shifts inside, UAB is betting on traits over polish. The Blazers saw a prospect with natural size, athleticism, strength and an unrelenting motor—qualities that can’t be taught. If the coaching staff can refine the technical aspects of his game, Mack has the potential to become one of the more intriguing developmental offensive linemen in the 2027 class.
Blazer Victory Evaluation
Why UAB Pursued Him
UAB identified Mack as a high-upside offensive line prospect because of his rare combination of size, length, athleticism and competitive mentality. Despite entering the recruitment after his commitment to Georgia State, the coaching staff trusted its evaluation enough to continue recruiting him—and ultimately won the battle for his commitment.
Best Trait
Natural athleticism paired with a relentless motor.
As Darion Smith summarized:
“He has everything you can’t coach.”
Development Focus
- Refine pass protection technique.
- Improve footwork and first-step consistency.
- Play with better pad level.
- Continue developing hand placement and leverage.
The physical tools are already in place. The next step is maximizing them through collegiate coaching and strength development.
Projected Fit
A developmental offensive tackle with the athletic profile to remain on the edge, while also possessing the versatility to play multiple positions along the offensive line if needed.
Ceiling
High-upside developmental prospect with the physical traits to become a multi-year starter in the American Athletic Conference if his technique catches up to his natural ability.
UAB 2027 Commitments
Kaiden McKenzie, 6’4″ 330 OL from Brookwood HS (GA)
Bryce Daniels, 6’4″ 327 OL from Buchholz High School (FL)
Dai’jon Hayes, 6’0 175 WR from Tift County High School (GA)
Jordan Shambley, 6’3″ 185 QB from Hillcrest High School (AL)
Jshawn Jinks, 6’4″ 330 DT from Georgia Military College (GA)
Israel Prince-Oyakhire, 6’2″ 190 DB from Shiloh HS (GA)
Messiah Mack, 6’5″ 298 OL from Coffee HS (GA)
Resources
HUDL Highlights: LINK
247Sports Profile: LINK
On3 Profile: LINK
X Account: LINK
Instagram: LINK
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