{"id":2715,"date":"2026-06-27T10:40:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T15:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blazervictory.com\/?p=2715"},"modified":"2026-06-27T10:47:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T15:47:13","slug":"uab-flips-georgia-state-commit-messiah-mack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blazervictory.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/27\/uab-flips-georgia-state-commit-messiah-mack\/","title":{"rendered":"UAB Flips Georgia State Commit Messiah Mack"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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.<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Image credit: UAB Athletics (Shared by Messiah Mack on social media)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Messiah Mack at a Glance<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Position<\/strong><\/td>Offensive Line (Left Tackle)<\/td><\/tr>
Height \/ Weight<\/strong><\/td>6’5″, 298 lbs.<\/td><\/tr>
High School<\/strong><\/td>Coffee High School (Douglas, Ga.)<\/td><\/tr>
Class<\/strong><\/td>2027<\/td><\/tr>
Recruiting Rating<\/strong><\/td>Rivals 3\u2b50 (81.33 Industry Rating)<\/td><\/tr>
Previous Commitment<\/strong><\/td>Georgia State<\/td><\/tr>
Committed to UAB<\/strong><\/td>June 25, 2026<\/td><\/tr>
Offers<\/strong><\/td>Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, Savannah State, Georgia State and UAB<\/td><\/tr>
Notable Measurables<\/strong><\/td>81-inch wingspan \u2022 4.94-second 40-yard dash \u2022 375-pound bench press \u2022 325-pound power clean \u2022 19.3 mph top speed<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A Late Recruiting Push Pays Off<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Unlike many recruiting battles that unfold over several months, Mack’s recruitment accelerated quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georgia State extended an offer on May 15, and less than a month later, Mack announced his commitment to the Panthers on June 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That commitment, however, did not end his recruitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An Athletic Blindside Protector<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those measurable traits, combined with his experience protecting the quarterback’s blind side, made him an intriguing developmental prospect for the Blazers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Developing at a Proven Program<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Familiar Connection<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Another interesting storyline emerged during Mack’s recruitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grady also accompanied Mack during his official visit to Birmingham and was one of the individuals Mack tagged in his public commitment announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Film Review with Darion Smith<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Let\u2019s go!!! We are getting the trenches solidified! 3 of our 8 committed are OL!! \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25 https:\/\/t.co\/Yth8zI9ssH<\/a><\/p>— Peewee Smith (Introduce me as Darion first please) (@theyDREAD75) June 26, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>