Ryan Jung is the top-ranked kicker in the college football recruiting Class of 2028. He was recently ruled ineligible to play high school football at Milton because of a bogus technicality in the state of Georgia.
Fortunately, the sophomore specialist will have multiple opportunities to appeal the decision.
It seems unlikely that Jung won’t be allowed to play high school football in 2026 when the process is all said and done. The rules have a very specific exemption for this exact situation.
Who is Ryan Jung?
One of the top kicking prospects in the United States hails from a country where American football is an afterthought. Ryan Jung moved to California from South Korea at the age of 12 with the dream to one day play in the World Cup. His path changed in middle school. He made the switch from soccer to football.
Jung showed up in a big way at one of the country’s premier kicking camps. Kohl’s, the top resource for kickers, punters and long snappers, was “impressed with his leg strength and his command of his bal striking” at the 2026 Underclassmen Challenge and with his “impressive power and consistency” at the 2025 Eastern Winter Showcase. The true freshman also achieved the top kickoff score for his class as the 2025 National Scholarship Camp with an additional 27 points in field goal charting.
The 17-year-old continues to impress at every opportunity.
As a result of his fast-rising stock, Jung received multiple scholarship offers before his sophomore year of high school. He committed last month to the University of Michigan on a full scholarship as one of the first recruits in the Wolverines’ 2028 class.
His goal is to one day make the NFL like fellow countryman Younghoe Koo but that is still more than a few years away. In the meantime, his goal is to get on the field in 2026.
Georgia ruled him ineligible to play high school football at Milton in 2026.
As things currently stand, Ryan Jung is not eligible to play his sophomore season at Milton High School in Georgia. According to the Fired Coaches of Georgia, the top-ranked kicker was ruled ineligible by the Georgia High School Association because there was no “bona fide move.”
Jung played his freshman year at IMG Academy. IMG is a boarding school in Bradenton, Florida. His family did not live with him.
Jung’s mother and sister recently moved from the Nashville area to Georgia. His father moved from Duluth. Ryan moved from Florida. They all landed in the Milton area with a signed sale agreement for their permanent residence.
Jung was (and likely still is) set to play the 2026 high school football season at Milton High School. The GHSA denied him that opportunity because he and his family did not move together. They did not make a “bona fide move.”
How could they?
Ryan Jung did not live with his family while at a boarding school. His parents and sisters came from different parts of the country. It was not possible for them all to leave the same address at the same time during their relocation.
He should be allowed to transfer based on the rules as they are written.
Jung is prepared to fight the GHSA ruling. According to Milton head coach Ben Reaves, he still has multiple attempts to be declared eligible.
By-Law 1.62-C is at the forefront of his case. To satisfy the GHSA, families must demonstrate a complete and permanent household relocation through the following verifiable proofs:
- The student’s original home must be completely vacated with all utilities disconnected.
- No member of the family can use or occupy the previous residence.
- The old home must either be sold or listed for sale, or the lease must be canceled.
- All licensed drivers in the household must update their licenses with the state of Georgia.
- Proof must be shown that the change of address was provided to employers, creditors and public agencies.
Ryan Jung and his family are likely able to meet these requirement. But it should not matter if they aren’t.
There is a specific exemption in the bylaws for a student “enrolled in a non-member school in Georgia” who transferred to the GHSA member school that serves his area of residence without a “bona fide move.” The athlete will be made eligible one time in his high school career as long as he “has not yet established eligibility in grades 9-12 at a member school.”
Jung is coming from IMG in Florida. This is his first attempt to be declared eligible at a GHSA member school. His family established residence in Milton. He is attending Milton High School, which began the academic year on Aug 3.
The chances of Jung becoming eligible seem high. However, the clock is ticking because the Eagles player their first game on Aug. 21!