Georgia has the early lead in the 2016 SEC recruiting race, but the job is far from over for Mark Richt and his staff. The Bulldogs are building what looks like a championship-caliber roster starting at the top with the nation’s top quarterback Jacob Eason along with several highly-rated tackles and defensive backs.

Recruiting needs that need to be met in February for the Bulldogs include …

WIDE RECEIVER

Losing after 2015: Malcolm Mitchell, Justin Scott-Wesley

For a second consecutive offseason, the Bulldogs will lose two productive wideouts following the 2015 campaign and another pass-catching option if you count senior target Jay Rome (tight end). The remaining wide receivers are inexperienced, but do have talent including Shakenneth Williams and Isaiah McKenzie.

Georgia has taken a necessary step in securing depth and possible early-impact at the position with a verbal commitment from four-star Darion Anderson (Warner Robins, Ga.) for 2016. The Bulldogs are expected to add a couple others before signing day with the biggest fish being Kyle Davis, an in-state top 100 player who recently decommitted from South Carolina.

LINEBACKER

Losing after 2015: John Huff, Jake Ganus, Jordan Jenkins, Leonard Floyd (draft)

After this season, which should be special considering Georgia’s equipped with the nation’s most talented core of outside linebackers, the Bulldogs will have Lorenzo Carter for one more season and will try and build around freshmen Natrez Patrick, Roquan Smith and RS sophomore David Bellamy for the future. Leading tackler Jenkins will be gone, Floyd should bolt early to the NFL asa  first-round pick and Ganus, a UAB transfer, will exhaust his eligibility. Chuks Amaechi, Reggie Carter, Ryne Rankin and Tim Kimbrough will all be unavailable after the 2016 campaign.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Losing after 2015: Kolton Houston, John Theus

Enjoy them while they’re here, Brian Schottenheimer. The offense says goodbye to a pair of dominant multi-year starting bookends following the 2015 campaign and is trying to transition other offensive linemen to the position as we speak. Georgia already has received verbal commitments from two four-stars and a three (based on the 247Sports Composite) in the 2016 class. There could be another in the mix but if the Bulldogs can get these three to stick, they’ll be in good shape at the position during this recruiting cycle.

Other positions Georgia should target: DL, ATH, K

CURRENT RECRUITING CLASS

Georgia moved up to No. 4 in the country for 2016 after Monday’s commitment from four-star cornerback Chad Clay, the Bulldogs’ 12th verbal thus far. Included in that bunch are four offensive linemen, two pass rushers and two additional corners. Eason’s the gem, a 6-foot-5 pro-style passer with a cannon for an arm.

OUTLOOK

Georgia appears headed for a slam dunk class if it can address depth concerns on defense, specifically at linebacker. It’s a position of serious considering Georgia will lose 12 of its current 17 linebackers on roster within the next two seasons (if L. Carter departs like many expect after three years in 2016).

Getting high-profile defensive line targets Julian Rochester and Derrick Brown to ‘Commit to the G’ over the next nine months would solidify one of, if not the best, classes Richt has assembled between the hedges. Adding another talented wide receiver to pair with Eason wouldn’t hurt.