When evaluating recruiting classes, it’s impossible to assess a proper evaluation until after the class has completed its collegiate career. Not only are the top classes determined by what they looked like on paper, but on-field contributions also play a big part.

SDS takes a look at the each SEC team’s best recruiting class of the last decade based off of the recruiting rankings as well as how effective the class was on the field.

NOTE: Recruiting rankings taken from 247sports

Georgia Bulldogs

Located in one of the best recruiting hotbeds in college football, the Georgia Bulldogs constantly bring in top talent from the state of Georgia as well as from around the Southeast.

While some would argue that the Bulldogs haven’t lived up to their potential in terms of wins and losses, no one can argue the highly-regard recruits that Mark Richt and his staff have put on the red and black.

In the last 10 years, Georgia has had some very productive classes, but none match the effectiveness of Richt’s 2011 recruiting class.

2011 recruiting class

Record: 40-14

SEC Championships: appeared in 2011, 2012

Class ranking: 6th overall; 3rd in SEC

Cream of the crop: Ray Drew, Malcolm Mitchell and Damian Swann were three of the top four recruits in the 2011 recruiting class for Georgia. While the careers of all three haven’t been maybe as decorated as many imagined prior to their arrival, all three have played a role in Georgia’s success since arriving.

Mitchell got off to a hot start with a freshman season with 665 receiving yards and four touchdowns, nearly leading the team in both categories. But injuries have limited his potential during his four years with the program. Still, Mitchell is one of the better receivers for Georgia in the past few season and he’ll be returning for one final season in 2015 in hopes of leaving a lasting impression.

Swann and Drew have both been consistent starters on the defense. While Drew’s career has been rather up-and down, Swann has been a three-year starter for the ‘Dawgs. He developed into a big defensive playmaker for Georgia, leading the team in interceptions twice (2012, 2014). Both Drew and Swann completed their collegiate careers in 2014 and will definitely be leaving a void at their respective positions for 2015.

Bust of the class: Five-star running back Isaiah Crowell was expected to be the next great running back at Georgia, and if his freshman season was of any indication, he was going to fulfill those expectations. He led the team as a freshman with 850 rushing yards and five touchdowns. However, Crowell couldn’t stay out of trouble off the field. In the summer of 2012, Crowell was dismissed from the team after being arrested on weapons charges. His Georgia career lasted only one season.

Biggest surprise: If you watched Georgia at all this past season, there’s a good chance you saw linebacker Ramik Wilson making plays. When he came in with the 2011 recruiting class, Wilson was just a three-star recruit from Tampa, Fla. However, as his four-year career comes to a close, he’ll be known as one of the most reliable tacklers over the last few years for the Bulldogs. He was the anchor, along with Amarlo Herrera, of Georgia’s linebacking corps after Alec Ogletree and Jarvis Jones were no longer with the team. In 2013, he led the team with 133 tackles and then followed that up with 110 tackles in 2014. It’ll be hard for the Bulldogs to replace that kind of consistency and ability up the middle of the defense next season.