Grading the SEC's recruiting situations: Georgia Bulldogs
In the coming weeks, SDS will grade each team’s current state of recruiting based upon the factors listed below. Today we continue the series with one the SEC’s only team with a first-year coach this season, the Georgia Bulldogs.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
HOME-STATE TALENT: A+
With the SEC’s second-ranked class behind LSU and nation’s fifth overall in the early stages, Georgia’s 2016 class is loaded from top to bottom — but not yet complete. The Bulldogs have a commanding lead in-state with 10 verbal commits from Georgia including five-stars Julian Rochester (DT, Powder Springs) and Ben Cleveland (OT, Toccoa). There’s another in-state five-star, defensive tackle Derrick Brown from Buford, who has Georgia has on his list. In recent years, the Bulldogs have had their pick of players from their own backyard including Lorenzo Carter, Sony Michel and 2015 Heisman candidate, Nick Chubb.
RECENT SUCCESS: A
Georgia has pumped out the prospects on both sides of the football over the last decade, a total of 61 NFL draft picks including first-rounder Todd Gurley since 2005. The Bulldogs expect their latest haul, a star-studded 29 member group, to pay dividends this fall. Several high-profile signees will play as true freshman including the nation’s No. 1 overall player, Trent Thompson, and five-star athlete Terry Godwin. Early enrollee Natrez Patrick, a four-star, could surprisingly be the best of the newcomers.
FAN SATISFACTION: B
From a recruiting perspective, Georgia fans haven’t had much to complain about. The Bulldogs have out-recruited the rest of the SEC East during Richt’s tenure sans a couple years from Urban Meyer at Florida and Butch Jones’ infancy at Tennessee. There’s one problem, however. As successful as Georgia’s been on the recruiting trail, the Bulldogs haven’t won an SEC title since 2005 — an eternity at a tradition-rich program. Georgia’s fanbase is itching to get back and if 2015 isn’t the year, the satisfaction scale will teeter on the ‘C’ range if not worse.
COACHING STABILITY: B+
After eight years as Georgia’s offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo’s exit this offseason rattled the Bulldogs’ recruiting efforts temporarily, but the subsequent hire of St. Louis Rams assistant Brian Schottenheimer appears to be a good fit. Associated head coach Tracy Rocker is entering his second season on staff and has proven to be one of the Eastern Division’s top recruiters. Georgia’s hoping former Florida State DC Jeremy Pruitt wins SEC Assistant of the Year this fall as the leader of a talent-rich defense.
SUM IT UP: Richt’s staff has put in serious overtime on the 2016 recruiting trail and is working hard to ensure current commits stick and several big-time prospects who are on the fence wind up in Athens. Is Richt jump-starting another successful 5-7 year run at Georgia nearing the end of his tenure through recruiting? Last year’s class was fantastic and 2016’s haul could be even better. The Bulldogs appear to be setting up for something special.
Editor’s note: Any reference to recruiting ratings in this series – team or individual – are to 247Sports’ industry composite ranking.
At the end of the series we will rank the SEC’s recruiting situations from 1-14 based on the grades we assign each program. Here are last year’s recruiting situation rankings:
