In his first season as Georgia’s head coach, Kirby Smart showed he was not afraid to play true freshmen immediately.

First-year players littered the offensive and defensive depth charts, which means the Bulldogs should have a more experienced group in 2017. Smart also has a very talented incoming crop of recruits on their way to Athens, some of whom are already on campus for spring practice.

At various points during last season, Smart made a plea to the 2017 recruits that they could come in and help immediately. But how likely these players see the field will depend on the depth chart and their ability to pick up the playbook, regardless of talent level.

Georgia returns 17 starters: seven on offense and 10 on defense.

“It’s going to be a lot different than last year,” Michael Clark, a regional recruiting analyst for Scout.com, told Saturday Down South. “That makes things a little difficult when (Smart) says they need guys that are going to make the biggest impact.

“Last fall, if I’m not mistaken, it seemed like they had three or four true freshmen start and play a significant amount of time. I don’t believe that’s going to be the case in 2017; as a matter of fact, I’d be extremely surprised.”

It’s not often that teams play as many first-year players as Georgia did last season, especially in the SEC. But these are Smart’s guys, and he may favor their skills more than some of the veterans he inherited.

While there is still a lot that can, and will, change over the coming months, we asked Clark which incoming recruits might have the best chance to make an immediate impact.

D’Marcus Hayes, OT (4-star, JUCO)

The most obvious candidate for early playing time from Georgia’s 2017 class is Hayes. As a JUCO transfer, the 6-5, 330-pound offensive tackle has the experience and size to fill an immediate need. The Bulldogs made a concerted effort to improve on the offensive line, and Hayes can help them do just that.

Clark’s take: “Hayes is the main guy that I think is going to play immediately. It’s no secret that Georgia had some issues on the offensive line last season, Hayes is a guy that’s been enrolled since January and being able to go through spring practice is big for him. I actually expect him to start in the fall.”

Jeremiah Holloman, WR (4-star, No. 18 WR)

Outside of the offensive line, Georgia has an immediate need for an impact player at wide receiver. Or, at the very least, someone who has differing qualities than the receivers already on the roster. Holloman, who is 6-2 and has run the 40 in 4.48 seconds, fits the bill. He’s on campus and should factor into the rotation early.

Clark’s take: “Jeremiah Holloman is a guy who enrolled early so that gives him an advantage. He’s also a guy who’s got good size, a very physical, strong kid. Physically, he’s probably ready to play, and I have no doubt that after he goes through spring practice, he’ll probably have a chance to get on the field next fall.”

D’Andre Swift, RB (4-star, No. 4 RB)

It might be a surprise to see Swift’s name on this list, especially considering the return of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel (not to mention Brian Herrien and Elijah Holyfield), but the freshman has a lot to offer. Swift is a dynamic running back who could get a few touches early but also become a primary contributor on special teams. Despite the positional logjam, Swift is a player that Georgia can make use of.

Clark’s take: “I think he’ll have a chance to help, but he’s going to be the third or fourth running back going into the season. If someone gets hurt, he could obviously get some significant playing time. But I’ve seen him in person and he’s extremely talented, and he’s definitely a guy who Georgia fans should be excited about. … You’ve got to find a way to get him involved, and I could definitely see him in a kickoff return role.”

Richard LeCounte III, S (5-star, No. 2 S)

Deangelo Gibbs, S (4-star, No. 4 S)

These two are lumped together for now, because both LeCounte and Gibbs have a lot to offer but are coming into a veteran secondary. LeCounte is a phenomenal athlete who has the coverage skills to hang with anyone and could become the biggest playmaker in Georgia’s secondary. Gibbs brings size, which the Bulldogs desperately needed last year. The 6-2, 204-pound safety could see the field early as part of rotation for that reason alone. Because of Georgia’s returning starters, LeCounte and Gibbs might watch and learn for a bit, but they both possess the talent to carve out a role from the very beginning.

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Clark’s take: “It’s tough to say, because they do return everybody, but those kids are super talented. They are very competitive kids. I have a feeling that they are going to play at some point. Those guys didn’t enroll early with the plan of not playing this fall. The fact that they’re both on campus, I would be surprised if they don’t play somewhere.”

These are a few of the players with a great shot to earn early playing time, but it’s also extremely early. With so many incoming players at positions of need, it’s possible that Isaiah Wilson or Mark Webb make a name for themselves over the summer and into the fall.

“The SEC is such a physical league, and there’s so many things that go into which freshmen – and there could be a freshman I’m not even mentioning – makes an impact due to unforeseen things,” Clark said.

Although there is a lot of talent coming into the program, it’s uncommon for winning programs to play a lot of true freshmen. Georgia fans might have to wait before seeing some of their favorite prospects play between the hedges.

While there will undoubtedly be a hearty debate over which new Bulldogs should earn playing time, the overall picture is even brighter. This isn’t likely to be a one- or two-year surge in recruiting. Everything in Smart’s past suggests that Georgia will have enough talent arriving each year to compete at the highest level.

“Regardless of what happens this fall, the talent that coach Smart and his staff are bringing in must be really exciting for the Georgia fans,” Clark said. “And I don’t think this is a one-year deal; he has proved that he is one of the premier recruiters, he’s got several good recruiters on the staff and I think you’re going to see them recruit extremely well.

“The sky is the limit for the program.”

William McFadden covers the University of Georgia for Saturday Down South. For news on everything happening between the hedges, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.