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Four-star pass rusher Chauncey Manac was the first domino to fall in September, then defensive tackle Tyler Clark on May 15.
Georgia’s seizure of five-star freight train Julian Rochester last week means the Bulldogs have secured their borders up front defensively for the 2016 recruiting class with three of the state’s Top 20 players, a group that is shaping up to be one of Mark Richt’s best-ever hauls on defense.
Credit recent defensive hires Tracy Rocker (defensive line) and Jeremy Pruitt (defensive coordinator) for putting in the work and getting these guys — all with several other SEC offers from neighboring states — to commit early.
As it stands, Georgia has the SEC’s top-ranked class for next season with 13 commits including four inside the Top 100 overall players nationally.
And there could be more to come along the defensive front.
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The Bulldogs are in a group of four SEC finalists for five-star Derrick Brown, the top-ranked player in the state of Georgia and second-best defensive tackle in the country according to 247Sports. He recently backed off the Bulldogs as his favorite, but has developed a strong relationship with assistant coach Tracy Rocker over the last several months which will be beneficial come decision time.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound run stopper is the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect and was nearly unblockable last fall as a junior, accumulating 26 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 17.5 sacks.
The biggest fish on the pond is defensive tackle Rashan Gary, the nation’s No. 1 player overall in 247Sports’ latest composite rankings. The defensive tackle from Paramus, N.J. has more than 25 offers and has become a class priority for the staffs at Alabama, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson.
Gary’s interest in the Bulldogs is considered warm, along with seven other schools. Considering Georgia’s healthy number of early defensive line commits for 2016 and February’s eight-player haul at the same personnel group, a verbal commitment from Gary isn’t likely.
That doesn’t mean the Bulldogs won’t continue to go after him, however.
Georgia’s current 2016 DL commits
- Julian Rochester, five-star, 6-5, 315 (Powder Springs, Ga.)
- Chauncey Manac, four-star, 6-3, 220 (Homerville, Ga.)
- Tyler Clark, four-star, 6-3, 290 (Americus, Ga.)
Georgia’s current 2016 DL targets
- Rashan Gary, five-star, 6-4, 290 (Paramus, N.J.)
- Derrick Brown, five-star, 6-4, 305 (Buford, Ga.)
- Antwuan Jackson, four-star, 6-2, 285 (Ellenwood, Ga.)
