Georgia Bulldogs football: 2016 recruiting update, Jan. 23
By John Buhler
The Georgia Bulldogs have less than two weeks until National Signing Day. Here is what the 2016 recruiting class looks like for UGA football 12 days out.
National Signing Day is less than two weeks away for prospective Division I college football athletes. Even with almost an entirely new staff in Athens, the Georgia Bulldogs should have another top 10 recruiting class by the time Wednesday, February 3rd rolls around. Here is a look at who all have Committed to the G for the 2016 recruiting class for the Georgia Bulldogs.
According to 247 Sports, the Georgia Bulldogs have the No. 7 recruiting class in the country and No. 4 in the SEC with six early enrollees and nine hard commits, totaling to 15 2016 high school seniors committed to playing for new head coach Kirby Smart in Athens for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Enrolling early were quarterback Jacob Eason, tight end Isaac Nauta, defensive tackle Julian Rochester, offensive tackle Ben Cleveland, wide receiver Riley Ridley, and cornerback Chad Clay. Eason, Nauta, Rochester, and Cleveland all played in the US Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio a few weeks ago. Eason and Nauta are five-stars, Rochester, Cleveland, and Ridley are four-stars, and Clay is a three-star.
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Ridley opted to go by his middle name to avoid confusion with his older brother Calvin Ridley of the Alabama Crimson Tide. The younger Ridley initially committed to Georgia as Cavin, but is now known as Riley.
The Georgia Bulldogs did lose a hard commitment since the last update, as three-star offensive guard Aaron Dowdell decided two re-open his recruitment on January 20th. However, UGA still has nine more Committed to the G for 2016. They are defensive end Chauncey Manac, wide receiver Charlie Woerner, running back Elijah Holyfield, inside linebacker Jaleel Laguins, defensive tackle Tyler Clark, wide receiver Javon Wims, wide receiver Randrecous Davis, offensive tackle Chris Barnes, and cornerback Tyrique McGhee. Davis, Barnes, and McGhee are three-stars, while the other six are four-star commitments.
Other top targets for the Georgia Bulldogs entering the final weeks before February 3rd’s National Signing Day include five-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown (Lanier HS, Buford, GA), five-star inside linebacker Ben Davis (Gordo School, Gordo, AL), five-star athlete Mecole Hardman, Jr. (Elbert Co. HS, Elberton, GA), four-star offensive tackle E.J. Price (Archer HS, Lawrenceville, GA), and even No. 1 overall high school prospect in five-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary (Paramus Catholic HS, Paramus, NJ).
Brown, Hardman, and Price have been on UGA’s recruiting board for a while now and expect at least two of the three to commit to Georgia. Brown visited Athens this weekend and Hardman visited when Jacob Eason was in town. He’ll announce his decision early in the morning on National Signing Day.
Davis is No. 10 overall in his recruiting class and his interest with the Georgia Bulldogs certainly intensified once Kirby Smart left the Alabama Crimson Tide to become the next head coach of the Dawgs. It’s not a long shot to sign Davis, but it would stand as an amazing get to sign Davis this late in the game. Don’t expect Gary to sign with Georgia, but feel ecstatic if the No. 1 overall player does choose to become a Dawg.
Other players to keep an eye on as well are five-star wide receiver Demetris Robertson (Savannah Christian Prep, Savannah, GA), five-star outside linebacker Lyndell Wilson (Carver HS, Montgomery, AL), four-star defensive end Brian Burns (American Heritage, Fort Lauderdale, FL), four-star safety Nigel Warrior (Peachtree Ridge HS, Suwanee, GA), four-star offensive tackle Jauan Williams (Archbishop Carroll, Washington, DC), four-star wide receiver Tre Nixon (Viera HS, Melbourne, FL), and three-star wide receiver Grant Holloway (Grassfield HS, Chesapeake, VA).
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All of those recruits at least have moderate to high interest in signing with the Georgia Bulldogs. With only 15 commitments for the 2016 recruiting class, expect this year’s class to finish around the low-20s in terms of signees, but still finish in the top 10 overall in the country. To have a top 10 recruiting class after the athletic department fired its head coach in November is incredibly impressive. Go Dawgs!