Smart delivers massive haul for Georgia in 1st full recruiting cycle
It didn't take long for Kirby Smart to show his recruiting chops in his first full cycle as a head coach, as the former Alabama assistant pulled down the nation's third-ranked class for Georgia on Wednesday.
Smart held the nation's seventh-ranked class together after taking over for Mark Richt following Alabama's national championship last season, and showed what he's capable of with a full cycle this year.
The Bulldogs reeled in 19 players on the ESPN 300, including the following nine players ranked in the top 100:
| Player | Position | Position Rank | Rating/100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isaiah Wilson | OT | 2 | 93 (5-star) |
| DeAngelo Gibbs | ATH | 2 | 90 (5-star) |
| Richard LeCounte III | S | 2 | 90 (5-star) |
| Robert Beal | DE | 2 | 90 (5-star) |
| Andrew Thomas | OT | 7 | 86 (4-star) |
| D'Andre Swift | RB | 6 | 84 (4-star) |
| William Poole III | CB | 8 | 84 (4-star) |
| Tray Bishop | ATH | 6 | 84 (4-star) |
| Malik Herring | DE | 8 | 84 (4-star) |
While Georgia trails Alabama and Ohio State in the class rankings, the Bulldogs are the only school in the country to bring in four players that received five-star ratings.
Smart added a massive talent influx to the offensive line, a unit that struggled mightily in 2016, by pulling in the second- and seventh-ranked tackles in Isaiah Wilson and Andrew Thomas.
After signing top-ranked quarterback Jacob Eason and tight end Isaac Nauta last season, and returning star running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Smart's offense in Athens should be a force to be reckoned with in 2017.
Georgia's defense ranked fifth in the SEC last season, but Smart helped shore up that unit with the commitment of safety Richard LeCounte III and defensive end Robert Beal. Each player is ranked as the second-best prospect at their positions in the country.
One of the most important things Smart was able to accomplish with this year's cycle was to keep the top in-state talent in Georgia. The Bulldogs landed the top three recruits in the state, DeAngelo Gibbs, LeCounte and Beal, and 11 of the top 20.
With the second-ranked class in the SEC behind only Alabama, Georgia is primed for a run at the east division title and a possible date with Smart's former employer in the conference title game.