Hit or miss

We’ve long talked about the smoking crater where Georgia’s 2013 recruiting class once stood.  Now take a look at the breakdown in hindsight of Richt’s last class ($$):

25. Georgia

Adjusted average: 2.63
Hit rate: 58 percent
Class rank in 2015: 6th
Four-year record: 42-13
Top signees: LB Roquan Smith, CB Deandre Baker, DE Jonathan Ledbetter, WR Terry Godwin, LB Natrez Patrick

The star power of this class is impressive. Smith and Baker were All-Americans, and Baker should join Smith in becoming a first-round pick this spring. D’Andre Walker was the Bulldogs’ sack leader in 2018. Godwin, Ledbetter, Patrick and Rodrigo Blankenship have been very productive multiyear starters. Transfers Jake Ganus and Greyson Lambert count in this class, too, and were good takes.

The misses are the only reason this class is ranked where it is. They had 14 signees who did not pan out and left the program. Four of those were injury-related and just bad luck. The rest transferred or quit playing. This was Mark Richt’s last class at Georgia, so attrition is expected after a coaching change. Kirby Smart and his staff have effectively recruited over any misses in the 2015 group, and the Bulldogs’ 2014 and 2016 classes were particularly loaded to make up for this one.

Pretty wild split there, eh?  It’s a good thing Kirby’s recruited like a sumbitch, because otherwise we’d be freaking out about now.  Actually, the freak out would have started last season…

11 Comments

Filed under Georgia Football, Recruiting

11 responses to “Hit or miss

  1. Russ

    Pretty bi-polar class. Some absolute stars that we needed (Roquan, Baker) followed by some that just never could contribute.

    Like

  2. Tronan

    I look at the 42-13 4-year class record and think, “Not good enough.” And then I realize, lack of a natty since the Carter administration aside, things could be a lot worse for UGA fans.

    Like

  3. artful codger

    I count 4 OL in that class …Patrick Allen the only one who ever saw any non-garbage snaps. CMR did have Cleveland in the queu for 2016, then CKS and Sam Pittman came in and firmed him up. Not sure if Kindley had commited to Richt or not at that time. I am so grateful our OL situation has exceeded expectations. Probably the single best upgrade.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Mikey

    Yep and that four-year record: 42-13 is pretty damn good

    Zach Barnett
    @zach_barnett
    Mark Richt’s first three years at Georgia: 32-8, one SEC championship, two SEC East titles, one AP top 5 finish, two AP top 10 finishes

    Kirby Smart’s first 3 years at UGA 32-10, 1 SEC championship and 2 SEC east , one AP top 5 finish, two AP top 10 finishes

    Like

  5. RandallPinkFloyd

    Senator, I think you mean 2015 class.

    Mikey, get off your mom’s computer.

    Liked by 1 person