Georgia Football: Is a Top Five 2016 Recruiting Class Within Reach?

The 2016 Georgia football recruiting class has Bulldogs whispering of a top five national signing class. Dawn of the Dawg discusses what reality is whispering.

Related: Ten Biggest Recruiting Busts of the Mark Richt Era

Optimism over the 2016 Georgia football recruiting class is sky high.  The Dawgs are the 247sports.com national number 10 class and the Rivals.com number 11 class.

But what has the Dawg Nation stirring is the recruit space still available and the deep pool of talent the Bulldogs are recruiting from. Can the Dawgs rise to a national top 5 recruiting class in 2016?

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Let’s check in with reality.

So far, Georgia claims 14 commitments with an average star rating of 3.64 and the Rivals.com 11 national rank. Four teams have a higher star average: Ohio State -19 commits, LSU -18 commits, FSU -18 commits, Alabama -19 commits, and Southern Cal -16 commits. At 14 commits, the Dawgs will likely sign 25 players total, giving the Georgia 2016 class more leash to run with.

Headlining the list of key recruits for Georgia is Kyle Davis (6’2” 224, Lawrenceville, Archer High), a four star wide receiver and state top 6 recruit. Davis, who 247sports.com calls the top the receiver prospect in the country, sandwiched a Tennessee and Auburn visit around three Georgia visits since de-committing from South Carolina. Davis appears to be the most likely elite recruit to sign with the Bulldogs.

Isaac Nauta (6’4″ 237,Buford, IMg Academy) recently decommitted from FSU. Nauta is the unanimous top tight end in the country. Much is being made of Nauta’s friendship with recent addition to the Georgia 2016 class Mirko Jurkovic. Nauta and Jurkovic became friends playing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. Again, the Dawgs appear in good shape, but it is too early to name the Bulldogs as the odds on favorite for Nauta’s services.

Demetris Robertson (6’0” 185, Savannah, Savannah Christian Prep) is everyone’s national top ranked athlete recruit. Robertson is very interested in the Bulldog football program. He is also very interested in Alabama, Stanford and others. Georgia appears to have the upper hand, but this recruitment will probably go to signing day.

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Reality is, if Georgia brings home two of Davis, Robertson and Nauta, it will be an excellent recruiting days work. But the effort will leave Georgia out of the top 5 national recruiting rankings.

At a slightly lower talent level sit two recruits the Bulldogs can sign but not without exceptional effort and a bit of luck. Georgia is fighting for the country’s number 2 athlete recruit Mecole Hardman Jr., (5’10 175, Bowman, Elbert County High) and the nation’s third ranked safety, Nigel Warrior.

The Dawgs appear deadlocked with Tennessee in the battle for both Hardman and Warrior. Warrior is the son of Tennessee great Dale Carter. While Warrior says he is not receiving any family pressure to play for the volunteers, he also says he grew up close to the Tennessee program and is very comfortable in Knoxville.

The conventional wisdom is that Georgia is the team to beat for Hardman, but the speedster has made it clear has has no leaders and his recruitment is wide open.

Optimism abounds regarding Hardman and Warrior, but reality says both could be easily lost. If Georgia lands either of these two players the Bulldog nation should rejoice. And one of the two added to a pair from the Davis, Robertson and Nauta trio, the Dawgs still are short of challenging for a top five national recruiting class.

For a shot at a top five class, Georgia would have to reel in four of Davis, Robertson, Nauta, Hardman, and Warrior along with Rashan Gary (6’5” 290. Paramus New Jersey, Paramus High), the nation’s number one recruit.

Reality says, although Georgia appears to have caught Gary’s eye, pulling the top recruit in the country out of New Jersey is a heavy lift.

Reality does bring good news, however, as five star defensive lineman Derrick Brown (6’4” 322, Buford, Lanier High) , a state top 2 and national top 10 recruit, appears to be just short of a Georgia lock.

Reality is shouting that Georgia will do well to fill four of its remaining slots from these seven recruits, and that will  not put Georgia in the top five.  Five of the seven and a fifth ranked ranked class becomes possible. Six and the Dawgs are probably a top five class.

If Georgia somehow brings home all seven of the players discussed, Dawg fans will celebrate a top three nationally ranked recruiting class. But the Bulldog Nation will also lead the country in excitement induced heart attacks.

Next: The Ten Biggest Recruiting Surprises of the Mark Richt Era