The weakness on the 2016 Georgia Bulldogs team was the offensive line. That issue has been addressed through recruiting.
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The biggest issue on Georgia’s offense in 2016 was the offensive line. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney wants to run a power-run system at Georgia, but the offense line he had this year just isn’t strong enough for the system.
As a result, neither Nick Chubb or Sony Michel ran for 100 yards in 2016 and were stuffed by even the weakest defenses on Georgia’s schedule. As a team Georgia couldn’t even gain 30 yards on the ground against Florida. And true-freshman quarterback Jacob Eason was rarely comfortable in the pocket.
But the winds of change are going to feel more like a category-four hurricane come National Signing Day. After the commitment of D’Marcus Hayes, the no. 2 Junior college offensive tackle in America, the Georgia Bulldogs have five offensive linemen committed for the 2017 class. None of them are slouches.
The linemen from Cedar Grove
The first lineman to commit to the 2017 class was three-star Justin Shaffer. 247 Sports labels the Ellenwood, Georgia native as the no. 20 offensive guard in the country. He does not have much growing to do either, 247 Sports has him at 6’5 and 356 pounds.
Shaffer was previously committed to Louisville, but on February 14th he de-committed and chose Georgia a day later.
Next was four-star Netori Johnson. Another monster at 6’4 and 348 pounds, Johnson is also from Ellenwood and was Shaffer’s teammate at Cedar Grove High School. 247 Sports rates him better than Shaffer. He’s the no. 82 player in the 2017 class, no. 5 offensive tackle, and no. 11 player in Georgia.
Chemistry is a major part of how well an offensive line performs. It’s great knowing that positive chemistry already exists between Justin Shaffer and Netori Johnson. With them on the offensive line, Cedar Grove finished 13-2, averaged 40.6 points per game and defeated Greater Atlanta Christian 30-19 to win the AAA State Championship.
The final three
The third commitment for Georgia’s offensive line is four-star D’Antne Demery of Brunswick, Georgia. He’s smaller than Shaffer and Johnson at 6’6, 319. But he’s the no. 124 player in America, no. 16 offensive tackle and the no. 13 player in Georgia according to 247 Sports.
With him, Georgia’s recruiting class as far as the offensive line was concerned was satisfactory. But Smart, Chaney and offensive line coach Sam Pittman wanted more.
The fourth commitment really put the class over the top. On July 10th, the Georgia Bulldogs got a commitment from four-star Andrew Thomas. A product of Atlanta’s Pace Academy, Thomas is at 6’5, 310 pounds. He’s rated by 247 Sports as the no. 74 player in America, no. 12 offensive tackle and the no. 9 player in Georgia.
Thomas, Demery and Johnson are all members of the 2017 US Army All-America East team. Georgia fans can get an early look at them during the US Army All-American Bowl on January 7th.
Three-star D’Marcus Hayes will be icing on the cake. 247 labels him as the no. 20 JUCO player, no. 2 JUCO offensive tackle and the no. 8 JUCO player in Mississippi. Hayes comes to Athens as a junior.
The current linemen
These five hosses at offensive line join rising seniors Isaiah Wynn and Dyshon Sims, and rising juniors Lamont Gaillard and Kendal Baker. They also join redshirt freshmen Ben Cleveland who was the no. 10 offensive tackle and the no. 12 Georgian in the 2016 class, and Chris Barnes the no. 46 offensive tackle and no. 49 player from Georgia in 2016.
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Brandon Kublanow, Greg Pyke and Tyler Catalina are the departing members of the offensive line. Wims, Sims and Gaillard all started games in 2016, but after a rough year competition will be tough for them. They might earn their starting spots again, or Georgia might be starting five freshman.
Regardless, a year like 2016 for the offensive line should not be expected. Georgia has built a great offensive line through the 2017 recruiting class to add to a pretty good line they built and redshirted from the 2016 class.