There’s more than seven months until the start of the 2017 football season, National Signing Day just concluded and the roster is beginning to take shape.
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Yeah it’s a little early but National Signing Day has concluded, everyone who is staying or going to the NFL has made up their minds so Georgia’s 2017 roster is beginning to take shape. Based on Ourlads 2016 depth chart and Georgia’s list of signees from 247Sports, we’re going to craft what Georgia’s depth chart should look like come September.
Jacob Eason versus Jake Fromm headlines the depth chart on offense. Both quarterbacks have strengths that the other does not have. But they are also both extremely talented and will only get better through competition.
But I think Eason wins the battle to retain the starting spot. He came in as a third stringer last year and had to work his way up to being a starter, a job he earned early in 2016 and never lost. He’s played in the Georgia dome, in eight SEC games and the rivalry against Georgia Tech. His experience will put him over Fromm.
Fromm will be second string on the depth chart, but only in case of an injury to Eason. If Eason stays healthy, Fromm will be getting redshirted to get an extra year of separation between him and Eason.
Running backs
As for the running backs, there will be no change. Chubb and Michel returning ensures that. But I expect to see more Brian Herrien and Elijah Holyfield than we did in 2016. I could also see D’Andre Swift competing for playing time as well.
Both Christian Payne and Glenn Welch return as well so there won’t be any changes at fullback.
Quarterback and Running backs
Quarterback
Starter: Jacob Eason
QB2: Jake Fromm
QB3: Brice Ramsey
Running Back
RB1: Nick Chubb
RB2: Sony Michel
RB3: Brian Herrien
RB4: Elijah Holyfield
Fullback
FB1: Christian Payne
FB2: Glenn Welch
Isaiah McKenzie leaving was a shocker and we will miss him, but with three freshmen coming in, there will be no shortage of talent at receiver. Terry Godwin is now the leader of that group as a junior and Javon Wims is the only senior we should see play at receiver. Otherwise Georgia’s top six receivers are mostly underclassmen.
But it’s a talented underclass with Riley Ridley becoming a sophomore and 4-star receivers Jeremiah Holloman, Mark Webb and Trey Blount arriving in Athens. We’ll also see some Michael Chigbu, but hen needs to clean up his drops if he wants to get more looks.
As for tight ends, it’s pretty much the same as last year. No real starter because the level of talent between the four is so close. Georgia has struggled getting the ball to tight ends these last two years, but the tight ends will get more looks now that Eason has a year of experience. Surveying the field and finding the tight ends should be easier for him this year.
This would be great for a tight end group that is probably the most underrated in America. Isaac Nauta was the no. 1 TE of 2016, Jackson Harris was the no. 5 TE of 2015 and Jeb Blezevich was the no. 3 TE of 2014. But it was Charlie Woerner who started early last year with Blazevich over Harris and Nauta.
Receivers and Tight Ends
Wide Receiver
Starter: Terry Godwin
Starter: Riley Ridley
Starter: Javon Wims
WR4: Jeremiah Holloman
WR5: Mark Webb
WR6: Trey Blount
Tight End
TE1: Isaac Nauta
TE2: Jeb Blazevich
TE3: Charlie Woerner
TE4: Jackson Harris
The offensive line is what every Georgia fan was most concerned about for the 2017 recruiting class. Kirby Smart and co. responded to that concern by signing six offensive linemen including JUCO transfer D’Marcus Hayes who is the no. 2 JUCO OT in the nation.
Then there’s the no. 5 OT out of high School Isaiah Wilson, no. 9 OT Andrew Thomas, no. 7 OG Netori Johnson. And those are just the guys in 247 Sports top 100. Only Justin Shaffer is outside of the top 300 and he’s at no. 388. They all join Ben Cleveland who was reshirted in 2016 and was the no. 10 OT from last years class.
Georgia’s line in 2016 was one of the worst in recent memory and with two players leaving a unit with not a lot of depth to begin with, there will be plenty of opportunities for the six freshmen and Hayes to get on the field.
Offensive Line
Left Tackle
Starter: Isaiah Wynn
LT2: Andrew Thomas or Isaiah Wilson
Left Guard
Starter: Dyshon Sims
LG2: Netori Johnson
Center
Starter: Lamont Gailard
Right Guard
Starter: Ben Cleveland
RG2: Justin Shaffer
Right Tackle
Starter: D’Marcus Hayes
RT2: Kendall Baker
This might be the deepest defensive line Georgia has ever had. Last year Georgia utilized seven different players on three positions and all of them return in 2017.
Add top 200 players Robert Beal, Malik Herring to a good group of defensive linemen who didn’t play much in 2016 and Georgia has probably the deepest and most talented defensive line depth chart in the SEC.
Defensive Line
Defensive End
Starter: Jonathan Ledbetter
DE2: David Marshall
DE3: Robert Beal
Defensive Tackle
Starter: Trenton Thompson
DT2: Julian Rochester
DT3: DaQuan Hawkins-Muggle
DT4: Malik Herring
Nose Guard
Starter: John Atkins
NG2: Tyler Clark
NG3: Devonte Wyatt
Not much changes for the linebacker. All four starters return, D’Andre Walker and Reggie Carter also return to back up those four guys. But the Bulldogs add Jaden Hunter, Monty Rice, Nate McBride and Walter Grant to add some depth for 2017 and to be he future leaders of Georgia’s linebackers when Lorenzo Carter, Davin Bellamy and Reggie Carter leave
Linebackers
Sam Linebacker
Starter: Lorenzo Carter
SAM2: D’Andre Walker
SAM3: Jaden Hunter
Jack Linebacker
Starter: Davin Bellamy
JACK2: D’Andre Walker
JACK3: Jaden Hunter
Mike Linebacker
Starter: Natrez Patrick
MIKE2: Reggie Carter
MIKE3: Monty Rice or Nate McBride
Will Linebacker
Starter: Roquan Smith
WILL2: Reggie Carter
WILL3: Jaleel Laguins or Nate McBride
Quincy Mauger and Maurice Smith have graduated and Rico McGraw is transferring. But Malkom Parrish, Dominick Sanders and Aaron Davis return to lead Georgia’s defensive backs. Deandre Baker also returns to start opposite of Parrish and Mecole Hardman leads a large group of freshman corner backs to compete for remaining spots on the depth chart.
As for the safety position, that looks to be settled with Richard LeCounte III, the no. 2 safety in America, and DeAangelo Gibbs, the no. 4 safety, already on campus. Sanders and Davis should continue to start, but LeCounte and Gibbs will not be riding the bench in 2017.
Defensive Backs
Cornerback
LC Starter: Malkom Parrish
RC Starter: Deandre Baker
CB3: Mecole Hardman
CB4: Tray Bishop
CB5: William Poole III
Strong Safety
Starter: Aaron Davis
SS2: Deangelo Gibbs
Free Safety
Starter: Dominick Sanders
FS2: Richard LeCounte III
The kicking and punting units should not change for 2017. But there’s much to figure out with kickoff and punt returners, hence their exclusion from this depth chart. Mecole Hardman and Elijah Holyfield are probably front-runners, but coaches might have a dozen more players in mind.
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Special Teams
Punter
P1: Marshall Long
P2: Brice Ramsey
Kicker
K1: Rodrigo Blankenship
K3: William Ham
Kickoff Specialist
K1: Rodrigo Blankenship
K3: William Ham