UGA football: Re-ranking the Bulldogs’ 2016 recruiting class

2016 national ranking: No. 383
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 15
Years at UGA: 2016-2019
Current team: Houston Texans (NFL)

Powder Springs’ Tyler Simmons has the unfortunate distinction of being the player robbed of a blocked punt in the 2018 National Championship Game. Had the officials not incorrectly called him offsides, Simmons would always be regarded as a UGA football hero regardless of what he did afterward. Simmons ended his career with 801 all-purpose yards, 438 of which coming at his primary position.

2016 national ranking: No. 433
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 16
Years at UGA: 2016-2019
Current team: None

For a three-star defensive end in the SEC, David Marshall had quite the college career. The Thomaston native appeared in 53 games and started 18 of them. In the 35 games Marshall didn’t start, it didn’t take him long to get on the field. Marshall joined Georgia’s deep defensive line rotation early in his freshman year and he never conceded the role, even as more talented defensive linemen joined the team.

2016 national ranking: No. 138
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 8
Years at UGA: 2016-2019
Current team: San Fransisco 49ers (NFL)

The nephew of College Football Hall of Famer Scott Woerner wasn’t quite the superstar his uncle was, but tight end Charlie Woerner was still a solid player in his four years. Woerner, an excellent run blocker, played most snaps on offense, despite ending his career with only 34 catches. Woerner’s body of work was still enough for the San Fransico 49ers as they drafted him 190th overall.

2016 national ranking: No. 635
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 18
Years at UGA: 2016-2019
Current team: Los Angeles Rams (NFL)

The three-star defensive back from Fort Valley was an overachiever at Georgia. Tyrique McGhee rarely stood on the sidelines for long throughout his UGA football career, carving out an excellent role as a nickel back. Above all else, McGhee will always be remembered for his performance in the 2018 Georgia/Florida game where he intercepted one pass and forced a fumble near the Gators’ goal line, which the Bulldogs recovered.

2016 national ranking: No. 90
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 5
Years at UGA: 2016-Present
Current team: Georgia Bulldogs

The first of two 2016 signees still with the UGA football team, Ben Cleveland’s career at Georgia has had some ups and downs. The Toccoa product didn’t make the splash he was expected to as a freshman and ended up redshirting in 2016. He couldn’t lock down a starting roll in going into 2017 either, and his future was in question.

However, late that season, Georgia needed to make changes on the offensive line and coaches gave Cleveland a shot. He excelled in the role and he was beginning to prove the recruiting sites right. Unfortunately, an injury kept Cleveland from playing much in 2018 and he continued dealing with injuries, albeit not as often, in 2019.