UGA football: Re-ranking the Bulldogs’ 2016 recruiting class
Defensive tackle. Bulldogs . Julian Rochester. 10. player. 814.
2016 national ranking: No. 70
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 4
Years at UGA: 2016-Present
Current team: Georgia Bulldogs
The second of two 2016 signees still with the Georgia Bulldogs, Julian Rochester accepted a medical redshirt this past season and will be a fifth-year senior in 2020. Rochester has been a regular member of Georgia’s defensive line rotation since his freshman season, even starting 12 games in 2018. Perhaps Rochester can climb this list if it’s revisited next year?
Bulldogs . Isaac Nauta. 9. player. 814. . Tight end
2016 national ranking: No. 14
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 3
Years at UGA: 2016-2018
Current team: Detroit Tigers (NFL)
For whatever reason, Isaac Nauta never made the splash in Athens many expected him to. He only reached 905 receiving yards and scored just nine touchdowns. Nauta did end his career on a high note, catching 30 passes for 430 yards. Nauta made his biggest impact in the running game, however, using his strength and athleticism to make blocks at all areas of the field.
8. player. 814. . Running back. Bulldogs . Brian Herrien
2016 national ranking: No. 860
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 19
Years at UGA: 2016-2019
Current team: Cleveland Browns
The most unlikely product of Running Back U, Brian Herrien was a late addition to the 2016 class. He earned playing time immediately, even scoring a touchdown in the 2016 season opener against North Carolina. Herrien spent his four years as an admirable backup running back. He ended his UGA football career with 1,580 yards of total offense with 15 touchdowns.
Defensive end. Bulldogs . Tyler Clark. 7. player. 814.
2016 national ranking: No. 264
2016 UGA class ranking: No. 12
Years at UGA: 2016-2019
Current team: Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
Tyler Clark is just one of those players who took to college ball immediately. Clark wasn’t a fantastic athlete, he wasn’t even a top 200 player or even a top 20 player at his position. Clark just understood the college game early on, enough to receive a lot of meaningful playing time as a freshman. He quickly became a leader on defense and started 35 games through his last three years, picking up Second-Team All-SEC honors as a senior.