According to 247 Sports Composite Ranking, Georgia football ranks No.3 in the 2022 recruiting rankings, just behind No.2 Penn State and No. 1 Alabama.
Ever since Kirby Smart became the head coach at Georgia in 2016, he has recorded six top-6 classes, including two No. 1 classes in 2018 and 2020. Now Smart is looking to have that top-rated class again in 2022.
Between those six classes, Kirby Smart and Georgia have been able to get 26 5-stars. To put that number in perspective, Mark Richt, through 14 years, was only able to recruit 27 total 5-stars.
Even without being able to do a whole lot of physical recruiting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Smart put together the top-rated class.
In his press conference on Tuesday of the bye week, the head coach talked about the differences in recruiting from last year to this year. The recruiting visitor lists have been jaw-dropping with games like Arkansas, Clemson, and last week against Kentucky.
As someone who has been in college football for as long as he has, it was unique to see his perspective on it.
"“There was no such thing as recruiting last year, it was all by phone and by Zoom,” Smart said in his Tuesday press conference. “The kids not being able to experience the games is hard on them. They are having to make decisions to go places without going places. That is just hard. This year has been like pretty much back to normal, if anything it’s heightened. There is the ‘new effect’ because so many people have not done it. Your sophomores and juniors are dying to go places and your seniors — this is like their first trip. So, it has been heightened and it certainly has helped that we have had some premiere games at home to bring the kids here.”"
Smart has changed the Georgia football culture in just six years by transforming the recruiting and having one less through eight-fewer years.
Malaki Starks currently headlines the Dawgs 2022 class as he is the lone 5-star among the 19 pledges. However, that will likely change sooner than later.
According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Starks is the No.21 overall, No.3 linebacker and the No. 2 player in Georgia.
Starks is one of the more athletically gifted recruits in his class. Even with not being the typical size of an outside linebacker, at 6-1, 200-pounds, he is not afraid to lay the hammer on you.
Other commits who could have a huge impact in the Classic City are 4-star quarterback Gunner Stockton, 4-star running back Branson Robinson, 4-star defensive lineman Tyre West, and 4-star linebacker Jalon Walker.
Georgia football has a chance to beef up this recruiting class, and here are three prospects who can do just that.