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National Signing Day 2016: Ranking and grading each SEC football recruiting class

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Feb 3, 2016; Gordo, AL, USA; Gordo High School linebacker Ben Davis fields questions after committing to the Alabama Crimson Tide at the University of Alabama during national signing day at Gordo High School. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Gordo, AL, USA; Gordo High School linebacker Ben Davis fields questions after committing to the Alabama Crimson Tide at the University of Alabama during national signing day at Gordo High School. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

With Mark Richt being fired, and new Georgia head coach Kirby Smart not taking over full-time until Alabama finished its season, the final six weeks of the 2016 recruiting cycle were a bit rough for the Bulldogs. Nevertheless, Smart was able to hold on to two huge five-star prospects, enlist six early enrollees that could make an impact as freshmen, and finish strong with big new additions on National Signing Day, including five-star athlete Mecole Hardman, four-star defensive tackle Michail Carter, and wideout Tyler Simmons, who flipped from Alabama.

Instant Impact Performer: QB Jacob Eason

The easiest call of them all, five-star quarterback Jacob Eason is a candidate to start for Georgia from Day 1 having already arrived in Athens from Washington. He’s also arrived as the only true freshman on our early list of the Top 100 SEC Players to Watch in 2016.

A long-time commit to the program, Eason’s status was in question after Georgia fired Richt. However, Smart was able to calm the 6-foot-5, 208-pound national player of the year’s fears and sealed the deal after hiring offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and offensive line coach Sam Pittman.

While Eason will face stiff competition from incumbent starter Greyson Lambert, who showed flashes of brilliance in his junior season but also suffered bouts of frustrating inconsistency, expect Eason to take over at least by the middle of the season – similar to Matt Stafford’s freshman year between the hedges.

Underrated Signee: WR Javon Wims

After Eason and fellow five-star early enrollee, Isaac Nauta, the newcomer with a chance to make the biggest impact in 2016 is junior college transfer, Javon Wims. A 6-foot-4, 215-pound four-star prospect from Hinds Community College (Miss.). Wims is highly rated (No. 4 among JUCO receivers), but he’s likely to fly under the radar because he won’t enroll until the summer. Still, expect Wims and Riley Ridley (Calvin’s brother) to see the field often in 2016.

Unanswered Question: Can Smart and the new Georgia coaching staff develop players better than Richt and company?

Recruiting has never been an issue for Georgia as the Bulldogs have landed a class ranked No. 13 or higher every year since 2001, according to 247Sports. However, Georgia has won only two SEC titles over that span (none since 2005) and have yet to make a serious play for the national championship.

With four national title rings as an assistant to Nick Saban at Alabama, Smart knows how to develop talent – but as a first-time head coach, it’s unclear whether he’s better suited for the job than Richt.

Complete 2016 Georgia Football Recruiting Class:

Final Thoughts: Georgia answered its biggest question heading into 2016 by locking up Eason as the quarterback of the future, and added several key pieces around him. But, because of the turnover on the coaching staff, the Bulldogs didn’t land as deep a class as they are used to.

Next: Ole Miss

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