Is Georgia in Position to Make Run for No. 1 Recruiting Class?

Georgia Bulldogs coach Mark Richt secured recruiting classes ranked among the top eight in national composite rankings during four of the past five cycles, helping result in a 40-14 record during that span.

The Bulldogs may now be building the foundation for his strongest haul in a 15-year tenure on the 2016 recruiting trail, claiming eight early commitments and holding serious consideration from some of the nation's premier prospects. 

A key facet for Georgia on an annual basis is the ability to protect its borders and keep top in-state talent on home turf. Those efforts are off to an ideal start in the 2016 cycle. 

Among the Peach State's top 10 prospects in 247Sports' composite rankings, only four have announced commitments and three are headed to Athens.

E.J. Price, a 4-star offensive tackle rated ninth overall in Georgia, declared his commitment to the Bulldogs on Thursday:

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I am proud to announce I will spend the next four years of my career at the University of Georgia #GoDawgs  pic.twitter.com/4AZ7GPVZSf

— EJ Price (@Ej_Price77) April 2, 2015"

He joins top-rated Georgia offensive tackle Ben Cleveland in the class, giving new Bulldogs offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer a potentially elite pair of bookends up front. B.J. Emmons, rated sixth nationally among running backs, also is on board.

Cleveland, a 6'7" and 322-pound specimen is considered a 5-star recruit and committed last summer along with the man he hopes to protect for years to come.

Cleveland and top-ranked quarterback Jacob Eason both pledged to the program July 19 while attending the "Dawg Night." Eason, a 6'5", 205-pound passer, is rated fourth overall in the 2016 class and grades out as one of the premier players at his position we've scouted this decade. 

"Jacob is really happy about it. It's nice to have a perfect fit for him like Georgia," his father, Tony Eason, told Michael Carvell of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last season. 

Though he lives across the country in Washington, a quarterback of his caliber can serve as a catalyst for increased recruiting success. Elite players want to compete with their peers and that bodes well for the Bulldogs attracting more offensive talent.

"If Georgia has a bunch of recruits coming for Dawg Night next summer, and that's when the coaches want him there, that's what we will do," Tony Eason told Carvell. 

His presence in the class has already paid dividends.

Wide receiver Darion Anderson, who committed to Georgia in March, pointed to Eason as a reason he's excited about joining the Bulldogs' aerial attack.

"I think it would be great to play with him," Anderson told Bleacher Report. "He's a big playmaker and a good athlete from what I've seen." 

Josh Imatorbhebhe, a 4-star in-state receiver, showered even more praise on the passer.

“Just to see his accuracy, stature and strong arm makes him somebody I'd really love to play with," he told Bleacher Report. "He looks like a good quarterback, but also a good leader. If the chips fall that way and I end up at Georgia, I'll definitely be happy that he's the guy throwing me the football.”

Imatorbhebhe, who lives less than an hour away from campus, collected nearly 25 scholarship offers before Georgia finally extended one last week. He credits the new offensive coaching staff with reigniting his interest in the program.

“The coaches could tell how I felt and basically said, 'Look, please don't hold it against us. We have a new offensive staff, and we're really high on you,’” Imatorbhebhe said. "They were really apologetic about that and tried to make me understand that I've become a priority now.”

Alterations on the defensive staff helped create strong results last signing day, including the additions of No. 1 overall prospect Trent Thompson (defensive tackle) and nine 4-star defenders. 

Richt's hiring of fresh offensive minds, like Schottenheimer, line coach Rob Sale and running backs coach Thomas Brown, seems to be leading toward similar success.

Price detailed their effectiveness during a conversation with Carvell and in some ways, echoed what Imatorbhebhe expressed.

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It was the new coaching staff that changed things. There's Coach Schottenheimer. I clicked with Coach Sale. I was always good with Coach Richt. Some of those coaches that were there before (the new offensive coaches were hired) weren't feeling me as much I thought they should have. There was kind of a disconnect, almost. But with this new coaching staff that Coach Richt brought in, he got some amazing guys. They are definitely getting the job done.

"

That should set the stage for more monumental additions to a Georgia offensive attack that already features a pair of 2014 5-star running backs—Nick Chubb and Sony Michel—who contributed mightily last year and will still be on campus when 2016 recruits arrive. Terry Godwin, a dynamic 5-star wide receiver, joins the team this summer.

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Of course, the defense figures to add more studs along the way, as well. 

The top three defenders in 2016 Georgia composite rankings—tackles Derrick Brown, Antwuan Jackson and Julian Rochester—hold nearly 80 combined offers and could join forces as Bulldogs.

Rochester admits there have been discussions of potential "package deals" when looking toward national signing day. He believes there's a strong family environment in Athens and told Kipp Adams of 247Sports this group could further enhance it.

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The brotherhood. I do not want to spoil it, for the 2016 class in Georgia, but they all like Georgia, too. So the brotherhood that I could form there would be wonderful. I talk to every top prospect probably every other day—Antwuan Jackson, Derrick Brown, (4-star athlete) Mecole Hardman, (4-star cornerback) Chad Clay—they are also like my brothers. Then I got my older brothers, Patrick, [Jonathan] Ledbetter, D'Andre Walker and Trent Thompson, I look up to all of them. It would really be wonderful to play with all of them.

"

Derrick Brown also discussed the possibility of joining forces with fellow 5-star Rochester.

"It would be cool because we'd be a pretty dominant team," he told Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani.

Is Georgia destined to be the squad that reaps those benefits?

The Bulldogs are considered among favorites to land both Derrick Brown and Rochester—rated second and sixth, respectively, among 2016 defensive tackles. Georgia previously picked up defensive pledges from 4-star defensive end Chauncey Manac and 3-star, in-state cornerback Tyrique McGhee. 

The team is currently listed seventh nationally in 247Sports' composite class rankings but only claims eight commitments. Among the six squads listed ahead, four hold at least 11 pledges. 

Sustained momentum with marquee recruits throughout the summer and a strong 2015 season would feasibly put Richt's program in position to soar upward to the top spot in class rankings next February.

Key recruiting battles need to be won in the Bulldogs' backyard, and Georgia must maintain its grips on the golden-armed quarterback from far away. If these pieces fall into place, it could be the Bulldogs who bring an end to Alabama's five-year reign as signing day champs.

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.