UGA Football Recruiting 2012: Who Could Start and Who Will Get Lost in the Mix?

The Georgia Bulldogs have their recruiting class in check, except for a few targets they are trying to lock down.

So now the question is who will be a starter and who will get lost in the shuffle?

Let’s take a look at the Bulldogs' top two commits, Keith Marshall and John Theus.

Marshall is a huge addition for the Bulldogs because Georgia head coach Mark Richt wanted to get two elite running backs to see if they can get the running game back on track.

Because of the uncertainty at the position, Marshall will have a chance to earn playing time. As far as being a starter, I think Richt wants to give Isaiah Crowell another chance to prove he is the top guy and he is healthy enough to take the beating each week. But if Marshall has a great summer camp, he will be right behind Crowell as far as the depth chart.

As for Theus, he probably has the best chance to start out of all the recruits. Theus is one of the top offensive tackles in the country, and it just so happens the Bulldogs are losing both their starters from last season.

Theus is known for his run blocking skills and footwork. If he is able to put on a few more pounds during the offseason and get better at pass protection, don’t be surprised if he is working with the first team before the first game of the year.

Other Bulldogs who could start are Blake Tibbs and Todd Gurley. Tibbs will not start at wide receiver right way not because of depth, but because he can return kicks, which will give him a greater chance to see more playing time on the field.

Gurley is Marshall’s best friend, and one could argue he was better than Marshall. Gurley is not as fast as some of the elite running back prospects, but he has great size and excellent balance.

As far as guys go for getting lost in the shuffle, John Atkins could not see as much action as he would like, and that’s not because of his abilities. Atkins will likely play defensive end because of his size, and when you have players such as Garrison Smith, Abry Jones and Derrick Lott on the roster and you add Johnathan Taylor, who is part of the 2012 class, Atkins will have some work to do in order to earn playing time.

Another player who could get lost in the shuffle is quarterback Faton Bauta, who is being called the next Tim Tebow.

Bauta could see some action at fullback or tight end, but because the Bulldogs have plenty of depth at the quarterback position, it will be hard for him to get playing time.

It will also be interesting to see how much action defensive ends Jordan Jenkins, James Deloach and Leonard Floyd get. Because of their size, all three players will play outside linebacker, and that position is already filled with younger players who have potential, such as Ray Drew and Sterling Bailey.

And Quayvon Hicks will look to play fullback this season, but with six fullbacks on the roster, Hicks will have to prove he can play with Alexander Ogletree, who will be the starter coming into the 2012 season.