Georgia Football: Returning Stars Are Richt's Best Recruits and Sign of Progress

According to 247Sports, the Georgia Bulldogs' 2015 recruiting class is ranked third in the nation. While that's an impressive feat, it's not necessarily the best barometer of the program as a whole.

Further, Mark Richt's best recruits for the 2015 season aren't new enrollees. Instead, they're established stars with NFL potential, and their decisions to stay in Athens are signs of progress.

To be sure, Georgia's 2015 recruiting class is talented. But those potential stars are still very much unknown quantities.

To the contrary, Leonard Floyd, Malcolm Mitchell and John Theus—all of whom were announced as returning last weekend, according to Seth Emerson of The Telegraph—are well-established as strong components of Georgia's roster. So is Jordan Jenkins, who is likely returning.

The returns of Floyd and Jenkins ensure stability for a defense that has been defined primarily by turnover as of late.

More practically speaking, Floyd and Jenkins will once again lead a fierce Georgia pass rush in conjunction with emerging star Lorenzo Carter.

Floyd and Jenkins, who have combined for 27 career sacks and 47 tackles for loss, had NFL opportunities this season. Case in point: Floyd was regarded as one of the 20 best draft-eligible prospects, per ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (subscription required).

Their decisions to return were undoubtedly influenced by defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and the strides the defense took during his first year at the helm.

John Raoux/Associated Press

On the other side of the ball, John Theus's return at the tackle position, where he's started 34 games over the past three seasons, guarantees an offensive line that is largely intact.

Yes, senior leader David Andrews will be gone and the vacant center position will be a point of concern in his absence. However, Georgia returns four starters along the offensive line, and Theus—who started as a true freshman and has remained foundational to the unit—is the most talented of the bunch.

A strong offensive line bodes well for the Bulldog offense as a whole. Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and a presumably healthy Keith Marshall will benefit greatly from experience up front while keeping Georgia's ground attack in peak form.

Regardless of who claims the starting quarterback spot—Brice Ramsey, Faton Bauta or Jacob Park—protection from Theus and the rest of the crew will prove vital.

David Stephenson/Associated Press

Equally significant is the return of Malcolm Mitchell. Mitchell, who missed almost all of 2013 and much of 2014 with a knee injury, came on strong over the closing weeks of the season. In Georgia's final four games, he notched three touchdown catches and hauled in at least four passes in half of his appearances this year.

With Mitchell, however, Georgia isn't hoping for a return to recent form.

Rather, the Bulldogs are hoping that his recent solid play is indicative of a return to his early-career production. As a true freshman, Mitchell caught 45 passes for 665 yards. As a sophomore, he added another 572 receiving yards despite splitting time at defensive back.

With Floyd, Jenkins, Theus and Mitchell, proven, game-changing talent is coming back for Georgia. That much is known.

Incoming freshmen may or may not come ready to play in 2015, but Theus did in 2012 and he's still ready. Trent Thompson looks likely to live up to the hype in collapsing pockets from his defensive tackle position, and he may contribute as a freshman in 2015.

But what Floyd and Jenkins can do is already known. A number of talented incoming recruits may help Georgia's passing attack in 2015, but none has demonstrated game-breaking ability like Mitchell.

Even more encouraging is the underlying motivation for the stars' returns.

Conventionally speaking, there are two common reasons for bypassing the NFL draft.

First, and perhaps most obviously, is the need to improve as player. Interestingly enough, even players like Theus (a three-year starter) and Floyd (a projected high-round pick) see value in self-improvement at Georgia. That's a testament to the coaching staff.

The second motivation is the desire to achieve more as a team. Put bluntly: These players aren't coming back to lose games.

Whether their desire to finish strong comes to fruition remains to be seen, but at the very least, it is a sign of good things to come that established team leaders think more can—and will—be accomplished.

Unless otherwise noted all quotes obtained firsthand and all stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.