Georgia Football Recruiting: Looking Ahead to 2016 Class

Recruiting never ends and there are no break points. Accordingly, one would be remiss to say that the Georgia staff is focusing on the class of 2016 now that national signing day has passed. The reality is that head coach Mark Richt and his assistants have been identifying targets, making contact and handing out offers for some time already for next year's class.

But with a full batch of 2015 recruits signed, it does make the 2016 class a little bit more tangible. After all, as far as recruiting is concerned, next year's class is the next hurdle to clear en route to making the Bulldogs roster one of the most talented in the entire country.

Here's a closer look at the Georgia Bulldogs' top commitments and targets as well as developing themes for the class of 2016.

Commitments

Photo courtesy of 247Sports.com.

Jacob Eason is a spark plug for Georgia's 2016 recruiting class.

• Jacob Eason: 5-star pro-style quarterback from Washington; No. 1 pro-style quarterback and No. 5 overall per the 247Sports composite.
• Ben Cleveland: 5-star offensive tackle from Georgia; No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 19 overall per the 247Sports composite.
• Chauncey Manac: 4-star weak-side defensive end from Georgia; No. 5 weak-side defensive end and No. 56 overall per the 247Sports composite.

Analysis

To say Georgia is off to a quick start with the 2016 recruiting class would be a gross understatement.  No other team in the country has more than two commitments from the nation's top 20 prospects, and with another target just outside of the top 50, Georgia already has a top-heavy class.

For comparison's sake, if commitments and rankings hold, Eason, Cleveland and Manac will represent three top-60 prospects. In 2015, Georgia signed just two prospects (Trent Thompson and Terry Godwin) in the top 60.

Further, Georgia is making noise at crucial positions. Eason will be the most highly touted quarterback to step foot on campus since Matthew Stafford. Cleveland may start immediately at offensive tackle. And as the 2015 class showed, Georgia puts a high value on pass-rushers like Manac.

Targets

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Julian Rochester could be a huge asset for Georgia.

The beauty of big-name commitments early is the credibility they can lend to a class. With that in mind, there's no reason to think Georgia can't contend for another handful of the nation's best athletes. Here's a rundown:

• Julian Rochester: 5-star defensive tackle from Georgia; No. 4 defensive tackle and No. 17 overall per the 247Sports composite.
• Brandon Jones: 5-star safety from Texas; No. 1 safety and No. 20 overall per the 247Sports composite.
• Derrick Brown: 4-star defensive tackle from Georgia; No. 6 defensive tackle and No. 33 overall per the 247Sports composite.
• Marquez Callaway: 4-star athlete from Georgia; No. 3 athlete and No. 58 overall per the 247Sports composite.

Analysis

Of the top-tier players above, Rochester is the real prize. He stands taller than 6'5" and weighs 300 pounds, but it's his athleticism that sets him apart. He uses his hands and long arms extremely well to create space and never stops moving his feet. His first step may not be the quickest around, but his bull-like strength and motor makes him a factor in every play.

Of course, landing Rochester will be no small feat. The stud from McEachern High School has offers from just about everyone, including Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, Ohio State, LSU and Florida. According to Keith Niebuhr of Auburn Undercover, the Tigers appear to be the leader for Rochester's services.

Brown could either be a nice complement to Rochester or one heck of a consolation prize. According to Jake Rowe of Dawgs247, Georgia makes a lot of sense, but ties to another state could pull him away. "He is originally from Mississippi with both of his parents attending Mississippi State," Rowe points out.

Jones and Callaway may come down to outside influence as much as personal preference.

The best way for Georgia to lure Jones to Athens is with a stellar season by coordinator Jeremy Pruitt's defense in 2015. If young guys contribute to an ever-improving secondary, he may want to be a part of that.

Callaway, on the other hand, may be most influenced by Jacob Eason, Georgia's quarterback commit in the class. If Callaway wants to catch balls from the best passer in the class, Georgia will likely be his selection.

Biggest Needs in the Class

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JaQua Daniels is a physical runner.

Obviously, the quarterback position was left unaddressed in the 2015 class, and the starter for next season is unknown. As such, bringing in a quarterback is a top priority. But it sounds like Georgia has its man with Eason.

Staying on the offensive side of the ball, Georgia is due for some more running backs. By the time the 2016 class rolls into town, stud freshman Nick Chubb could be knocking on the door of a handful of Bulldog rushing records and thinking about the NFL draft after his junior season. The Dawgs must find the next in a long line of stellar backs.

The most logical name in consideration here is Athens native (and the No. 13 running back in the class) JaQua Daniels. Daniels is a big, physical runner with a lot of upside and a lot of scholarship offers surely coming his way.

B.J. Emmons, a top-100 prospect, is on the rise and told Ryan Bartow of 247Sports that the Bulldogs will "soon be number one" on his list.

The wide receiver position could also be a position of need if incoming freshmen Terry Godwin and Jayson Stanley are slow to develop into SEC-caliber receivers. But with a player like Eason in the fold and a prolific offense like Georgia's, finding talent at the position won't be terribly difficult.

An Embarrassment of Riches

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Marlon Davidson is an explosive defensive lineman.

Georgia's defensive front could be one of the strongest in the nation if 2015 prospects pan out and targets become signees in 2016.

Georgia did work on the defensive line in 2015:

• Trent Thompson: No. 1 defensive tackle
• Jonathan Ledbetter: No. 5 strong-side defensive end
• Natrez Patrick: No. 5 weak-side defensive end
• D'Andre Walker: No. 8 weak-side defensive end
• Chauncey Rivers: No. 9 weak-side defensive end
• Michael Barnett: No. 15 strong-side defensive end

Now, imagine that core group (along with Lorenzo Carter, who was a beast as a true freshman in 2014) getting helped by the likes of Julian Rochester and Derrick Brown at defensive tackle and Chauncey Manac at defensive end.

That proposition is downright scary. But Georgia may not be done identifying targets on the defensive line.

A handful of elite defensive linemen could be in play for Georgia, including Marlon Davidson and Prince Sammons (both 4-star defensive ends).

The rich could get richer in Georgia's case.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.com.