Georgia Football: Recapping the Biggest 2015 Offseason News so Far

The college football season is not just from September to January; the offseason give fans reasons to talk about their team all-year round.

It’s no different for fans of the Georgia Bulldogs, who had their share of offseason news in 2015. From new players coming in to new coaches making themselves at home, it has been another interesting offseason for the Bulldogs. And based on the way things have gone so far, there’s a good chance the news will continue to roll into Athens all summer long.

So here’s a recap of the biggest offseason news so far for UGA.

Greyson Lambert Transfers to UGA

Steve Helber/Associated Press

The biggest story this offseason has to be Virginia quarterback Greyson Lambert deciding he will play his final two seasons of football in Athens. Lambert started nine games for the Cavaliers last season, throwing for 1,662 yards with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The quarterback situation at Georgia has been an interesting one, to say the least. Brice Ramsey, Faton Bauta and Jacob Park (we’ll get to him next) battled it out during spring practice, and all three will continue to do the same during fall camp. But Lambert will join the mix as the quarterback with the most in-game experience.

It looks like head coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer have a tough decision on their hands.

Bulldogs Get a New Offensive Coordinator

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Speaking of Schottenheimer, he already has pressure on him this upcoming season since he’s taking over for Mike Bobo, who is now the head coach at Colorado State. Schottenheimer is taking the reins of an offense that scored 41 points per game last season, the most in the conference, and a rushing attack that was one of the best in the country.

Can Schottenheimer transition from the NFL to college football? It may be an easier transition because he has an experienced offensive line, a solid group of receivers and probably the best running back in the conference in Nick Chubb. But his biggest challenge is finding the right quarterback: If he gets that wrong, he could have a short career in Athens.

Jacob Park Tranfers

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Schottenheimer’s career will not be as short as Park's because after a year on the roster, he is no longer on the team, according to 247Sports.

If one had to project the quarterback race, Park would have been third behind Ramsey and Bauta. But then again, with Lambert coming into the mix, Park would have been fourth on the list, and that is because of experience.

Also, Jacob Eason will enter the fray next season, so Park may have thought it would be better to go another program where he would have a chance to play. He has seen no in-game action in Athens, and it is not yet known where he will continue his football career.

Bulldogs Winning the Recruiting Battle

Credit: 247Sports

Recruiting has never been a problem for the Bulldogs, who always end up with a top-10 or top-20 class with Richt. But could the Bulldogs end up with the best class in 2016?

As of right now, 247Sports has the Bulldogs at No. 5 when it comes to team recruiting rankings. And the reason for that is they have two 5-star players committed in Jacob Eason and Julian Rochester. However, the Bulldogs are not done yet, as they are going after guys like Rashan Gary, Derrick Brown and Willie Allen, according to 247Sports.

There’s no guarantee the Bulldogs will grab all the targets they are gunning for. But if they continue to keep signing 4- and 5-star players, this could be the best recruiting class Richt has ever had.

Roquan Smith's Long Journey to UGA

Credit: 247Sports

One of the more interesting recruiting stories this year had to be the Roquan Smith saga.

Back in February, he committed to UCLA but did not sign his letter of intent because his top recruiter, Jeff Ulbrich, took a job as linebackers coach for the Atlanta Falcons. So Smith decommitted from UCLA and committed to UGA on February 17, per Jake Rowe of 247Sports.

But Smith was not done yet, because he still did not sign a letter of intent and instead signed financial aid paperwork, giving Georgia unlimited contact with him. But when a player does not sign a letter of intent, he can sign with another school, and UGA wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

On June 1, Smith made it official as 247Sports revealed that he’s enrolled at UGA and is officially a Bulldog. It could have been more interesting if he signed with another school, but he decided to keep his commitment and help out the Bulldogs this upcoming season and beyond.