Schools to Watch After 2017 4-Star QB Bailey Hockman Decommits from Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs, still waiting for a final decision from 5-star commit Jacob Eason, suffered a recruiting setback at quarterback Monday morning.

Bailey Hockman, rated No. 3 nationally among pro-style passers in 2017 composite rankings, backed off a six-month verbal pledge to the program, via Twitter. The 6'2", 210-pound in-state standout wrote he made the decision in order to "open back up my recruitment and make sure I am at the best place for myself and development as a student-athlete."

Georgia initially landed his pledge in June, months before Hockman began his junior season at Peach State powerhouse McEachern High School. Just like in the case of Eason, an elite 2016 prospect who is just weeks away from enrolling early, there's a lot to digest when it comes to widespread Bulldogs staff changes.

Much has changed since Hockman hopped into the team's 2017 class. Head coach Mark Richt is now at Miami following 15 seasons in Athens, replaced by Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

The shift to a new regime continues to create significant staff alterations at Georgia, where former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Jim Chaney replaced Brian Schottenheimer in the same capacity.

"I was the first person [Schottenheimer] called and offered (when hired in January). That was a big deal to me," Hockman told Drew Champlin of AL.com this spring.

The departure of Richt and Schottenheimer essentially results in a reboot for Hockman's personal rapport with the program, opening the door for him to explore alternative opportunities.

Credit: 247Sports

He instantly becomes one of the top uncommitted offensive prospects in his class, especially when considering how the 2017 quarterback landscape has developed.

Among five other quarterbacks considered top-70 talents in the cycle, only one—Colorado product Dylan McCaffrey—has yet to reveal his collegiate intentions. Hunter Johnson (Tennessee), Tate Martell (Texas A&M), Shawn Robinson (Texas Christian) and Ryan Kelley (Oregon) have already declared destinations, though their decisions are no more binding than the one Hockman just backed off.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban spent time at his school last week, arriving in style on a helicopter. However, it's important to note McEachern is home to several compelling recruits, and Alabama already holds a 2017 pledge from fellow 4-star Peach State passer Jake Fromm.

Hockman, starring for a program that's produced lauded prospects like Oregon running back Taj Griffin, Southern California offensive lineman Chuma Edoga and Georgia defensive tackle commit Julian Rochester during the past two cycles, is sure to remain in a national spotlight moving forward.

Along with SEC rivals Alabama, South Carolina and Auburn, Hockman has plenty to explore beyond the conference he planned to call home. Florida State, Michigan State and Stanford each extended scholarship offers, while a new contender could quickly emerge at Miami.

Richt, settling in as Hurricanes head coach, inherited incumbent starting quarterback Brad Kaaya, who will be a junior next season, and 4-star 2016 commit Jack Allison. Expect him to target a top-tier passer in the 2017 cycle.

N'Kosi Perry, a 3-star dual-threat talent, pledged to the previous Miami regime in September. The 6'3", 170-pound playmaker is obviously still gaining a feel for the freshly hired Hurricanes staff and is unlikely to remain the lone quarterback commit if he sticks with the decision moving forward.

Expect college coaches across America to take a closer look at Hockman now that he's reset the recruitment process. Evaluators will find a rather polished pocket passer who burst onto the scene as a sophomore with 3,597 yards through the air and 42 touchdowns, per Jeff Sentell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

No longer labeled a "Georgia commit", Hockman should command immediate attention from several universities and adds intrigue to a recruiting cycle still 14 months shy of its conclusion.

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.