Recruiting Rewind: Taking A Look Back at Georgia's 2007 Class

The Georgia Bulldogs just wrapped up another good recruiting class for 2010. But with every recruiting class there are hits or misses and players who got away. This incoming class' ranking will ultimately be determined by how they perform on the field.

To get a better look into how the 2007 class fared, I spoke with Kimberley Nash, an FC for UGA.

Q: The 2007 UGA class was ranked No. Nine by Rivals, but No. 17 by Scout. Who do you think got it right?

A: I think that both services have a particular way of ranking players and that method may or may not give some credence to the size of the class as well as the quality of the recruits. That said, Georgia had a small class in 2007 (17) but they managed to pull in some quality talent. They were definitely a Top 15 class.

As for who I trust most for my information, well, I think both have something to offer the CFB fan. However, the choice of which one, in my opinion, comes down to personal preference. Neither one is leaps and bounds above the other and neither should be the only source you use for information.

Q: Who were the biggest surprises of this class? 

A: I'd say the biggest surprises, as far as production and overall value to the team, were Drew Butler (P) and Rennie Curran (LB). I don't think anyone saw Rennie coming. People knew he was good but he became a much better player than I ever imagined he would. Drew Butler continues to awe me. I expect more from him as he continues his career.

Q: What about the biggest disappointments?

A: I wouldn't say he's a disappointment, but it has taken Caleb King (RB) a lot longer to get going than I expected. He had some roadblocks to overcome with the presence of Knowshon and then the recurring injuries, but he seems to be picking up steam now. Trinton Sturdivant has had a run of bad luck too with back-to-back ACL injuries. That has truly stunted his growth on the o-line and that has been disappointing to see.

Q: Was there a player that got away from Athens that came back to bite Georgia?

A: I wouldn't say he "came back to bite" Georgia but it sure would have been nice to  have Eric Berry (S) on our team. He was a Georgia product who passed on the Dawgs in favor of Tennessee. He should have never been allowed to leave the state.

Q: How will Georgia fans remember this 2007 class?

A: I would say the class was largely forgettable because, at the time, the most memorable names were Aron White (TE), Caleb King (RB), Trinton Sturdivant (OL) and Logan Gray (QB). It's only now that you can appreciate Rennie Curran, Drew Butler, and Clint Boling. Back then, however, the latter didn't seem like they would have such an impact at Georgia.

Q: UGA almost always has classes ranked very high. What do you think is missing that could have won the Bulldogs the National Championship?

A: I don't know. In some years, it's coaching. In others, it's the presence of too many big-time injuries to key players. Richt has kept Georgia competitive but he's had a tough time finding the perfect formula that gets the Dawgs over that proverbial hump.

Q: Why do you think Mark Richt and Georgia are able to consistently attract top recruits?

A: Georgia is a great school with rich tradition. It's well-known in the south and it continually produces top-level talent. It may not be in the national championship spotlight but it's definitely in the SEC conversation every single season—plus, the fan base is tremendous. The draw isn't hard to fathom—particularly if you are familiar with the SEC and live in that area of the country.

Q: A lot of schools like to come into the state of Georgia and recruit. Who are the biggest recruiting rivals for the Bulldogs?

A: Well, no doubt it has to be Tennessee and Auburn. Florida has it easy with their recruiting base because so many of their players are right there in their own backyard.

Q: When Georgia does decide to go out of state, where do they like to recruit?

A: Florida, North Carolina, and Alabama. They have also done a pretty decent job of getting some top-tier talent out of New Jersey.

Q: Who are you most excited about from this 2010 class just signed? 

A: No doubt, it's Jakar Hamilton (DB). I truly think he's going to be something special at Georgia very soon—I love his attitude!

My thoughts on this UGA class:

This class was not the greatest by UGA standards. The Bulldogs were hurt for the first time in a long time in state by Georgia Tech who grabbed several prospects high on UGA's list.

Georgia has a huge recruiting advantage with the talent in state and usually gets their pick of the instate guys. Still, schools like Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn always seem to come in and get their share as well. And Georgia Tech is likely to improve if their on field results continue to be strong. 

Still, this class never was able to help the Bulldogs to an 11 win season and number two final ranking in 2007. 

Despite a disappointing 2009 season, this '07 recruiting class still has a chance to lead Georgia back to SEC prominence next year.

Thanks again to Kimberley for the responses. Be sure to check out her work on Georgia football.