UGA Early Recruiting Class Ranked No. 1

On the strength of a 12-1 season that still includes hopes for a National Championship, the Georgia Bulldogs were expected to sign a strong roster of recruits on Wednesday — the first day for early signing.

What Coach Kirby Smart and his staff did, however, blew away even those high expectations, with many analysts saying UGA now has the top recruiting class in the nation.

The SEC Champion Bulldogs surged past teams like Ohio State and Texas by not just inking scholarship deals with players that had already committed to come to Athens, but by winning virtually every race in which they were a finalist and even flipping some commits from other schools.

Georgia shocked observers by signing five-star recruits Brenton Cox (defensive end), Cade Mays (offensive tackle) and Jamaree Salyer (offensive guard) on Wednesday. Cox had committed to Ohio State, Mays to Tennessee and Salyer to Florida earlier in the recruiting season.

Wednesday evening, Georgia added to their tally by flipping four-star cornerback Nadab Joseph, who had committed to Alabama, and signing four-star linebacker Channing Tindall, who had considered South Carolina and Florida State.

In all, Georgia signed six five-star prospects on Wednesday. They had never inked more than three in a single year before.

That number includes Zamir White, the nation's No. 1 ranked running back out of Laurinburg, N.C. and several players who were ranked No. 2 overall at their position.

At a press conference Wednesday, Smart called the first day of signing his first full recruiting class a "unique experience" and "an interesting day to say the least."

"A lot of great kids choosing to come to Georgia," Smart said. "I am most excited."

Smart noted that 10 of the 17 players signed at the time of the conference had gone to a state championship game as high school players and six of them won that game.

Smart also addressed the signing of Justin Fields, a highly ranked, five-star quarterback out of Harrison High School in Kennesaw, despite having a starter in freshman Jake Fromm.

"You never know. Why did we recruit Jake Fromm when we have Jacob Eason (who sprained his knee in the first game of the season)? Because you never know. I think back, 'aren't we glad we did.' ...

"There are only so many guys like Justin Fields. He is a talented young man and so is Jake Fromm. I bet Justin Fields makes Jake Fromm better and Jake Fromm makes Justin Fields better and Jacob Eason makes both those guys better."

It wasn't just Smart who was excited about the class, though. Multiple analysts were calling Georgia's haul on Wednesday the best recruiting class so far in the nation.

"(W)hile there are several high-profile recruitments still to unfold over the next seven weeks before the traditional National Signing Day arrives, Georgia has already set the high mark for other schools to chase, while also reaching new heights in recruiting as a program," wrote 24/7 Sports.

SB Nation also put the Bulldogs at No. 1, after having them ranked No. 3 going into Wednesday.

"Last cycle wasn’t a blip," the site wrote. "Kirby Smart and Georgia are absolutely a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail, and the Dawgs aren't going anywhere."

Here's a look at the 2018 recruits that had officially signed with UGA as of Thursday morning, according to the team's website:

• Warren Ericson, OL, 6-4, 315 pounds, Suwanee, North Gwinnett High
• Jake Camarda, P/K, 6-2, 180 pounds, Norcross, Norcross High
• Owen Condon, OL, 6-7, 315 pounds, Oklahoma City, OK, Bishop McGuinness High
• John FitzPatrick, TE, 6-6, 230 pounds, Atlanta, Marist High
• Kearis Jackson, WR 6-0, 200 pounds, Fort Valley, Peach County High
• Deontrey Hill, OL, 6-4, 330 pounds, Warner Robins, Houston County High
• James Cook, RB, 6-0, 184 pounds, Miami, Miami Central High
• Jamaree Salyer, OL, 6-4, 325 pounds, Atlanta, Pace Academy
• Zamir White, RB, 6-0, 210 pounds, Laurinburg, N.C., Scotland High
• Azeez Ojulari, OLB, 6-3, 230 pounds, Marietta, Marietta High
• Christopher Smith, DB, 5-11, 175 pounds, Atlanta, Hapeville Charter High
• Divaad Wilson, DB, 6-0, 180, Miami, Miami Northwestern High
• Justin Fields, QB, 6-3, 225 pounds, Kennesaw, Harrison High
• Adam Anderson, OLB, 6-5, 225 pounds, Rome, Rome High
• Cade Mays, OL, 6-6, 318 pound, Knoxville TN, Knoxville Catholic High
• Brenton Cox, OLB, 6-4, 250 pounds, Stockbridge, Stockbridge High
• Devonte Wyatt, DL, 6-3, 301 pounds, Decatur, Hutchinson Community College
• Nadab Joseph, 6-0, 180 pounds, Miami, Miami Norland High

Photo via GeorgiaDogs.com