Georgia has established itself as one of the top programs in the nation for recruiting. Since Kirby Smart became head coach in 2016, the Bulldogs have consistently recruited at an elite, top-three level. This success has translated into outstanding performances on the field and a strong presence in the NFL Draft. One of the more recent recruiting classes now ripe for evaluation is the 2022 class. So, how did Georgia perform in that cycle?
The players from Georgia’s 2022 recruiting class became eligible for the NFL Draft this season, with standout names like Malaki Starks, Mykel Williams, and Jalon Walker leading the pack. All three are projected to be first-round picks this year, marking an impressive start for the Bulldogs’ 2022 class.
Other notable players from that class include Gunner Stockton, Christen Miller, Daylen Everette, Drew Bobo, Oscar Delp, Earnest Greene, Dillon Bell, and Brett Thorson. What do these players have in common.
Each of them has earned at least one start since stepping on campus as freshmen, with many accumulating a significant number of starts. Stockton, for instance, made his first career start in Georgia’s playoff game against Notre Dame this past season.That makes 11 players from Georgia’s 2022 recruiting class who have already made an impact for the program. However, it’s worth noting that Gunner Stockton has only played two complete college football games so far—stepping in during the second half of the 2023 Orange Bowl, the second half of the 2024 SEC Championship, and in the Sugar Bowl. Similarly, Drew Bobo saw some action this season in place of Jared Wilson, though his overall playing time has been limited. While it’s still too early to make definitive judgments about these two players, both have proven valuable to the roster and have shown enough promise to earn starting opportunities.
The upside is that Georgia was able to get contributions from several players in the 2022 class before they decided to move on. Julian Humphrey, for instance, earned starts for Georgia this past season before entering the transfer portal during the offseason. Similarly, Marvin Jones Jr., Bear Alexander, and Darris Smith all saw playing time and made an impact on the field before choosing to pursue opportunities with other programs.
