UGA bowl win, probable 2017 starters, and how the freshman will be used.
UGA got a big win against TCU on friday and now the 2016 season is over. All in all, the season was disappointing. Fortunately with everyone coming back, a top 2 recruiting class coming in, and an easy schedule, UGA might make a NY6 bowl next year best case scenario. Now in 2017 the lineups will mostly stay the same but there are some positions that change so here are the 2017 probable starters:
QB: Eason- pretty obvious, although 4 star recruit Jake Fromm might put some pressure, the job is Eason's to lose.
RB: Chubb/Michel: The thunder and lightning combo is back for their big senior year, and with an improved O-line, both RB's should get over 1,000 yds in 2017.
FB: Christian Payne: Another obvious one, Payne had a great season and he should be even better in his senior campaign.
FL: Javon Wims: Wims has that big play ability that QB's love because of his huge height advantage over CB's.
SE: Riley Ridley: Ridley had a great freshman season and should continue on in his sophomore year.
Slot: Terry Godwin: Now that Isaiah McKenzie is gone, Godwin will take over at the slot position.
LT: D'Marcus Haynes: The JUCO recruit looks very good and has a nice frame, standing at 6'6.
LG: Isaiah Wynn: The senior is very versatile on the line and LG is the position best for him.
C: Lamont Gaillard: Probably the best lineman, will now take over at Center now that Kublanow is gone.
RG: Ben Cleveland: The redshirt freshman will now get to prove himself, starting at RG.
RT: Isaiah Wilson: The true freshman is a big recruit and can help the run game immediately standing at 6'8, 370 lbs.
Defense: 4-3
LDE: Jonathan Ledbetter: Although he has many off the field issues, he has a nose for the QB and should be valuable in his big Jr year.
DT: Trenton Thompson: The MVP of the liberty bowl will try to continue his dominance in his big jr year.
DT: Julian Rochester: The freshman had a solid campaign and earned a starting role in my opinion for next year.
RDE: Davin Bellamy: The edge player will be a defensive end this year in his final season.
LOLB: Natrez Patrick: After a big sophomore year, Patrick will try to follow up with an even bigger JR year.
MLB: Roquan Smith: Smith was voted second best MLB in the SEC, only behind Alabama's Rueben Foster who is a senior, and a first round draft pick. Smith now owns the SEC and will make 120 tackles his JR year.
ROLB: Lorenzo Carter: Carter is going to be the edge player which makes sense because he has a nose for the ball.
LCB: Malkom Parrish: As one of the 3 seniors in the secondary, Parrish will shut down receivers like he did this past year.
FS: Dominick Sanders: Sanders is very good and is a ballhawk and will have big senior year after a disappointing jr year.
SS: Aaron Davis: Davis will be back for his senior year as a hard hitting safety.
RCB: Deandre Baker: The one Jr in the secondary, Baker came in during the middle of this season and turned into a solid CB.
STAR: Mecole Hardman Jr.: Hardman returned kickoffs and now will see some playing time now that Maurice Smith is gone
Freshmen: There are so many freshman, but because so many players are coming back, they will not get a lot of playing time. Either Richard Lecounte, or Deangelo Gibbs will return kickoffs along with Mecole Hardman. As for defense, those 2 might also get playing time in a blowout game. Robert Beal who is an EDGE player will get playing time on 3rd downs for sack purposes. As for offense, WR's Mark Webb, and Jeremiah Holloman will get some targets and will be top WR's during blowout games. RB D'Andre Swift will likely redshirt as well as all the front 7 players besides Beal including: Malik Herring, Nate McBride, Jaden Hunter, Monty Rice, and Walter Grant. The only freshman that will be an every down player is Isaiah Wilson. Unfortunately because the schedule has so many cupcake games, the freshmen will get some playing time which does not give them the option to redshirt and get an extra year of eligibility.
