ATHENS, Ga. - The Georgia Bulldogs survived the coaching transition from Mark Richt to Kirby Smart on the recruiting trail.
Now the question will be whether the Bulldogs met their needs.
Georgia assembled a class of 20 signees that was rated No. 7 nationally by ESPN and 247Sports.com as of Wednesday evening, with Scout.com ranking the Bulldogs No. 9 and Rivals.com pegging them at No. 12. No Southeastern Conference team has ever finished as high as seventh amid a coaching change.
"For you guys, today may be about stars and rankings," Smart said in an afternoon news conference, "but for me it's about Bulldogs and new members of the family. This class will be judged on how productive they are four years from now and walking across that stage and getting that diploma.
"Going in those in-home visits was a little awkward at first. You're trying to sell yourself and the program, which is easy to sell here at UGA."
Georgia's class still could include Demetris Robertson of Savannah, Ga., who is rated by 247Sports as the nation's top receiver. Robertson did not sign Wednesday and is deciding among Georgia, Notre Dame, Stanford and Alabama.
The Bulldogs opened Wednesday with a couple of in-state signees who had been uncommitted, snagging top athlete prospect Mecole Hardman of Elberton and four-star defensive tackle Michail Carter of Jackson. The afternoon was not as kind, as four-star offensive tackle E.J. Price of Lawrenceville signed with Southern California and five-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown of Buford opted for Auburn.
Brown is rated by 247Sports as the Peach State's top prospect.
"One of the reasons I think Kirby was hired is because Georgia cannot allow the top players in the state to leave," ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill said. "They cannot allow a Carl Lawson (Auburn) or a Montravious Adams (Auburn) or some of these guys to leave for another program. They need to keep the best players at home."
Georgia added two Peach State players Wednesday who were committed to other Southeastern Conference programs, flipping defensive end David Marshall from Auburn and receiver Tyler Simmons from Alabama.
"Recruiting is a constant process," Smart said. "When a kid is committed to you, you're the target, and you have to know that. Everyone who is committed to us, you have to stay on the phone with, because people don't see the commitment as it being over.
"I've had a relationship with a lot of these kids for the last three or four years."
Smart was asked what it was like recruiting against Alabama coach Nick Saban, his boss from 2007 until last month, and replied, "I don't recruit against Nick Saban. I recruit for the University of Georgia. I'm not going to sit there and attack him and his character when he's got four out of the last however many national championships. You sell what you have."
Despite signing Ben Cleveland, Chris Barnes and Solomon Kindley, Smart was hoping to have more offensive linemen. He didn't hesitate in saying that offensive tackle will be the biggest need of the 2017 class.
The Bulldogs struggled this past season with depth at receiver and do not have much productivity returning, but Smart signed three Wednesday who he hopes can help.
"I don't think you ever know until you get them out there," he said. "I think we've gotten a lot faster. Tyler is a track kid who can really run. Where Meco winds up, who knows? He wants to play DB, but who's to say he can't touch the ball in some kind of way? Javon Wims gives us size we didn't have, and Riley Ridley competed at the highest level in Miami against some really good players.
"Let's hope that they at least increase the competition in that room, because sometimes when you increase the competition you increase the production."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.