Dale Zanine – USA TODAY Sports
Mark Richt has made a concerted effort to reload the defensive front of the Georgia Bulldogs over the last two recruiting classes and he may have landed the final piece of the puzzle. Five-star defensive tackle Julian Rochester verbally committed to the Bulldogs on Thursday, providing a strong boost to UGA’s 2016 recruiting class that could push it to be one of the best in the nation next February.
The 6-foot-6, 323-pound Rochester is rated as the No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2016 class and the No. 4 prospect overall by ESPN. He was considered a strong lean for the Auburn Tigers up until this spring when Georgia and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt made a strong push to secure his commitment. Rochester is yet another elite prospect that Pruitt has helped secure for the Georgia defense and should help solidify the Bulldog defense for years to come.
Rochester is the third defensive lineman to commit to Georgia’s 2016 class after the Bulldogs added eight players in the 2015 class that will play in the front seven. The plan is to reload the defensive front at Georgia after suffering major attrition through the NFL draft. Being able to hold strong at the line of scrimmage is paramount when trying to win an SEC title and adding talent like Rochester is the perfect way to get it done.
For Georgia, Rochester becomes the ninth commitment from ESPN 300 players and the second five-star verbal, joining quarterback Jacob Eason. The big defensive tackle leads a strong group of Georgia-based recruits that have committed to the Bulldogs, including six of the nine ESPN 300 members. Already considered a top five class heading into the summer, Rochester’s commitment could push Georgia into the conversation for the best 2016 recruiting class (ending the Alabama Crimson Tide‘s reign at the top of the rankings) and set the Bulldogs up for a strong finish to the recruiting season this fall.
When building a championship team, it’s vital to get elite talent to play at pivotal positions. Will Julian Rochester prove to be the difference maker for Georgia?
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