A look at Georgia's recruiting class

Anyone who tells you recruiting doesn't matter in college football doesn't know what they're talking about. Anyone who tells you National Signing Day doesn't matter is about half right. Getting a player to sign on the dotted line is half the battle; what they do once they're enrolled is the more important part.

The University of Georgia had another big haul this winter, bringing in the fifth-best class in the nation, according to ESPN.com. Coming off a 10-4 season in which the Bulldogs were one half away from playing in a BCS bowl, it was important that they replenish a team that will lose key players such as tight end Orson Charles, cornerback Brandon Boykin and offensive linemen Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones and Justin Anderson.

Here are some observations about UGA coming out of the recruiting season:

- Two words: Keith Marshall. The No. 2 running back in the 2012 class is already enrolled in Athens and will practice this spring for the Bulldogs. Not only does Marshall provide game-breaking speed, he graduated high school with a 4.2 GPA and should provide sophomore Isaiah Crowell some strong competition for playing time next season. While Crowell is extremely talented (850 yards, five touchdowns), he spent a lot of 2011 nursing injuries and was suspended a game for reported marijuana use.
As football goes these days, you can never have too many running backs. Crowell, Ken Malcome and Richard Samuel combined with Marshall and Todd Gurley joining up this season should give Georgia plenty of weapons out of the backfield.

- JHC joins Grantham's defense. It's always a good thing when you can add the top-rated outside linebacker in the country. Josh Harvey-Clemons of Valdosta is another cog in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense, which was one of the best in college football last season. Nine starters are returning. At outside linebacker, All-American Jarvis Jones and senior Cornelius Washington will start and sophomore Ray Drew will command playing time. Harvey-Clemons may end up redshirting because of the depth of the position, but that's a good problem for Grantham to have.

- Building in the trenches. Especially in the SEC, line play is important, and Georgia makes a point each year of getting as many talented lineman as possible. Nine of the 19 new Bulldogs play in the trenches, led by OT John Theus, DT Jonathan Taylor, DE Jordan Jenkins and DT John Atkins. Georgia brought in several offensive linemen last year, and building depth on the defensive side of the ball will be key going into the next couple of seasons.

- Special teams, special teams. Bulldog fans saw how important special teams were last season. Kicker Blair Walsh and punter Drew Butler were supposed to lead one of the best units in the country, but Walsh was inexplicably inconsistent in 2011. With Walsh graduated, Georgia brought in two kickers, Marshall Morgan and Collin Barber, the fifth- and ninth-rated kickers in the 2012 class. For the most part, UGA has had a great track record with kickers in the Mark Richt era, and the Bulldog faithful are hoping one of the incoming freshmen can keep it going.