Analyzing The 2007 UGA Recruiting Class: Defensive Line

Seemingly, the Georgia Bulldogs have finished up a solid 23-player recruiting class set to sign their letters of intent on Wednesday.

This is the fourth installment of a six-part series analyzing this recruiting class over two days before the AOL Georgia Fanhouse stops being updated. However, AOL will still provided quality national college football blogs and occasional posts by national bloggers under the Georgia Site.

• Defensive Line

Need: Rodney Garner and many fans thought this was a bigger need than I did. Garner wanted to sign two defensive tackles, including one who could contribute immediately, and 2-4 defensive ends, with at least one potential immediate starter.

It was thought Georgia would be a popular choice for defensive end prospects since Charles Johnson and Quentin Moses, arguably college football's top defensive end duo last season, are both heading to the NFL.

The Bulldogs really wanted to add one top-flight speed rusher, since the three players still at defensive end from last year's recruiting class all appear physically better suited for the Buck position, with two of those three capable of moving inside down the road.

Committed: DE Neland Ball (6-6, 220), DT Corvey Irvin (6-4, 275, JUCO transfer enrolled for spring with two years of eligibility), DE Justin Houston (6-3, 225), DE Jarius Wynn (6-5, 270, JUCO transfer with two years of eligibility)

Analysis: Irvin adds quality depth at defensive tackle for 2007, while the tenacious Wynn is a slight favorite to start immediately at end this fall. Ball has a nice frame and Houston is a quality pass rusher. However, the Bulldogs missed out on a highly rated speed rusher after Cliff Matthews surprisingly selected South Carolina.

Still, the underrated Houston could end up as good as Matthews in a few years, assuming Houston gains admittance to UGA. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs completely whiffed on adding a prep defensive tackle in this class after Cameron Heyward chose Ohio State over his state school.

This is a decent group that adds immediate help, but it is frustrating to think back to what most Georgia fans thought this group would include last September.

At that time Clifton Geathers was listed as a UGA commitment at defensive tackle, and Matthews and Heyward were both quoted as saying Georgia was their favorite college. Ouch. DeAngelo Tyson is now a must-sign for the Bulldogs in 2008. Losing him would prove disastrous for the long-term.

Grade: B