Since Kirby Smart was named the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, recruiting players to Athens has reached an entirely different level. Gone are the days of last minute offers to cover thin position groups on campus. We're in the times of UGA being the hunter, on the field and on the recruiting trail. Smart and company are basically able to pick who they want. Success is a huge reason why, but it starts with the reletlessness from the coaching staff on the recruiting trail.

The 2024 class has the promise to not only be one of the best ever under Kirby Smart, it has a chance to become the best overall recruiting class in the history of ranking recruits. Coming off of back to back national championships certainly doesn't hurt. The state of Georgia being loaded this year is another reason. Georgia will also have to load up with skill position players, including the quarterback position.

As we introduce the 2024 full recruiting board, we're going to go position by position on where UGA stands with our top targets across the nation.

QUARTERBACK

Losing: Stetson Bennett

Returning: Carson Beck (Jr), Brock Vandagriff (So), Gunner Stockton (RS-Fr)

2023 Class: None

After losing out on the Arch Manning recruitment in the 2023 recruiting cycle, Todd Monken is certainly going to make sure we don't get left at the altar again. The Dawgs went all in on Arch and found themselves without a QB commit. Monken very likely could have gotten another QB, but they weren't going to take one just to fill a roster spot. It had to be the right one.

TARGETS

That is going to be at least part of the reason UGA just put out an offer to four star in-state QB Jake Merklinger. Many wondered if the offer had anything to do with how we currently feel with the current top targets/commits. It absolutley does not. To start with, Merklinger is comparable to any other quarterback in the country not named Dylan Raiola. Georgia would be crazy to not offer an in-state QB that had the season he just had as a junior. The Calvary Day gunslinger threw 32 touchdowns last season on almost 2000 yards passing. The Savannah native is the seventh ranked quarterback in the nation. He'll make his way to Athens shortly after the February dead period concludes.

Anyone who has paid a minute of attention to the 2024 class knows who Dylan Raiola is. The No. 1 player in the nation is one of the highlest profile recruits in recent memory. The five star was a UGA lean for a good while before he committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Just like Peach Bowl field goals, that commitment ended up going wide left with Raiola opening his recruitment back up. The Dawgs are a favorite again, along with Southern Cal. Nebraska can't be counted out, with his father a Cornhusker legend and his uncle on staff with new head coach Matt Rhule. It should be noted that his uncle was also on staff when he originally committed to Ohio State. It should also be noted that his father was and is still very close with former UGA legend Matthew Stafford, after being his center for almost a decade.

Raiola's last visit was to go check out Southern Cal and Lincoln Riley right before the February dead perios started. He will be back in Athens at least once more on March 18th. Don't be surprised if he visits a couple more times. Oregon is also trying to get into the mix, but this is currently a three team race. Raiola will likely make his decision before the season starts this fall.

COMMITS

Georgia found a gem from Connecticut in Ryan Puglisi. The 6'3 signal caller is currently ranked as the No. 10 quarterback in the nation, with that ranking likely to rise as he gains more exposure. He was a three star until more attention was put on him as the Dawgs ramped up the pursuit. UGA has been up front with Puglisi about taking two QBs in this class from the beginning and he is saying all the right things about his commitment being strong no matter what. Puglisi has one of, if not the strongest arms in the nation. The ball just comes out different when he starts slinging it around. Puglisi has actually become quite the recruiter as the recruiting cycle has progressed.

OTHERS

For a good part of 2022 it looked at if Georgia was going to have to make a choice between two 5* quarterbacks, Julian Sayin and Jadyn Davis. The Dawgs had the inside track and had established strong relationships with both of the signal callers. The Puglisi recruitment started heating up around late summer and the Dawgs got on of their top targets when he committed in mid-October. Sayin is currently an Alabama commit, while Davis is still working up to his decision. I do not expect Georgia to be a factor in either recruitment, regardless of what happens with Puglisi, Raiola, and Merklinger. There are other offers on the table, but the aforementioned three top targets are the only ones to pay close attention to right now.