2016 Georgia Bulldogs football team

2016 Georgia Bulldogs football
2016 Georgia Bulldogs football
Liberty Bowl champion
Liberty Bowl, W 31–23 vs. TCU
Conference	Southeastern Conference
	Eastern Division
Record	8–5 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach	Kirby Smart (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Jim Chaney (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinator	James Coley (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Mel Tucker (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Captain	Nick Chubb; Brandon Kublanow; Sony Michel; Maurice Smith
Home stadium	Sanford Stadium
	Seasons ← 2015 2017 →

The 2016 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the University of Georgia in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs played their home games at Sanford Stadium. They were members of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Kirby Smart. They finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in SEC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Division. They were invited to the Liberty Bowl where they defeated TCU.

2016 Southeastern Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
No. 14 Florida x	6	–	2	9	–	4
No. 22 Tennessee	4	–	4	9	–	4
Georgia	4	–	4	8	–	5
Kentucky	4	–	4	7	–	6
South Carolina	3	–	5	6	–	7
Vanderbilt	3	–	5	6	–	7
Missouri*	2	–	6	4	–	8
West Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^	8	–	0	14	–	1
No. 24 Auburn	5	–	3	8	–	5
No. 13 LSU	5	–	3	8	–	4
Texas A&M	4	–	4	8	–	5
Arkansas	3	–	5	7	–	6
Mississippi State	3	–	5	6	–	7
Ole Miss*	2	–	6	5	–	7
Championship: Alabama 54, Florida 16
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions * Ole Miss and Missouri vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. Rankings from AP Poll

Coaching changes

After the 2015 regular season, Georgia's athletic director Greg McGarity fired head coach Mark Richt after 15 seasons with an overall 145–51 record. Richt was replaced with former Georgia football player Kirby Smart, who, at the time, was Alabama's defensive coordinator. Smart played for the Bulldogs from 1995 to 1998 for coaches Ray Goff and Jim Donnan and was defensive coordinator at Alabama from 2008 to 2015 under head coach Nick Saban. Jeremy Pruitt, who was defensive coordinator for Georgia from 2014 to 2015, accepted a position as the defensive coordinator for Alabama to replace Smart.

2016 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2016 recruits
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Isaac Nauta #1 TE	Bradenton, FL	IMG Academy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	Jan 9, 2016
Isaac Nauta #1 TE	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Mecole Hardman #2 ATH	Elberton, GA	Elbert County High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	171 lb (78 kg)	Feb 3, 2016
Mecole Hardman #2 ATH	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jacob Eason #1 QB	Lake Stevens, WA	Lake Stevens High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	207 lb (94 kg)	Jul 9, 2014
Jacob Eason #1 QB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Charlie Woerner #4 ATH	Tiger, GA	Rabun County High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Jul 23, 2015
Charlie Woerner #4 ATH	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Javon Wims #3 WR (JC)	Miami, FL	Hinds C.C. (MS)	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Nov 8, 2015
Javon Wims #3 WR (JC)	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Julian Rochester #8 DT	Powder Springs, GA	McEachern High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	327 lb (148 kg)	May 28, 2015
Julian Rochester #8 DT	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Riley Ridley #39 WR	Deerfield Beach, FL	Deerfield Beach High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Jan 7, 2016
Riley Ridley #39 WR	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Chauncey Manac #17 DE	Homerville, GA	Clinch County High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	252 lb (114 kg)	Sep 27, 2014
Chauncey Manac #17 DE	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jaleel Laguins #11 ILB	Watkinsville, GA	Oconee County High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	Aug 8, 2015
Jaleel Laguins #11 ILB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Elijah Holyfield #11 RB	Atlanta, GA	Woodward Academy	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Sep 4, 2015
Elijah Holyfield #11 RB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Ben Cleveland #13 OG	Toccoa, GA	Stephens County High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	327 lb (148 kg)	Jul 9, 2014
Ben Cleveland #13 OG	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tyler Clark #30 DT	Americus, GA	Americus-Sumter County High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	May 15, 2015
Tyler Clark #30 DT	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Michail Carter #9 DT	Jackson, GA	Jackson High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	288 lb (131 kg)	Feb 3, 2016
Michail Carter #9 DT	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tyler Simmons #87 WR	Powder Springs, GA	McEachern High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	191 lb (87 kg)	Feb 3, 2016
Tyler Simmons #87 WR	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tyrique McGhee #45 CB	Fort Valley, GA	Peach County High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	168 lb (76 kg)	Feb 22, 2015
Tyrique McGhee #45 CB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
David Marshall #25 DT	Thomaston, GA	Upson-Lee High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	Feb 3, 2016
David Marshall #25 DT	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Solomon Kindley #40 OG	Jacksonville, FL	Raines High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	345 lb (156 kg)	Jan 25, 2016
Solomon Kindley #40 OG	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Chad Clay #18 CB	Suwanee, GA	Peachtree Ridge High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	169 lb (77 kg)	May 8, 2015
Chad Clay #18 CB	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Chris Barnes #19 OG	Leesburg, GA	Lee County High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	274 lb (124 kg)	Apr 11, 2015
Chris Barnes #19 OG	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Marshall Long #10 K	China Grove, NC	South Rowan High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	Jan 31, 2016
Marshall Long #10 K	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 10 Rivals: 9 247Sports: 7 ESPN: 7
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.

National Signing Day was on February 3, 2016.

Schedule

Georgia announced its 2016 football schedule on October 29, 2015. The 2016 schedule consisted of 6 home, 4 away, and 2 neutral site games in the regular season. The Bulldogs hosted SEC foes Auburn, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, and traveled to Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss, and South Carolina. Georgia went against Florida in Jacksonville, Florida.^[1]

The Bulldogs had hosted three of their four non–conference games, which were against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the North Carolina Tar Heels both from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns from the Sun Belt Conference, and Nicholls State Colonels from the Southland Conference.^[2]

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	5:30 p.m.	vs. No. 22 North Carolina*	No. 18	Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA (Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game)	ESPN	W 33–24	75,405
September 10	12:00 p.m.	Nicholls State*	No. 9	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	SECN	W 26–24	92,746
September 17	7:30 p.m.	at Missouri	No. 16	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN	W 28–27	57,098
September 24	12:00 p.m.	at No. 23 Ole Miss	No. 12	Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS	ESPN	L 14–45	65,483
October 1	3:30 p.m.	No. 11 Tennessee	No. 25	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry / SEC Nation)	CBS	L 31–34	92,746
October 9^[a]	2:30 p.m.^[3]	at South Carolina		Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC (rivalry)	SECN	W 28–14	77,221
October 15	12:00 p.m.	Vanderbilt		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	SECN	L 16–17	92,746
October 29	3:30 p.m.	vs. No. 14 Florida		EverBank Field Jacksonville, FL (rivalry / SEC Nation)	CBS	L 10–24	84,681
November 5	7:30 p.m.	at Kentucky		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	SECN	W 27–24	62,507
November 12	3:30 p.m.	No. 8 Auburn		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry)	CBS	W 13–7	92,746
November 19	12:00 p.m.	Louisiana–Lafayette*		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	SECN	W 35–21	92,746
November 26	12:00 p.m.	Georgia Tech*		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate)	SECN	L 27–28	92,746
December 30	12:00 p.m.	vs. TCU*		Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN (Liberty Bowl)	ESPN	W 31–23	51,087
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^{^[a]}The game between Georgia and South Carolina had been originally scheduled for October 8, 2016, but was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew and played on October 9, 2016.

Game summaries

vs North Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
#22 Tar Heels	0	10	14	0	24
#18 Bulldogs	7	7	9	10	33

Nicholls State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colonels	0	7	7	10	24
#9 Bulldogs	7	3	16	0	26

At Missouri

	1	2	3	4	Total
#16 Bulldogs	7	14	0	7	28
Tigers	10	10	7	0	27

At Ole Miss

	1	2	3	4	Total
#12 Bulldogs	0	0	7	7	14
#23 Rebels	17	14	14	0	45

Tennessee

	1	2	3	4	Total
#11 Volunteers	0	7	7	20	34
#25 Bulldogs	7	10	7	7	31

At South Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	7	0	14	28
Gamecocks	0	0	7	7	14

Vanderbilt

	1	2	3	4	Total
Commodores	7	0	3	7	17
Bulldogs	3	3	7	3	16

vs Florida

	1	2	3	4	Total
Gators	7	7	7	3	24
Bulldogs	7	3	0	0	10

At Kentucky

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	6	3	11	27
Wildcats	7	7	7	3	24

Auburn

Auburn Tigers (7–2) at Georgia Bulldogs (5–4)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	7	0	0	0	7
Georgia	0	0	7	6	13

at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia

Date: November 12
Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Fair • 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind gusts 20 miles per hour (32 km/h; 17 kn)
Game attendance: 92,746
Referee: Ken Williamson
Box Score

Louisiana–Lafayette

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ragin' Cajuns	0	7	0	14	21
Bulldogs	14	7	7	7	35

Georgia Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Yellow Jackets	7	7	0	14	28
Bulldogs	7	7	13	0	27

TCU–Liberty Bowl

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	7	7	10	31
Horned Frogs	9	7	7	0	23

Roster

2016 Georgia Bulldogs football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB	`1`	Sony Michel	Jr
WR	`2`	Jayson Stanley	So
QB	`2`	Sam Vaughn	So
WR	`4`	Mecole Hardman	Fr
WR	`5`	Terry Godwin	So
WR	`6`	Javon Wims	Jr
WR	`8`	Riley Ridley	Fr
WR	`9`	Kenneth Towns	Sr
QB	`10`	Jacob Eason	Fr
QB	`11`	Greyson Lambert	Sr
QB	`12`	Brice Ramsey	Jr
RB	`13`	Elijah Holyfield	Fr
QB	`14`	Parker McLeod	Jr
WR	`16`	Isaiah McKenzie	Jr
WR	`17`	Josh Moran	Fr
TE	`18`	Isaac Nauta	Fr
WR	`19`	Willie Erdman	Fr
RB	`22`	Brendan Douglas	Sr
RB	`22`	Avery McNeely	Jr
WR	`23`	Shakenneth Williams	Fr
RB	`24`	Prather Hudson	Fr
WR	`25`	Steven Van Tiflin	So
WR	`26`	Patrick Burke	Fr
RB	`27`	Nick Chubb	Jr
WR	`28`	Shaquery Wilson	So
WR	`29`	Matt Price	So
RB	`30`	Tae Crowder	Fr
RB	`33`	Ian Donald-McIntyre	Fr
RB	`35`	Brian Herrien	Fr
RB	`37`	Shavoyae Brown	Fr
FB	`43`	Nick Moore	So
TE	`44`	Justin Hurston	Fr
FB	`46`	Glenn Welch	Jr
FB	`47`	Christian Payne	Jr
FB	`48`	Kyle LeStrange	Sr
FB	`49`	Turner Fortin	Fr
OL	`53`	Lamont Gaillard	So
OL	`54`	Brandon Kublanow	Sr
OL	`55`	Dyshon Sims	Jr
OL	`56`	Billy Seward	Jr
OL	`57`	Daniel Gothard	Fr
OL	`58`	Pat Allen	Fr
OL	`60`	Murko Jurkovich	Fr
OL	`61`	Chris Barnes	Fr
OL	`63`	Sage Hardin	Fr
OL	`65`	Kendall Baker	So
OL	`66`	Solomon Kindley	Fr
OL	`67`	Sam Madden	Fr
OL	`68`	Sean Fogarty	So
OL	`70`	Aulden Bynum	Jr
OL	`72`	Tyler Catalina	Sr
OL	`73`	Greg Pyke	Sr
OL	`74`	Ben Cleveland	Fr
OL	`75`	Thomas Swilley	Jr
OL	`77`	Isaiah Wynn	Jr
WR	`80`	Charlie Hegedus	Sr
WR	`82`	Michael Chigbu	So
TE	`83`	Jeb Blazevich	Jr
WR	`84`	Wyatt Payne	Fr
TE	`85`	Jordan Davis	Jr
WR	`86`	Davis Kelly	Fr
TE	`86`	Wix Patton	Fr
TE	`87`	Miles McGinty	So
WR	`87`	Tyler Simmons	Fr
TE	`88`	Jackson Harris	So
TE	`89`	Charlie Woerner	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`2`	Maurice Smith	Sr
LB	`3`	Roquan Smith	So
DL	`5`	Julian Rochester	Fr
LB	`6`	Natrez Patrick	So
LB	`7`	Lorenzo Carter	Jr
LB	`8`	Shaun McGee	Fr
DB	`9`	Reggie Wilkerson	Fr
DL	`10`	Malik Herring	Fr
LB	`11`	Keyon Brown	So
DB	`12`	Juwan Briscoe	So
DL	`13`	Jonathan Ledbetter	So
DB	`14`	Malkom Parrish	Jr
LB	`15`	D'Andre Walker	So
DB	`16`	Caleeb Roberson	Fr
LB	`17`	Davin Bellamy	Jr
DB	`18`	Deandre Baker	Jr
DB	`19`	Jarvis Wilson	So
DB	`20`	Quincy Mauger	Sr
DB	`20`	J. R. Reed	So
DB	`24`	Dominick Sanders	Jr
LB	`25`	Jaleel Laguins	Fr
DB	`26`	Tyrique McGhee	Fr
DB	`28`	KJ Smith	Fr
DB	`28`	Otamere Enadeghe	So
DB	`29`	Tim Hill	Sr
DB	`31`	Shattle Fenteng	Sr
LB	`32`	Ridge Underwood	Sr
DB	`33`	Kirby Choates	So
DB	`35`	Aaron Davis	Jr
DB	`36`	Rico McGraw	So
DB	`37`	Jordon McKinney	Fr
LB	`38`	Ryne Rankin	Sr
LB	`39`	Rashad Roundtree	So
LB	`41`	Chuks Amaechi	Sr
LB	`43`	Tommy Long	Sr
LB	`44`	Juwan Taylor	Jr
LB	`45`	Reggie Carter	Jr
LB	`46`	Michael Keene	Fr
LB	`47`	Daniel Harper	So
DB	`48`	Jonah Guinn	Sr
DL	`49`	Koby Pyrz	Fr
LB	`50`	Johnny O'Neal	Sr
LB	`51`	David Marshall	Fr
DL	`52`	Tyler Clark	Fr
LB	`55`	Jacob Gross	So
DL	`57`	Alex Essex	So
DL	`76`	Michail Carter	Fr
DL	`78`	Trenton Thompson	So
LB	`91`	Chauncey Manac	Fr
DL	`92`	Justin Young	Fr
DL	`93`	Carson Hall	Sr
DL	`94`	Michael Barnett	So
DL	`96`	DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle	So
DL	`97`	John Atkins	Jr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LS	`56`	John Courson	So
LS	`59`	Matthew Herzwurm	Jr
LS	`69`	Trent Frix	Jr
K	`92`	William Ham	So
K	`94`	Thomas Pritchard	Sr
P	`95`	Marshall Long	Fr
LS	`96`	Hudson Reynolds	Fr
P	`97`	Will Cowart	So
K	`98`	Rodrigo Blankenship	Fr
K	`99`	Mitchell Wasson	Fr

Head coach

Kirby Smart

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Jim Chaney – Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Mel Tucker – Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
James Coley — Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Will Windham — Quality Control, Defense

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 10/25/18

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	18	9	16	12	25	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	16	9	13	11	20	RV	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV
CFP	Not released									—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

References

[1]

[2]

[3]

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