Georgia has the inside track on the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class

In case you haven’t noticed (you have), the Georgia Bulldogs are killin’ it on the recruiting trail.

Kirby Smart is locking up blue chip players left and right, bringing in top talent and keeping it out of the hands of competitors.

SB Nation’s recruiting guru Buuuuuuud Elliott has published an update on the nation's top seven recruiting classes as they currently stand. Alabama, as always, is No. 1, with Ohio State not far behind.

But Georgia’s highly regarded class isn’t far behind. Here are his comments on the ‘Dawgs:

In most any other year, Georgia’s class could well be talked about as the nation’s best. Nineteen of Kirby Smart’s 23 commitments are rated four or five-stars. The rest of the SEC East has 20. Combined. That dominance relative to the rest of the division is far greater than what Alabama does to the SEC West.

The strength of Georgia’s class is its offensive line. Georgia’s six offensive linemen rank Nos. 2, 5, 7, 12, 16, and 21 at their positions nationally. It’s a great job of addressing what was the biggest hole on the roster left by former head coach Mark Richt.

And Georgia has the No. 2 and 3 safety recruits nationally, in Richard LeCounte III, and Deangelo Gibbs, both of Georgia.

The Bulldogs are locking down the state like never before. Seventeen of its 23 commitments are from the Peach State. And they might not be done. They have a shot to land the state’s No. 3 player in Aubrey Solomon (discussed above in the Alabama section), as well as No. 19 in defensive end Markaviest Bryant, and No. 21 in linebacker Leonard Warner.

A final piece could come from Alabama four-star receiver Nico Collins.

It looks like Smart learned a thing or two during his time working under Saban.

Michigan, Florida State, LSU and Oklahoma aren’t far behind the ‘Dawgs, and there’s a lot that will happen between now and signing day on Feb. 1. But there’s no denying it’s a new day in Georgia recruiting.