Richard LeCounte III, the 5-star UGA commit from Liberty County, is rated as the nation’s No. 1 athlete for 2017. He’s set himself some lofty goals as a recruiter trying to bring the state’s top talent to UGA with him in his signing class.

But LeCounte III also shared a pretty bold prediction for the Class of 2016 with DawgNation, too. He seems to have a pretty good feeling where the nation’s No. 1 athlete for 2016 will end up.

That would be 5-star Mecole Hardman, Jr. out of Elbert County.

“I think we’ll see him soon,” LeCounte III said. “That 2016 class we got going on at UGA is going to be amazing together. When February 3rd rolls around I am going to be watching every TV I can. UGA will have names popping up on Signing Day everywhere. I’m ready for that class right there.”

Hardman will make his decision on National Signing Day next month. He released his Top 6 of UGA, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Michigan and Tennessee on New Year’s Eve. Most recruiting analysts point to UGA as his eventual destination, but Hardman has maintained a very “open” stance with his recruitment for quite some time.

Expect Georgia and Alabama to be in it until the very end with Hardman. At the very least.

 

Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.