It's not an easy task to make it to the College Football Playoff, but it's even more difficult to make it consecutive seasons.
Alabama has been a fixture in the playoff, making it seven times, and that is largely due to how well the Crimson Tide have recruited under Nick Saban. Consistently ranked in the top five of the class rankings, Alabama had a top-three class all but one year in the past five recruiting cycles.
Georgia was the only team with a top-three class in each of the past five classes, and now the Dawgs are hoping they, too, become a regular in the playoff.
Both teams will lose some key pieces for next season, but both have recruited at a high level in the 2022 class. Here is a look at how Alabama and Georgia are restocking key position groups to try to get back to the playoff in 2022.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Quarterback
Quarterback recruiting is a constant process that is ever changing, especially with the transfer portal. Alabama just had quarterback Paul Tyson enter the portal, which leaves the Crimson Tide with Heisman winner Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe. Tyson was an ESPN 300 quarterback in the 2018 class and signed with Taulia Tagovailoa, who eventually transferred to Maryland.
Young threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns as a sophomore this season, but given how well he has played, it's not unrealistic to think the 2022 season will be his last. Even so, teams need depth behind starters in case of injury.
Nick Saban and his staff signed ESPN 300 quarterback Ty Simpson in December. Simpson is the No. 31 overall recruit and the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the class. He's a 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect from Westview High School in Martin, Tennessee, and is widely regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the class.
Simpson won't need to start right away and knows that he'll be sitting behind Young for at least one season, similar to how Young sat behind Mac Jones in 2020. If an injury were to happen, however, having Simpson and Milroe on the roster provides some protection to help make another playoff run.
Defensive front
Up front, Alabama is losing Phidarian Mathis and LaBryan Ray, but DJ Dale, Byron Young and Justin Eboigbe are all juniors. Surprisingly, Alabama only signed two ESPN 300 defensive linemen in the 2021 class: Damon Payne Jr. and Monkell Goodwine.
The staff has Dallas Turner and Keanu Koht, two edge rushers who play linebacker, and Turner has already contributed this past season with 10 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
In terms of recruiting in the 2022 class, though, the coaches added four ESPN 300 defensive line commits, the highest-ranked being five-star defensive end Jeremiah Alexander, the No. 11 prospect overall.
ESPN 300 defensive tackles Jaheim Oatis and Khurtiss Perry are also in the class, along with defensive end Walter Bob. Alabama also has edge rusher and linebacker Jihaad Campbell and four-star defensive tackle Isaiah Hastings.
The staff has put itself in good shape up front on defense even if there are more NFL defections.
The portal has created another level to roster management, whether it's players coming into the program or players going out. Alabama has seen 10 players transfer out this offseason, namely defensive back Marcus Banks, offensive linemen Pierce Quick and Tommy Brown, and linebackers Drew Sanders, Jackson Bratton and King Mwikuta.
That hurts depth, which is crucial to getting back to the playoff, but Alabama has done a good job of securing transfers coming in to fill voids.
The staff landed Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs and cornerback Eli Ricks so far to help fill holes for next season. With a ton of names still in the portal, there is a chance more players are considered as well.
Georgia Bulldogs
Quarterback
The quarterback position has been one of debate for Georgia. Stetson Bennett IV won the national championship as the starter with USC transfer JT Daniels, Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff behind him.
It's not yet known which quarterbacks will stay or transfer, but the staff has built up the quarterback room with some good depth. Beck was an ESPN 300 quarterback in the 2020 class, and Vandagriff was the No. 37 overall recruit in the 2021 class.
In addition to that list, Georgia signed Gunner Stockton, the No. 90 recruit in the 2022 class. He's a 6-foot-1 and 210-pound prospect from Tiger, Georgia, and is the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback in the class.
No matter what Bennett and Daniels decide to do, Georgia has some talented options under center going forward. With the number of quarterbacks entering the transfer portal now, Georgia can always utilize that to try to get help the way they have done the past few years.
Secondary
The staff is losing quite a few starters on defense, particularly in the secondary with corners Derion Kendrick and Ameer Speed moving on, and potentially Lewis Cine, who could declare for the NFL draft. There are some younger players that have already contributed, including redshirt freshman Kelee Ringo, whose pick-six in the national championship game sealed the win for the Dawgs.
The secondary was one of Georgia's strengths in the 2022 class with five-star Malaki Starks, who could end up filling a few different roles at Georgia. He could end up in the secondary when he gets to campus.
Starks is the No. 10 prospect overall and he's joined in the class by corner Jaheim Singletary, ranked No. 16 overall, corner Daylen Everette, ranked No. 43, and corner Julian Humphrey, the No. 177 recruit. Everette and Singletary are both top-10 cornerbacks in the class and are potentially early contributors.
There was some youth in the secondary that could help already on the roster, but restocking the backend of this defense ensures Georgia has the depth to make another run at a title.
Offensive skill players
The coaches saw freshman tight end Brock Bowers break out this season and lead the team in receiving touchdowns. There are some other young skill players still on the roster for next season, including freshman receiver Adonai Mitchell, sophomore Jermaine Burton, sophomore tight end Darnell Washington and redshirt freshman Ladd McConkey.
Now, Smart and his staff are adding in ESPN 300 running backs Branson Robinson and Jordan James in this 2022 class. Robinson is the No. 2 running back and the No. 21 recruit overall, and despite having Zamir White, Kendall Milton and Kenny McIntosh ahead of him on the depth chart, he might push his way for some sort of role in 2022.
With Bowers showing so much production this season, the staff is also adding in ESPN 300 tight end Oscar Delp, who is ranked No. 162 overall. Delp had nine touchdown receptions in 2020 and eight in 2021.
Delp is also joined by ESPN 300 receiver Chandler Smith, as well as four-star receiver De'Nylon Morrissette and three-star receivers Cole Speer and Dillon Bell. With the quarterback room looking deep and the skill players loaded, the Georgia offense should be able to continue progressing even more.